What is "samskara"

Samskaras or sanskaras ( Sanskrit: संस्कार) has several context driven meanings in Indian philosophy and Indian religions. One of these is "mental impression, recollection, psychological imprint" and this meaning is the basis for its use in Hindu philosophies, particularly in the development of its karma theory.

According to various schools of Indian philosophy, every action, intent or preparation by an individual leaves a samskara (impression, impact, imprint) in the deeper structure of his or her mind. These impressions then await volitional fruition in that individual's future, in the form of hidden expectations, circumstances or unconscious sense of self-worth. These Samskaras manifest as tendency, karmic impulse, subliminal impression, habitual potency or innate dispositions. The theory of Samskara has also been used, in ancient Indian texts, to develop explanations for how and why human beings remember anything, and the impact these memories have on his sense of suffering, happiness and contentness.

A samskara is a process in ayurvedic medicine said to detoxify heavy metals and toxic herbs.

In ayurveda, toxic ingredients, which sometimes include heavy metals such as mercury, are claimed to be purified using a process of prayer and pharmacy. There is little evidence that this process is generally effective, and case reports describe adverse effects of taking these substances.

Rasa shastra, the practice of adding metals, minerals or gems to herbs, is a source of toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. Adverse reactions to herbs due to their pharmacology are described in traditional ayurvedic texts, but ayurvedic practitioners are reluctant to admit that herbs could be toxic and the reliable information on herbal toxicity is not readily available.

A 2004 study found such toxic metals in 20% of ayurvedic preparations that were made in South Asia for sale around Boston and extrapolated the data to the United States more broadly. It concluded that excess consumption of these products could cause health risks. A 2008 study of more than 230 products found that approximately 20% of remedies (and 40% of rasa shastra medicines) purchased over the Internet from both US and Indian suppliers contained lead, mercury or arsenic.

Following concerns about metal toxicity, the Government of India ruled that ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of the product; however, M. S. Valiathan noted that "the absence of post-market surveillance and the paucity of test laboratory facilities [in India] make the quality control of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time.

Samskara is a 1970 Indian Kannada film written by U. R. Ananthamurthy, directed and produced by Pattabhirama Reddy. It is said to have been a path-breaking venture and is supposed to have pioneered the parallel cinema movement in Kannada. The word samskara means ritual in the Kannada language. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao was executive director for the film. Samskara garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film for 1970.

Samskara, saṃskāra, saṅskāra or sanskara may refer to:

• Sanskara (rite of passage), Hindu and Jain rites of passage
• Samskara (ayurvedic), a technique in ayurvedic medicine
• Samskara (Indian philosophy), the concept of imprints or impressions left on the mind by experience in Indian philosophies
• Saṅkhāra, the Buddhist concept of "formations"