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== Jatakarma described in Ayurveda ==

== Jatakarma described in Ayurveda ==

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. Ayurveda scholars have also at first advised to resuscitate the newborn by various methods   like making sounds in the baby's ears, clearing his mouth and airways, keeping a cotton socked in ghee over head etc. All these measures mentioned serve as primitive resuscitating measures practiced since thousands of years to make baby cry and kickstart his respiration properly. Also keeping cotton socked in ghee over head could have served the purpose of preventing hypothermia or heat loss from largest surface of baby's body. When the baby used to get stabilized by these methods the umbilical cord used to be cut and it was advised to tie it. Once these preliminary measures are done , Jatakarma samskara was advised. Jatakarma samskara or vidhi includes certain rituals and procedures that include some exclusive methods like giving medicinal linctus to a newborn for health and wellbeing.  

Jatakarma is that samskara in early human life which helps the newborn baby to smoothly transcend from life inside the womb to the life 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.

 

Ayurveda scholars at first have advised to resuscitate the newborn baby by various methods like making sounds in the baby's ears, clearing his mouth and airways, keeping a cotton socked in ghee over head etc.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 42-43)</ref>All these measures mentioned here serve as primitive resuscitating measures practiced since thousands of years to make baby cry and kickstart his respiration properly. Also keeping cotton socked in ghee over head could have served the purpose of preventing hypothermia or heat loss from head, largest surface of baby's body. When the baby used to get stabilized by these methods the umbilical cord used to be cut and tied. Once these preliminary measures are done, Jatakarma samskara was performed. Jatakarma samskara or vidhi includes certain rituals and procedures that include exclusive methods like giving medicinal linctus to a newborn for health and wellbeing.  

=== Procedure ===

=== Procedure ===

 

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|

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|

Thus Jatakarma includes,

Thus Jatakarma includes,

* Giving baby a linctus made up of honey, ghee as per Charaka, Other Ayurveda scholars have advised using Suvarna bhasma (gold bhasma) and some specific herbs in this linctus.<ref>Monika Swami, Kanchan Swami, K. Shankar Rao, Concept of Swarnaprashana(Gold drops) As Jatakarma Samskara,IRJAY, January : 2021 Vol-4, Issue-1; 137-143</ref> Making baby lick the paste made up of herbs, honey , ghee and gold is known as Suvarnaprashana and is popular Ayurveda therapeutic procedure practiced in current times as well.  

* Giving baby a lehana (linctus) made up of honey and ghee as per Charaka, Other Ayurveda scholars have advised using Suvarna bhasma (gold bhasma) and some specific herbs in this linctus.<ref>Monika Swami, Kanchan Swami, K. Shankar Rao, Concept of Swarnaprashana(Gold drops) As Jatakarma Samskara,IRJAY, January : 2021 Vol-4, Issue-1; 137-143</ref> Making baby lick the paste made up of herbs, honey , ghee and gold is known as Suvarnaprashana and is popular Ayurveda therapeutic procedure practiced in current times as well.

* Breast feeding  

* Breast feeding  

* Placing a pot filled with water consecrated by certain mantras near baby.

* Placing a pot filled with water consecrated by certain mantras near baby.

==== Suvarnaprashana ====

==== Suvarnaprashana ====

Swarnaprashan a type of Lehan given to baby by Suvarna Bhasma, honey and ghee serves the purpose of both nutrition and immunization. This Lehana (licking of medicine preparations) also gives an opportunity to physician to assess the rooting and sucking reflex of neonate. Honey and ghee have a rich caloric value, provide energy to baby whose previous source of nutrition from placenta has stopped. This first feed initiates gastrointestinal movements and activates the gut. Swarna Bhasma gives physical protection to baby. enhances brain development and is in micro particles easily absorbable by baby’s intestine.  

Suvarnaprashana (a type of medicine) given to baby under jatakarma samskara, derives its name from the chief ingredient of it, the Suvarna Bhasma (gold). The other ingredients are honey and ghee. Since the mixture is in the form of linctus and the baby is supposed to lick it, it is called as Suvarnaprashanama. It serves the purpose of both nutrition and immunization.

मभ्य मधुसर्पिभ्यां लेहयेत् कनकं शिशुम् ॥` सुत्णेप्राशनं द्येतन्मेधाग्निबलवधनम् |

अथास्य रक्षां विदध्यात्- आदानीखदिरकर्कन्धुपीलुपरूषकशाखाभिरस्या गृहं समन्ततः परिवारयेत्|

सर्वतश्च सूतिकागारस्य सर्षपातसीतण्डुलकणकणिकाः प्रकिरेयुः|

आयुष्य मङ्गल पुख्य वृष्य चस्य म्रहापहम् ॥ मासात् परसमेधाथी व्याधिभिने च धृष्यते |

वचाकुष्ठक्षौमकहिङ्गुसर्षपातसीलशुनकणकणिकानां रक्षोघ्नसमाख्यातानां चौषधीनां पोट्टलिकां बद्ध्वासूतिकागारस्योत्तरदेहल्यामवसृजेत्, तथा सूतिकायाः कण्ठे सपुत्रायाः, स्थाल्युदककुम्भपर्यङ्केष्वपि, तथैव चद्वयोर्द्वारपक्षयोः|

Breast feeding is to be given on the first day so to ensure proper nutrition and protective immunoglobulin present in colostrum. Early initiation of breast feed also stimulates prolactin reflex. When the baby sucks, the nerve ending in the nipple carry message to the anterior pituitary which in turn release prolactin and that acts on the alveolar glands in the breast to stimulate milk secretion. The water filled earthen jar may serve cooling purpose or maintenance of humidity in baby’s ward room.

 

Rakshavidhi is an integral part of Jatakarma samskara mentioned in Ayurveda.<ref>Charaka Samhita ([https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/ecaraka/?mod=read&h=rakShAvidhAna Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 47])</ref> The term Rakshavidhi indicates practices or procedures performed to protect a newborn child and also his/her mother. Ayurveda acharyas have given immense attention and importance to the newborn baby's protection. This includes protection from insects, microbes and also evil forces that have capacity to inflict the baby's [[Manas (मनः)|manas]] (mind) as per Ayurveda. The Rakshavidhi starts right from the birth of the baby and at every stage of childhood samskara it has been given first place. It is similar to modern day disinfection or sterilization methods in the objective but the methods differ. Ayurveda advocates use of certain herbs and food ingredients to be spread or kept near child in order to prevent infection and infliction of child's body-mind from external harmful factors. Following are the measures that are collectively called as Rakshavidhi,<ref>Available from charakasamhitaonline.com </ref>

 

 

ब्राह्मणश्चाथर्ववेदवित् सततमुभयकालं शान्तिं जुहुयात् स्वस्त्ययनार्थं कुमारस्य तथा सूतिकायाः|

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]

These are, rituals and measures that need to be put in place to protect the mother and the child. [47]

=== Applied aspects of Jatakarma samskara <ref>Panchal K, Baldaniya H. Concept of Sanskara and its relation to developmental milestone.International Journal of Applied Research 2017; 3(3): 422-426 </ref> ===

=== Applied aspects of Jatakarma samskara <ref>Panchal K, Baldaniya H. Concept of Sanskara and its relation to developmental milestone.International Journal of Applied Research 2017; 3(3): 422-426 </ref> ===