1,214
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 8:
Line 8: − + Line 17:
Line 17: − + Line 29:
Line 29: − + − + − ==== Types of foods to be fed to child as per prakrti and their properties ====+ − In the sixth month, when days are counted from the day of birth, i.e. after one hundred and fifty days, the sixth Saṃskāra called Annaprāśanam has to be performed. Having fed Brāhmaṇas and received benedictions from them, the son should be made to taste rice mixed with curd, honey and ghee (clarified butter), while the four Mantras, starting with "bhūrāpam" are being recited.+ + + + + − This is the act of introduction of the solid food material for the first time. It is performed at 10th month (Kashyapa), 6th month (Susruta and Vagbhata) or 5th/6th month (Gruhya sutras).[32] According to Kashyapa, on the day of ceremony in Prajapatya Nakshatra, cooked food is kept in between the square place prepared by besmearing the cow dung. The sign of swastika is made on that. A picture filled with water is also placed there. Physician is the performer of the ceremony. After offering the food to the Agni the remaining part of the food is offered to child for 3 or 5 times.[33][34]+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − + + − Phalprashana and Annaprashana Samskara (Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)+ − Phalprashana − Acharya Kashyapa said that child should be given fruit juices from the age of 6 months. Annaprashana Age of child Acharya Kashyapa: 10th month Acharya Susruta: 6th month Dharma Sindhu Sara: between 6-12 months, depending on availability of milk. For male child, in even months and for female, child in odd months.+ − Annaprashana should be done on an auspicious day. After igniting fire, a delicious diet comprising of cereals and drinks made from meat of Laavaka, Kapinjala etc., should be first offered as oblation to the fire along with chanting of mantras. After oblation, the remaining food made soft by mashing is given to child 3 or 5 times in a quantity equal to that of a thumb (Angustha Matra). Importance of Annaprashana Samskara+ − + − By this time the child digestive system get ready to digest complex food substances.+ − − According to modern science also, Milk fulfils all the requirement of the child up to the age of 6 months. Weaning food is needed after 6 months of age for fulfilling nutritional requirements of child. A child who receives solid food late suffers from a number of aliments deficiency diseases. − − Teeth eruption also starts in child by this time. − − − षष्ठे मासि पुखयाहेऽभ्यच्यं देवतां; द्विजां च मोज- − − नेन सन्तप्ये दक्िणाभिः स्वस्ति वाच्य च; गृहमध्ये वा- − − सुमध्ये वा शुचौ देशे गोमयेनाद्धिश्च चतुहस्तमात्र − − स्थरिडलमुपलिप्य मण्डलं चतुरस्रं वा एह् रस्यदुबणः − − रजतताम्रकास्यशीसायसानि मणयो युक्तप्रवाला(दयः) − − सर्वे, सर्वाणि धान्यानि ब्रीहयः सवेसतालेष्टक(?) सीर − − दधिघृतमधुगोमयगोमूत्रकार्पासादीनि, बालक्रीडन- − − कानि पिष्टमयानि, तद्यथा--गोगजोष्टाश्धगदेभमदहिषमेष − − च्छागमृगवरहवानररुरशरभसिंहव्याघ्रकपितरकुव- − − ककू्मेमीनशुकसारिकाकोकिलकलविङ्कचक्रवाकषंसक्रौ − − च्चसारसमयूरक्रकरचकोरकपिञ्चलचरणायुधवतंकाकारा- − − णि, शेलकमगरह(क)रथकयानकस्यन्दनकशद्चिकाज ञमि − − प्किसैरिकेशीकातम्बीकादुष्पवाहकमभद्रकसं चोल्लकपी − − टप ` ` `` "` "न्दिकादुितकाकुमारकगोलगन्दुकादीन्य- − − न्यानि च खीकोतुकानीतिः भिषक् तस्य मण्डलं सन्नि- − − धाय वसुधाये अध्यं दच्ाऽनेन मन्त्रेण-॥ & ॥ − − स्वमग्रजा खं प्रभवाऽव्यया च − − लोकस्य धात्री सचराचरस्य । − − त्वमीजञ्यसे त्वं यजसे मही − − मात्रेऽव नः ( पा › हि कुमारमेनम् । ७ ॥ − − तं ब्रह्मा अनमन्यतां स्वाहा । (Kashyapa Samhita Khilsthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 7)
no edit summary
=== Samskara vidhi or ceremony ===
=== Samskara vidhi or ceremony ===
The samskara has been described in brief below,
The samskara has been described in brief below,<ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 7)</ref>
* On an auspicious day in the 6th month is to be selected for Phalaprashana and an auspicious day like the one having Prajapatya constellation is to be selected for Annaprashana of a child.
* On an auspicious day in the 6th month is to be selected for Phalaprashana and an auspicious day like the one having Prajapatya constellation is to be selected for Annaprashana of a child.
* The child whos Phalaprashana or annaprashana samskara is to be performed should then be brought to that place after giving bath, wearing new cloths and ornaments.
