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.

The Jatakarma Samsakara

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