Changes

== Jatakarma described in Ayurveda ==

== Jatakarma described in Ayurveda ==

Jatakarma samskara or vidhi includes certain rituals and procedures that are performed immediately after birth of a child. Acharya Charaka has described certain procedures which are performed after birth of a baby to resuscitate him.  

Jatakarma is birth rite which helps the baby to smoothly transcend from life inside the womb to that outside the womb. After birth of a baby, the change is not just in the outside environment but, baby's dependency on mother for survival also changes. The child remains only partially dependent on mother post birth who was completely dependent on mother for past 9 months. Therefore the Jatakarma has been advised in this phase of transition which facilitates baby's smooth transition into outside world. Jatakarma samskara or vidhi includes certain rituals and procedures that include certain neonatal  resuscitation methods and certain exclusive methods like giving medicinal linctus to a newborn for health and wellbeing.  

अतोऽनन्तरं जातकर्म कुमारस्य कार्यम्|

Once the newborn baby is resuscitated i.e. once he cries and his umbilical cord is cut Jatakarma procedures can be performed.  <blockquote>अतोऽनन्तरं जातकर्म कुमारस्य कार्यम्|

तद्यथा- मधुसर्पिषी मन्त्रोपमन्त्रिते यथाम्नायं प्रथमं प्राशितुं दद्यात्|

तद्यथा- मधुसर्पिषी मन्त्रोपमन्त्रिते यथाम्नायं प्रथमं प्राशितुं दद्यात्|

स्तनमत ऊर्ध्वमेतेनैव विधिना दक्षिणं पातुं पुरस्तात् प्रयच्छेत्|

स्तनमत ऊर्ध्वमेतेनैव विधिना दक्षिणं पातुं पुरस्तात् प्रयच्छेत्|

अथातः [१] शीर्षतः स्थापयेदुदकुम्भं मन्त्रोपमन्त्रितम्||४६|| (Char. Samh. Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 46)

अथातः [१] शीर्षतः स्थापयेदुदकुम्भं मन्त्रोपमन्त्रितम्||४६|| (Char. Samh. 8.46)<ref>Charak Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 46)</ref></blockquote>Meaning: Thereafter, birth-rites of the child should be performed per vedic rituals, which are as follows: first of all, honey and ghee duly “consecrated” with vedic mantras (chanted by brahmanas or priests) should be anointed to the child. Breast milk should first be fed from the right breast, and should be done so after performing the rituals mentioned above. An earthen pot filled with water should be consecrated with mantras and kept near the head of the child.<ref>Available from charakasamhitaonline.com</ref>

 

Thereafter, birth-rites of the child should be performed per vedic rituals, which are as follows: first of all, honey and ghee duly “consecrated” with vedic mantras (chanted by brahmanas or priests) should be anointed to the child. Breast milk should first be fed from the right breast, and should be done so after performing the rituals mentioned above. An earthen pot filled with water should be consecrated with mantras and kept near the head of the child. [46]

It should be done for clearing the mouth secretion which clears airway and prevents aspiration.  

It should be done for clearing the mouth secretion which clears airway and prevents aspiration.  

This verse describes measures to protect the newborn. To start with, the maternity home should be surrounded by the branches of ''adani'' (-?-),''khadira'' (Acacia catechu Willd.), ''karkandhu'' (Zyzyphus nummularia W.&A.), ''pilu'' (Salvadora persica Linn.), and ''parushaka'' (Grewiaasiatica Linn.).''Sarshapa'' (Brassica nigra Linn - mustard seeds), ''atasi'' (Linum ustatissimum Linn.), and ''tandula kanakanika'' (pieces of broken rice) should be spread all over the floors in the maternity home. The sacrificial ritual of offering rice to fire should be performed every morning and evening till the naming ceremony for the child is complete. At the door-sill, a wooden pestle should be kept obliquely. A ''potli'' (bag) containing ''vacha'' (Acorus calamus Linn.), ''kushtha'' (Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke.), ''choraka'' (Ksaumaka -?-), ''hingu'' (Ferula narthex Boiss.), ''sarshapa'' (Brassica nigra Koch.), ''atasi'' (Linum usitatissimum Linn.), ''lashuna'' (Alium sativum Linn.), ''kanakanika'' (-?-) and other drugs known to be repellents of evil spirits should be tied to the door-sill, and to the necks of the mother and the child , and should also be put into cooking utensils, water jars, bed, and on either side of the door panels. There should be a fire lighted constantly with the fire woods of ''kanakanika'' (-?-), and ''tinduka'' (Diospyros peregrine Gurke.) at the fireplace within the maternity home. The attending women (of the qualities mentioned earlier) should keep vigilance of the maternity home for ten to twelve days. The whole house should be kept busy with people who are pious, affectionate and happy, and kept engaged with gifts, encouraging blessings, praise, song, music food and drinks. In order to bestow auspicious blessings on the mother and the child, ''brahmins'' well versed in Atharva Veda should perform ritual sacrifices in the sacred fire two times a day. These are, rituals and measures that need to be put in place to protect the mother and the child. [47]

This verse describes measures to protect the newborn. To start with, the maternity home should be surrounded by the branches of ''adani'' (-?-),''khadira'' (Acacia catechu Willd.), ''karkandhu'' (Zyzyphus nummularia W.&A.), ''pilu'' (Salvadora persica Linn.), and ''parushaka'' (Grewiaasiatica Linn.).''Sarshapa'' (Brassica nigra Linn - mustard seeds), ''atasi'' (Linum ustatissimum Linn.), and ''tandula kanakanika'' (pieces of broken rice) should be spread all over the floors in the maternity home. The sacrificial ritual of offering rice to fire should be performed every morning and evening till the naming ceremony for the child is complete. At the door-sill, a wooden pestle should be kept obliquely. A ''potli'' (bag) containing ''vacha'' (Acorus calamus Linn.), ''kushtha'' (Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke.), ''choraka'' (Ksaumaka -?-), ''hingu'' (Ferula narthex Boiss.), ''sarshapa'' (Brassica nigra Koch.), ''atasi'' (Linum usitatissimum Linn.), ''lashuna'' (Alium sativum Linn.), ''kanakanika'' (-?-) and other drugs known to be repellents of evil spirits should be tied to the door-sill, and to the necks of the mother and the child , and should also be put into cooking utensils, water jars, bed, and on either side of the door panels. There should be a fire lighted constantly with the fire woods of ''kanakanika'' (-?-), and ''tinduka'' (Diospyros peregrine Gurke.) at the fireplace within the maternity home. The attending women (of the qualities mentioned earlier) should keep vigilance of the maternity home for ten to twelve days. The whole house should be kept busy with people who are pious, affectionate and happy, and kept engaged with gifts, encouraging blessings, praise, song, music food and drinks. In order to bestow auspicious blessings on the mother and the child, ''brahmins'' well versed in Atharva Veda should perform ritual sacrifices in the sacred fire two times a day. These are, rituals and measures that need to be put in place to protect the mother and the child. [47]

[[Category:Samskaras]]

[[Category:Samskaras]]