Hindu Sacraments (selection)
or Life - Cycle Rites
| Ashrama | Samskara / "Sacrament" |
| 1. Sacrament of Impregnation / Garbhadhan
2. second or third month of pregnancy / Punsavanam 3. between the fifth and eighth month of pregnancy / Simantonnayana 4. At the time when the child is being born / Jatakarma 5. Naming the child / Namakarana 6. Child is brought out of house (3rd and 4th month) / Niskramana 7. The first feeding of cereal at six months / Annaprashana
9. Piercing the ears in the third or fifth year / Karnavedha | |
| Student | 10. Upanayana (Investiture of Sacred Thread) From 8th year
11. When studies are completed (Samavartana) |
| Householder | 12. Vivaha Samskara (Marriage ceremony)
13. Sacrament(s) relating to house-holders / Grihatashrama |
| Renouncer | 14. Vanaprasthashrama (Renouncing the house-holder's life) |
| Sannyasa | 15. Sannyasashrama (Leading the life of a monk)
16. Funeral: last rites of the dead / Antyeshti |