Keshanta ("beard shaving") Samskara.
The thirteenth of the
sixteen traditional life-cycle rites (samskaras).
A young guy at the brahmacharin (celibate student) stage of
life conducted the rite, which marked the first time he shaved his beard.
This ritual was followed by the instructor receiving a gift,
preferably a cow, according to custom.
The keshanta samskara marked the young man's new status by ritualizing
his first shave.
Following that, he was accountable for keeping himself
clean-shaven as part of the ceremonial purity regulations.
This ceremony is no longer practiced in contemporary times.
Also see shave.
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