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 mantr...