Samkalpa

(“intention”) Important ritual sequence
at the beginning of many religious rites
in which the person performing the rite
states his or her identity, the time and
place at which the action is being performed, the performer’s intention to
carry out this particular ritual act,
and the benefits desired from the action.
The samkalpa is important as the
formal commitment to perform the
stated action. For ritual actions that
promise several different possible
benefits—for example, birth in heaven
or final liberation—performing the
samkalpa is believed to give one the
result one desires.