* The child whos Phalaprashana or annaprashana samskara is to be performed should then be brought to that place after giving bath, wearing new cloths and ornaments.
* During Phalaprashana the child is made to sit in formt of the liquids and the one he touches first is then offered to him in very little introducing quantity i. e. 3 to 5 times in a quantity that would stay on his/her thumb of hand. Once done he is permitted to play with the toys and mingle with other children.
* During Phalaprashana the child is made to sit in formt of the liquids and the one he touches first is then offered to him in very little introducing quantity i. e. 3 to 5 times in a quantity that would stay on his/her thumb of hand. Once done he is permitted to play with the toys and mingle with other children.
* For Annaprashana, whatever food items are prepared for the samskara are first offered to [[Agni (अग्निः)|'''Agni devata''']] (ignited fire) in a puja chanting following mantra praising Anna or ahara and its importance to mankind. In this way first the respects are paid to [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara''']] and only then it is offered to the child.
* For Annaprashana, whatever food items are prepared for the samskara are first offered to [[Agni (अग्निः)|'''Agni devata''']] (oblation to ignited fire) in a puja chanting following mantra praising [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara''']] and its importance to mankind. In this way first the respects are paid to [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara''']] and only then it is offered to the child.
<blockquote>यथा सुराणाममृतं नागेन्द्राणां यथा सुधा ।
<blockquote>यथा सुराणाममृतं नागेन्द्राणां यथा सुधा ।
प्रजापतिरवमन्यतां साहा । (Kash. Samh. 12.16-17)<ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Khilsthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 16-17)</ref></blockquote>
प्रजापतिरवमन्यतां साहा । (Kash. Samh. 12.16-17)<ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Khilsthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 16-17)</ref></blockquote>
* The child is made to sit facing west while a vaidya is advised to be present in front of him/her facing.
* The child is made to sit facing west while a [[Vaidya (वैद्यः)|vaidya]] who is advised to be present during Samskara stands in front of him/her facing east.
* The food remnant from the sacred offerings to Agni is then taken in a bowl, mashed and made even more soft and then it is fed to the child 3 to 5 times. The quantity of the food should be such that it can stay (be accomodated) on his/her thumb of hand i.e. very little to begin with.
* The food remnant from the sacred offerings to Agni is then taken in a bowl, mashed and made even more soft and then it is fed to the child 3 to 5 times. The quantity of the food should be such that it can stay (be accommodated) on his/her thumb of hand i.e. very little to begin with.
* Once the solids are introduced to the child Acharya Kashyapa advises that he can be fed these foods every 2nd or 3rd time of feed as the child demands till he becomes 1 year old. Later after 1 year of age foods can be given more frequently.
* Once the solids are introduced to the child Acharya Kashyapa advises that he can be fed these foods every 2nd or 3rd time of feed as the child demands till he becomes 1 year old. Later after 1 year of age foods can be given more frequently.
=== Types of foods to be fed to child as per prakrti and their properties ===
The food that is fed to the child in infancy should be of certain properties so as to suit his physiological and structural state at that time. That means the digestive system is not completely developed to digest complex substances and teeth are even not fully erupted. The child's growth and development are in very fact pace thus he/she requires food that will fulfill his/her nutritional demands but at the same time it would be suitable for a child to chew, bite, gulp and digest. Therefore acharya Kashyapa has given a guideline on how the food for infant should be selected. The guidelines are as below,
# The ingredients of the preparation : The child should be fed fed especially rice, shashti rice (a variety of rice that grows fully in 60 days thus considered light for digestion) which is old (an year old produce). It should be properly dehusked, washed with water and then roasted till becomes light. Then it is cooked in ample amount of water and the water that remains after cooking or gruel made from it (having liquid consistency) should be taken. Then sufficient amount of fats like ghee should be added along with the salt to taste. It should be served fresh and warm. Such preparation should be fed to the child. A preparation made with this method is nourishing for the child and provides strength. Alternatively other grains like wheat, barley can be used sometimes instead of rice. If the child gets watery stools anytime then the kodrava (kodo millet, food grain used in India traditionally, which binds the stools and helps stop loose motions) grain can be added in the meal. <ref name=":1">Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 19-21)</ref>
# The child who is having Pitta dominant [[Prakrti in Ayurveda (प्रकृतिः)|prakrti]], should be always given a jam made up of black currents, honey and ghee along with the meals or mixed into the preparation.<ref name=":1" />
# The child with Vata dominant [[Prakrti in Ayurveda (प्रकृतिः)|Prakrti]] should be fed meal added with a pinch of salt and few drops of wild lemon (Matulunga: Citron or wild lemon, Citrus medica Linn.) juice. <ref name=":1" />
# Finally the food should be fed to the child as every second or third feed. The frequency of the feeds to be decided on the basis of his desha (place of living), [[Agni in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे अग्निः)|agni]] (digestive capacity), Kala (season and time of the day) and [[Balam (बलम्)|balam]] (strength) of the child. A qualified vaidya can help parents to asses these parameters and guide on the frequency of feeding after examining the child. Once must take care that the child should be always assessed for his [[Agni in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे अग्निः)|agni]], if he feels hungry more frequently than others (probably because of more activities) he/she should be fed as and when he/she demands for food. <ref name=":1" />
==== Gunas or properties of food items mentioned under Annaprashana ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Food item
