Skip to main content

Samskaras- Jata-Karma

Jata-Karma (Week 1)

This Samskara is conducted as soon as a child is born.The main objective of this ceremony is to inculcate some values in the child even though he/she does not understand their importance and also to arouse all the sensory organs. The father must go to the river and bathe and present gifts to holy people which signifies pleasing their ancestors. After 10 days of the birth of the child, the father should perform Jata-Karma (natal rights) for the child. The father places the child on his lap by saying a mantra (usually Gayathri Mantra is recited), smells the forehead of the child and then he says the is meant for the development of the intellect of the child. He then says the Nakshatra (birth star) of the child in the child's right year. Then the father of the newborn smears a drop of honey on a gold ring and rubs the child's tongue with it saying a mantra. This rite is said to symbolise good fortune. The mantra recited  at this point of time prays for a long and healthy life and also for  intelligence for the child.

The Jatakarma ritual follows the following steps:
  • The child is made to lick from a golden spoon honey, curds and clarified butter.
  • The prescribed mantras are whispered over the naval or into the right ear of the child, which raise powers that give long life to the child.
  • The father then touches the shoulders of his child as he chants the prescribed mantras. The father then breaths thrice over the child while chanting verses from three Vedas. This rite of Jatakarma also includes the breathing of five brahmanas from the east Prana, Vyana, Apana, Udana and Samana (names of five vayus).
  • The mother then offers her breast milk to her child when the father chants mantras.
  • The father touches the earth, where the child was born along with the chanting of mantras.
  • A name is given to the child. The father of the child then shaves, takes bath, purifies his house and performs havan. All these are performed on the 10th or 12th day after the childbirth.
  • According to psychologists, whatever a child learns during the age of five years, it will remain with him throughout his life. OM is written on his tongue with the spike of the golden spoon so that whatever he speaks will take him towards the spirituality.
  • The father of the child whispers “Vedosi” in his ear meaning you are a knowledgeable person.
Jatakarma
The Jatakarma Samsakara
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The actual reason behind why u should not sit on pillows...

I am sure all of us would have got a good scolding from our parents or elders' at home if we ever sat on pillows.. when asked Why, they'll often say "You'll get a boil on your butt!" The actual reason behind it is, sitting on pillows especially those we put under our head wen we sleep it is believed that your debts will increase. If you look at it scientifically and logically the rear part of our body is considered unhygienic so imagine the amount of germs that will be on your pillow wen you sit on it.
22 comments
Read more

The Pottu

Bindi (Pottu) Bindi (in Hindi from the Sanskrit word "bindu", meaning "a drop, small particle, dot"), or a pottu/bottu (in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam) is a forehead decoration worn in South Asia. Traditionally it is a bright dot of red color applied in the center of the forehead close to the eyebrows. It comes in many sizes and shapes (round dot, graceful frozen flame & other exotic forms). The very positioning of the pottu is significant; the area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the 6th chakra, Ajna, the seat of "concealed wisdom" . According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for Kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck. It is also believed that when someone jealous of you casts an  evil  eye on you, the bindi/pottu works as a repellent. The bindi also represents the third eye. Traditionall
5 comments
Read more

Pradosham

Etymology of Pradosha - Pradosha is the son of Kalpa and Dosha. He had two brothers namely Nishita and Vyustha. The three names mean beginning, middle and end of night. The day from new moon day to full moon day is called "Sukla Paksha" and days from every full moon day to new moon day are called "Krishna Paksha". During every month and during every Paksha, the point of time when Triyodashi (13th day of the fortnight) meets the end of Dwadasi (12th day of fortnight) is called Pradosha. During Pradosha, Nandi (the sacred bull of Shiva) in all the Shiva temples in South India is worshipped. The festival idol of Shiva with Parvathi in a seated pose on Nandi is taken as a procession in the temple complex. The Story of Pradosham Once upon a time the angels ( Indra and his subordinates) were cursed that their colour would change and they would become demons. therefore they ran to seek refuge from Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu asked them to churn the milk ocean
7 comments
Read more