In classical Yoga every action (karman) leaves an impression(sam: skara ) in the deeper structure of the mind (citta) where it awaits its fruition in the form of volitional activity. The most general meaning of sam: skara is ‘‘ritual’’ or ‘‘forming well, ... making ready, preparation’’;1 but in addition it also conveys the idea of ‘‘embellishment,’’ ‘‘purification,’’ ‘‘making sacred,’’ ‘‘any purificatory ceremony.’’2 The root sam: s-kr: means to cleanse and perfect.3 In Hindu tradition sam: skaras refer to the rites of passage such as birth rites (jatakarma ), marriage rites (vivaha ) and death rites (antyes:t:i), rites which are all intended to purify and transform the individual at specific phases in life. In the context of the YS, however, the most significant translation which can be extracted from Monier-Williams list of meanings on the term sam: skara is ‘‘mental impression or recollection, impression on the mind of acts done in a former state of existence.’’4 Thus, in the context of Yoga sam: skara is often translated as ‘‘impression’’5 and in more recent scholarship as ‘‘karmic impulse,’’6 ‘‘subliminal impression,’’7 and ‘‘subliminal activator.’’8 In this study, I have translated the term sam: skara as ‘‘impression’’/ ‘‘mental impression.’’