Samskrit name
!English name
!Botanical name
!Properties according to Ayurveda
|-
|1
|Shali
|Rice and its varieties
|
|
|-
|2
|Godhum
|Wheat
|
|
|-
|3
|Yava
|Barley
|
|
|-
|4
|Kodrava
|Kodo millet
|
|
|-
|5
|Lavana
|Salt
|NA (Sodium chloride)
|
|-
|6
|Sneha
|ghee or oil (or edible fats)
|NA
|
|-
|7
|Mrdvika
|Black currents
|Vitis vinifera
|
|-
|8
|Mahalunga
|Citron fruit
|Citrus medica
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|}
As teeth erupt in 6th month, introduction of solid food in 10th month is more justified. Scientifically right time for solid food as GIT is ready in terms of its enzymatic activity.Starting solid food before this time leads to fat accumulation which may be problematic afterwards. Prolonged breast feeding may lead to calcium deficiency disorders like rickets, scurvy etc. As growing child attains different milestones, its range of activities also increases and it needs more and more food substances. Only breast milk and even the other liquid food in the form of dal water and fruits may be insufficient to fulfil day to day needs of the baby. Rich carbohydrate, fatty & proteinaceous food in solid form can only.fulfil the need. Fruit juices should be given to the child from sixth month which are source of vitamins especially vitamin C. First meal offer to infant would be easily digested, light and soft as advised by Acharya Kashyapa. At age of 6 month, breast milk now not enough to fulfil the requirement of growing child. So, it is the accurate time to introduction of supplementary feeding as Phalprashana. Breast milk is deficient in iron, vitamin A, D, K and calcium, so by offering Phalprashana and Annprashana ceremony at this time with breast milk, we can reduce the deficiency of related essential vitamins. We can examine the six month infant which has following milestone (6): Starts sitting with own support (Sits in tripod fashion), Unidextrous reach, recognizes strangers or develops stranger anxiety, pronounce monosyllables (pa, ba, da etc.), lift the head and chest off the surface with weight bearing on hands, may roll from prone to supine, able to bear most of the weight on legs when holding the child in standing position. Similarly tenth month corresponding milestones may also examine e.g. bisyllables, standing with support, sitting without support, waves bye-bye etc. Primary teeth also start erupted e.g. central incisors (5-7 month), Lateral incisors (7-11 month, First molars (10-16 month). (Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383)
== Scientific aspects ==
As teeth erupt in 6th month, introduction of solid food in 10th month is more justified. Scientifically right time for solid food as GIT is ready in terms of its enzymatic activity.Starting solid food before this time leads to fat accumulation which may be problematic afterwards. Prolonged breast feeding may lead to calcium deficiency disorders like rickets, scurvy etc. As growing child attains different milestones, its range of activities also increases and it needs more and more food substances. Only breast milk and even the other liquid food in the form of dal water and fruits may be insufficient to fulfil day to day needs of the baby. Rich carbohydrate, fatty & proteinaceous food in solid form can only.fulfil the need. Fruit juices should be given to the child from sixth month which are source of vitamins especially vitamin C. First meal offer to infant would be easily digested, light and soft as advised by Acharya Kashyapa. At age of 6 month, breast milk now not enough to fulfil the requirement of growing child. So, it is the accurate time to introduction of supplementary feeding as Phalprashana. Breast milk is deficient in iron, vitamin A, D, K and calcium, so by offering Phalprashana and Annprashana ceremony at this time with breast milk, we can reduce the deficiency of related essential vitamins.
We can examine the six month infant which has following milestone (6): Starts sitting with own support (Sits in tripod fashion), Unidextrous reach, recognizes strangers or develops stranger anxiety, pronounce monosyllables (pa, ba, da etc.), lift the head and chest off the surface with weight bearing on hands, may roll from prone to supine, able to bear most of the weight on legs when holding the child in standing position. Similarly tenth month corresponding milestones may also examine e.g. bisyllables, standing with support, sitting without support, waves bye-bye etc. Primary teeth also start erupted e.g. central incisors (5-7 month), Lateral incisors (7-11 month, First molars (10-16 month). (Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383)
By this time the child digestive system get ready to digest complex food substances.(Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)
According to modern science also, Milk fulfils all the requirement of the child up to the age of 6 months. Weaning food is needed after 6 months of age for fulfilling nutritional requirements of child. A child who receives solid food late suffers from a number of aliments deficiency diseases. (Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)
Fruit juices provide vitamin c and other nutrients to child.
Teeth eruption also starts in child by this time.(Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)
== References ==
[[Category:Samskaras]]
[[Category:Samskaras]]