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1 The traditional sacrament (samskAra) observed after a child is born in a Hindu family is - "jAta-karma".
2 The rites performed by the father and the mother of the new born child are described in the 'Codes of conduct by a House-holder=
' called 'grihya-sUtra' books. There are quite a few 'grihya-sUtras' - AshwalAyana, Apastambha, pAraskara, sAnkhyAyana, hiraNya-kesh=
i, to name a few. Basically the main procedure of the ritual is same in all grihya-sUtras, but the details vary. Prayoga & Paddhati =
books have added some more items. Additional family traditions make this joyous occasion more colorful.
3 In brief, the jAta-karma sacrament consists of the following:
a) medhA-janana (literally, production of intelligence)
b) Ayushya homa (for the long-life of the child)
c) bala-vardhana ( a rite for the strength of the child)
4 The 'jAta-karma' is followed by the sacrament "nAma-karaNa" ('Naming Ceremony'). However, now a days, it has become a common pr=
actice to observe both these together. During the nAma-karaNa ceremony, the baby is given at least five names:
a) a name related to the family Deity to thank God for His blessings,
b) a name according to the Hindu calendar month the child is born in,
c) a name per the lunar constellation (nakShatra) at the child's birth,
d) a confidential name ('gupta-nAma') to be maintained in secrecy between the child & the parents, and
e) a name to call the child by - "vyAvahArilka- nAma".
5 Here, I would like to quote the excerpts from another unusual source for this post- natal Birth Ceremony. In 'brihad-Aranyaka =
Upanishad', during its concluding penultimate chapter, the rites are described (see the Upanishad 6.4.24-28):
When a baby is born, the father will set up Sacrificial fire for worshipping; he takes the child on his lap, prepares a mixture of =
yogurt and ghee (clarified butter) in a cup and offers oblations with that mixture in the Mystic Fire chanting the mantras meaning-
" Bringing you up as my son/daughter in this home of mine, may I be able to maintain a thousand people! May the Goddess of fortune n=
ever desert the children and the animals from the child's line! I mentally transfer to you the vital force that is in me. If I have=
done any thing wrong - too much or too little in this ceremony, may the all-knowing benevolent Mystic Fire make it just right for m=
e!" (6.4.24)
Then, while the baby is on the mother's lap, the father puts his mouth nearer the right ear of the child and whispers thrice "Speec=
h, speech, speech". Next, he mixes yogurt, honey and ghee in a cup [this is known as 'madhu-parka'], feeds the child with 'a strip =
of gold un-obstructed by any thing'(i.e., a golden spoon or, in practice, a golden ring), chanting the following mantras: " I put th=
e Earth into you, I put the Sky into you, I put the Heaven into you, I am putting the whole of Earth, Sky and the Heavens into you, =
my child!" (6.4.25)
[Here comes the part of 'medhA-jananam'. According to Grihya-sutras, the father murmurs the chants near the ears of the child:
I administer to you, O my child,
The wisdom of the honey, and of ghee
Blessed by god Savitru, the bountiful.
May you live long, under God's protection,
For hundred autumns to come!
May god Savitru bless you with intelligence,
May goddess Sarasvati bestow it on you;
May the twin Ashvinis, wreathed with lotuses
Also shower intelligence on you, child! ]
Then, the father (& the mother) gives the child a name.
[Here comes traditional part of ceremony giving the child five names. On a silver plate rice is spread, rice symbolizing the nouri=
shing food. The layer of rice is sanctified by writing Om on it and by worshipping it using 'haridra'(turmeric), 'kumkuma' & flower=
s. Then, one by one the names are written on the sanctified layer of rice, using the golden ring, while the assembled elders & wel=
l-wishers are all chanting OM in chorus.] Simultaneously, one by one, all names are whispered into the right ear of the child. Ho=
wever, the Brihadarnyaka Upanishad mentions only the confidential name, may be to emphasize its importance.] The father says: " You=
are 'Veda' meaning 'Knowledge'. And that word would become his confidential name! (6.4.26)
Then, he hands over the child to its mother for breast-feeding. While doing so, he addresses the God of Wisdom thus: "O Saraswati, =
those breasts of yours are the storehouse of sacred milk; they are the sustainer of nourishment, love, generosity and prosperity. P=
lease transfer them here (to my wife's) for my baby to suck from." (6.4.27)
Next, he cheers up the mother, addressing her with praises: "O You are verily the legendary, adorable Arundhati, the wife of VasiSh=
Tha descendent of Mitra and Varuna; You have given birth to a strong child. Be the mother of many such heroic children (sons), as th=
is one." (6.4.28.1)
Finally, the parents wish and shower praises on the child born in an educated & cultured family as theirs, thus: "May you surpass y=
our father & grandfather, and may you reach the highest degree of attainment through the splendor, fame and the power of your knowle=
dge!" (6.4.28.2)
6. A chant that is used on this occasion, per most of the Grihya-sUtras, is very meaningful:
"O Child, you are born with the limbs of my limbs,
Sprung with the heart of my heart.
You are indeed myself (in the form of a baby)!
Live for hundreds of autumns to come !"
("angAd angAt sambhavasi, hridayAd adhi jAyase/
AtmA vai putra nAmA asi, sa jIva sharadah shatam"
- shatha-patha brAhmaNa, 14.6.4.8.16.)
While chanting this, the father (& I prefer the mother also to do the same) breathes on the forehead of the child, just like the mo=
ther-cow sniffs the forehead of the calf!
Bala-vardhanam: Another mantra on this occasion is the typical parental wish, with which the father touches the shoulders of the ch=
ild.:
"O child, be strong.
Strong like a hard stone; strong like an ax;
Lustrous, insuperable like gold !
You are indeed (my) Veda
[Embodiment of knowledge] called son;
So live a hundred autumns to come!!"
AyuShya-karaNam: The next item to follow medhA-janana is a rite for long life of the child. The father chants at his/her right ear:=
"Agni is long lived through the plants & trees;
Soma by herbs, Brahman by ambrosia,
Sages by fervor, Sacrifice by oblations,
Ocean by rivers- and by that long life, Child
I make you long-lived !"
The parents seek the blessings of God and the great sages like Jamadagni, Kashyapa and Agastya for the longevity of the child, 'try=
AyuSham' literally the threefold span of life from them.
As a token of gratitude to the forefathers and to thank God for His blessings, the assembled guests are 'worshipped' as Divinities=
representing them, and are treated with respect and honor in the very beginning of the program (this item is called 'nAndi') and, p=
resents and sumptuous food are offered at the end.
7. References & Sources for further reading:
1 Swami Madhavananda, "The Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad", Text & Transln.
2 S. Radhakrishnan " Principal Upanishads", 1996, Harper Collins,
3 Rajbali Pandey, "Hindu Samskaras", Pub: Motilal Banarasidas
4 Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 29 & 30, Pub Motilal Banarasidas
5 Bhimsen Sharma Shastri, "Shodasha SamskAra Vidhi"
6 Balashastri Kshirasagara, "Shodasha samskara Ratnamala"
7 Dhali Narasimha Bhatta, "Rigveda Prayoga Dipika"
8 Dr K.P. Aithal, "Ashvalayana Grihyasutra Bhashya(Sanskrit)", Pub: Adyar Libr.
- By S.K.Harihareswara
8412 Fontenay Way
Stockton, California 95210-5237
Phone: (209) 957 - 6825
(C)1997 by S.K.Harihareswara
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