Moksha (Liberation) means getting a state in which no sorrow / grief exists and a state from which we are not supposed to have birth again and again. To get this state of liberation, we should have knowledge about God. To get this spiritual knowledge we must possess God’s blessing and self centric concentration. To achieve all these ideal states, we have to get body, sense organ and mind purified. In order to purify them we have to do actions (karmas) and follow ancient Dharmas (principles of action) which have been mentioned in the Vedas. Based on Vedamantras (Vedic hymns) our sages Apastamba, Bodhayana had explained principles of shroutha, Grihya and dharma. They also said that a man’s life should be led as per the Vedas and as said above, he has to reach step by step in his life a liberated state; for this they have mentioned some actions, they are called Samskaras (Sacraments).

These samskaras are nothing but purpose oriented actions which are done through examining our mind and known by themselves.

These samskaras are self known actions and they follows: Garbhadhanam: Pumsavanam, Semanthonnayanam, Jaatakarma, Naamakaranam ( Christening ceremony), Annaprashana ( rice feeding, choulam ( ceremony of ear holing) upanayanam (instructing ceremony of divine-hymns), Vrathachatustayam (Four famous rituals), Godanam (cows offering ceremony), samavarthanam, vivaham (Marriage ceremony) of which for example. Garbhadhanam to chowlam samaskaras will have the effect of cleansing the impurities which originated in mother’s womb. Upanayanam & other samskaras will enable a person qualified for a knowledge of God.


A sculptor who intends to make statue makes small dots on the paper/stones, connects these dots systematically to form the head, hands and other body parts and make them erect. Later he adorns it with jewels & dress. Then he smears different colors to its body parts in order to improve its beauty. After having done all these samskaras (actions) the sculpture / statue / picture gets beautiful shape and it causes happiness or delight to spectators. This law of making a sculpture is also applied, as sage Parashara said to ancient sages and learned men also reiterated that to have a knowledge of God, and to get (Brahmin hood) “Brahmanatvam” (that to know one self) we should realise that Samskaras will certainly be helpful to us.

To perform these aforesaid Samskaras, actions are in Vedas:- Vedas and Smruthis have mentioned some positions/ timings. For example, It is very favourable and auspicious to have a damsel married in Swathi nakshathra ( a star named swathi). This example is supported through a mantra ( a hymn) from Vedas.


Father, who wishes his daughter to lead a life acceptable to her husband, has to perform her marriage on a day which coincides with Swathi nakshathra (a star named swathi faces over the time of marriage). If it is being done so, he or anyone needn’t worry about her future. The above example makes us know such an auspicious time we should know or have knowledge about good time completely.

It is said,”Jyouthishamayanamchakshuhu”, it means “Astrology is a vision to Vedas”. Without eyes nothing is seen. Everything appears dark. Astrology has three parts of which Muhurtha Prakaranam is one of the parts. In ”Muhurthaprakaranam”, some of the elements like Tithi, Vaaram, Nakshathram, Lagnam (subhamuhurtham) Grahayogam ( auspicious positions of planets) etc., that are necessary for a ritual are mentioned and explained. For example, Swathi nakshathra is very auspicious for a marriage but for house warming it is not auspicious. If we do so, even that house will go into another’s hand. In the same way, every muhurtha (auspicious time) has to have the forces of stars infrequency of moon and it should consist of Pamchakarahita. Every muhurtha should be without 21 Mahadoshas. A sloka says “Brahmavaa Parihartumatra sakalandoshan samarthonahee” it means “Not even Brahma is incapable of removing all the doshaas. Ancient sages (Rishis) opined that muhurthas which have more auspicious characteristics and less inauspicious traits must be followed.