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Jatakarma (Samskrit: जातकर्म) is the first samskara of a child, performed at the time of birth by the father. The helplessness of the mother and the newborn during her confinement required natural care, from which ceremonies connected with the birth of a child originated.

Jatakarma (Samskrit: जातकर्म) is the first samskara of a child, performed at the time of birth by the father. The helplessness of the mother and the newborn during her confinement required natural care, from which ceremonies connected with the birth of a child originated.

== Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

The man, who shared the pleasures in the company of his mate, sought to protect her and the baby, during the critical time of birth, from natural and, supernatural dangers. Thus the birth ceremonies had a natural basis in the physical conditions of child-birth. The primitive wonder, supernatural fear and natural care were, in course of time, combined with the cultural devices and aspirations to protect the mother and the child and to consecrate the baby.

The man, who shared the pleasures in the company of his mate, sought to protect her and the baby, during the critical time of birth, from natural and, supernatural dangers. Thus the birth ceremonies had a natural basis in the physical conditions of child-birth. The primitive wonder, supernatural fear and natural care were, in course of time, combined with the cultural devices and aspirations to protect the mother and the child and to consecrate the baby.

== Jatakarma in Vedic times ==

== वेदेषु जातकर्म विषयाः ॥ Jatakarma in Vedic times ==

In the '''Rigveda''', the word, "Janman" or birth occurs twice but used in the sense of relations. However, in the '''Atharvaveda''' we find a whole sukta (1.11) dedicated for the safe delivery of the child.<ref name=":12">Pandey, Raj Bali. (1949) ''Hindu Samskaras, A Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Banaras: Vikrama Publications. (Pages 116-129)</ref><blockquote>वषट्ते पूषन्न् अस्मिन्त्सूतावर्यमा होता कृणोतु वेधाः । सिस्रतां नार्यृतप्रजाता वि पर्वाणि जिहतां सूतवा उ ॥१॥ (Atha. Veda. 1.11.1)</blockquote>Meaning: O Pusha, spirit of life’s procreation, for the expectant mother, may every thing be good and auspicious in this child birth. May Aryama, creative law of nature, hota, the father, Vedha, the specialist physician, all be good and helpful and auspicious. May the mother give birth to the baby comfortably. May she relax all over her body system.<ref name=":32">Dr. Tulsi Ram (2013) ''Atharvaveda, Vol 1.'' Delhi: Vijaykumar Govindram Hasanand. (Pages 21 - 23)</ref>  

In the '''Rigveda''', the word, "Janman" or birth occurs twice but used in the sense of relations. However, in the '''Atharvaveda''' we find a whole sukta (1.11) dedicated for the safe delivery of the child.<ref name=":12">Pandey, Raj Bali. (1949) ''Hindu Samskaras, A Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Banaras: Vikrama Publications. (Pages 116-129)</ref><blockquote>वषट्ते पूषन्न् अस्मिन्त्सूतावर्यमा होता कृणोतु वेधाः । सिस्रतां नार्यृतप्रजाता वि पर्वाणि जिहतां सूतवा उ ॥१॥ (Atha. Veda. 1.11.1)</blockquote>Meaning: O Pusha, spirit of life’s procreation, for the expectant mother, may every thing be good and auspicious in this child birth. May Aryama, creative law of nature, hota, the father, Vedha, the specialist physician, all be good and helpful and auspicious. May the mother give birth to the baby comfortably. May she relax all over her body system.<ref name=":32">Dr. Tulsi Ram (2013) ''Atharvaveda, Vol 1.'' Delhi: Vijaykumar Govindram Hasanand. (Pages 21 - 23)</ref>  

Further, in the sukta, we find details such as the passage of the delivery, the descent of the placenta in the process of delivering the child showing that Vedic people had advanced knowledge of human biology, for example, in the mantra meaning "the cover of the foetus is not stuck in the flesh, nor in the fat, nor in marrow. Let the thin spotted sheet after birth be out for dogs to eat" tells us that they knew about the layers covering the foetus.<ref name=":32" />

Further, in the sukta, we find details such as the passage of the delivery, the descent of the placenta in the process of delivering the child showing that Vedic people had advanced knowledge of human biology, for example, in the mantra meaning "the cover of the foetus is not stuck in the flesh, nor in the fat, nor in marrow. Let the thin spotted sheet after birth be out for dogs to eat" tells us that they knew about the layers covering the foetus.<ref name=":32" />

== Jatakarma Samskara ==

== जातकर्म॥ Jatakarma Samskara ==

=== उपयुक्तकालः ॥ Suitable Time of Performance ===

=== उपयुक्तकालः ॥ Suitable Time of Performance ===

# '''Measures to keep off evil''' are described in Yajurveda sutras. Removal of evil "eye" (Drsta  kaadhane) is one popular rite practiced even today.  

# '''Measures to keep off evil''' are described in Yajurveda sutras. Removal of evil "eye" (Drsta  kaadhane) is one popular rite practiced even today.  

==== Nakshatra-nama ====

==== नक्षत्रनाम ॥ Nakshatra-nama ====

<blockquote>जातं वात्सप्रेण अभिमृश्य उत्तरेण यजुषा उपस्थे आधाय उत्तराभ्याम् अभिमन्त्रणम् मूर्धनि अवघ्राणं दक्षिणे कर्णे जापः। आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १५.१ ॥ jātaṃ vātsapreṇa abhimṛśya uttareṇa yajuṣā upasthe ādhāya uttarābhyām abhimantraṇam mūrdhani avaghrāṇaṃ dakṣiṇe karṇe jāpaḥ. Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 15.1 ॥</blockquote>

<blockquote>जातं वात्सप्रेण अभिमृश्य उत्तरेण यजुषा उपस्थे आधाय उत्तराभ्याम् अभिमन्त्रणम् मूर्धनि अवघ्राणं दक्षिणे कर्णे जापः। आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १५.१ ॥ jātaṃ vātsapreṇa abhimṛśya uttareṇa yajuṣā upasthe ādhāya uttarābhyām abhimantraṇam mūrdhani avaghrāṇaṃ dakṣiṇe karṇe jāpaḥ. Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 15.1 ॥</blockquote>

As soon as the (male) child is born the father should recite the Vātsaprānuvāka, i.e. "divaspari . . .", and touch (at the end of the Mantra), should take him into the lap while reciting the Yajus "asminnaham", recite two Mantras, viz., "aṅgādaṅgāt" and "aśmā bhava", for him and smell his head and the same Mantras are to be repeated in the right ear.<blockquote>नक्षत्रनाम च निर्दिशति; तद्रहस्यं भवति । आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १५.२, ३ ॥ nakṣatranāma ca nirdiśati; tadrahasyaṃ bhavati। Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 15.2, 3 ॥</blockquote>The father pronounces the Nakṣatranāma (name coined after the name of the birth star) also in the right ear secretly.

As soon as the (male) child is born the father should recite the Vātsaprānuvāka, i.e. "divaspari . . .", and touch (at the end of the Mantra), should take him into the lap while reciting the Yajus "asminnaham", recite two Mantras, viz., "aṅgādaṅgāt" and "aśmā bhava", for him and smell his head and the same Mantras are to be repeated in the right ear.<blockquote>नक्षत्रनाम च निर्दिशति; तद्रहस्यं भवति । आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम्, १५.२, ३ ॥ nakṣatranāma ca nirdiśati; tadrahasyaṃ bhavati। Āpastambagṛhyasūtram, 15.2, 3 ॥</blockquote>The father pronounces the Nakṣatranāma (name coined after the name of the birth star) also in the right ear secretly.