The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

Samskara

(“making perfect”) Collective name for
the various life-cycle ceremonies in
Hindu society. Although status in Indian
society depends most on one’s birth,

this alone is not sufficient to become a

complete and finished person. In an

individual’s development, the raw mate-

rial given by nature must be refined

through the process of culture, or the

Samskara

The chudakarana samskara, in which a child’s head is shaved as a rite of purification.