Samskaras- Chudakarma

Chudakarma Samskara/ Mundan Samskara (Week 52)

Chudakarma Samskara like many other rituals aims at blessing the child to have a long fulfilling life. Chudakarma Samskara or Mundan Samskara or the first haircut of the baby is an important tradition in India and relatives and friends are invited to bless the child. Chudakarma is a ceremony in which a child’s hair is shaved for the first time. All the hair from the child’s head, except a tuft of hair on the crown part, is shaved off.

This tuft is left remaining because it is believed that an important artery passes through this part of the head and shaving here may prove to be fatal. The term ‘chuda’ or ‘shikha’ refers to this tuft. This practice of leaving a tuft unshaven is rarely practiced nowadays. The child usually receives his/her first mundan in either the first year or the third year of age. A priest is called to conduct the rituals according to the traditions and a barber is called to shave off the hair. The hair on the child’s head is considered impure and not strong enough. Shaving it is regarded as the symbolic cleansing of the body and soul. The new hair that sprouts up is considered strong and clean. It is also said that the shaving of the hair stimulates the cells and improves blood circulation to the brain. Furthermore, Then its father should write “Swastika" on its head with sandal wood paste and put a thilak mark on its forehead.

The "Swasthi" means "Let God's wish and his (the baby's) wish be one and the same". A few minutes later the entire sandal wood paste could be applied on its head. This ceremony is termed “Choodakarama Samskara". Sandalwood paste has medicinal value. It cools his brain and stimulates his intellect. Parents and others who come to witness the ceremony bless the child and pray for his longevity.

Before the ceremony, the child is given a bath and dressed in new clothes. Then four earthen pots, one full of rice, the second full of barley, third one full of black gram and the fourth full of sesame is needed to set in the north direction of the Yajna vedi (fire ceremony with offerings cast into the flames).Then water is sprinkled on the four sides of the Vedi with mantras. Now, the fire of the Kunda is ablazed. The mother with her child sits along the western side of the fire, while the father stands in their right. If the mother is pregnant or menstruating on that day, the "Chudakarma" is postponed.

Chudakarma/ Mundan Samskara