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Upaveshana samskara (उपवेशन संस्कारः) is described in Ayurveda texts under childhood [[samskaras (संस्काराः)]] . The term upaveshana (उपवेशनम्) refers to the act of sitting. Thus it is the samskara done in the period when the child is made to sit for the first time in life. Making a baby sit with or without support, baby's ability to do so by own and the effects of sitting for a long time all these aspects are related to health of the baby. Thus Ayurveda scholars seem to have meticulously studied it and proposed an appropriate method for it under Upaveshana samskara.

Upaveshana samskara (उपवेशन संस्कारः) is described in Ayurveda texts under childhood [[samskaras (संस्काराः)]] . The term upaveshana (उपवेशनम्) refers to the act of sitting. Thus it is the samskara done in the period when the child is made to sit for the first time in life. Making a baby sit with or without support, baby's ability to do so by own and the effects of sitting for a long time all these aspects are related to health of the baby. Thus Ayurveda scholars seem to have meticulously studied it and proposed an appropriate method for it under Upaveshana samskara.

== Etymolgy ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः॥ Etymolgy ==

उप + विश--भावे ल्युट् । (वसा) १ आसने २ स्थापने (Vachaspatyam)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3 Vachaspatyam] </ref>

उप + विश--भावे ल्युट् । (वसा) १ आसने २ स्थापने (Vachaspatyam)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3 Vachaspatyam] </ref>

The term is made up of 2 parts, 'Upa' (उप) and 'Visha' (विश्). Collectively it refers to the act of sitting.  

The term is made up of 2 parts, 'Upa' (उप) and 'Visha' (विश्). Collectively it refers to the act of sitting.  

== Time to perform upaveshana samskara ==

== उपवेशनसंस्कारस्य कालम्॥ Time to perform upaveshana samskara ==

Ayurveda acharyas have proposed following time to perform this samskara.  <ref name=":0">Arun Raj GR1*, Shailaja U2, Prasanna N Rao. Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383</ref> <ref name=":1">Shobhit Kumar. A Critical Appraisal on Various Samskara’s with their Scientific and Medical Importance in Pediatric Age Group. International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research. 2017;5(5):78-81.</ref>

Ayurveda acharyas have proposed following time to perform this samskara.  <ref name=":0">Arun Raj GR1*, Shailaja U2, Prasanna N Rao. Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383</ref> <ref name=":1">Shobhit Kumar. A Critical Appraisal on Various Samskara’s with their Scientific and Medical Importance in Pediatric Age Group. International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research. 2017;5(5):78-81.</ref>

According to Kashyapa Samhita, this samskara is performed along with the Phalaprashana Samskara (फलप्राशन संस्कारः) in 6th month.  

According to Kashyapa Samhita, this samskara is performed along with the Phalaprashana Samskara (फलप्राशन संस्कारः) in 6th month.  

== Samskara vidhi ==

== संस्कारविधिः॥ Samskara vidhi ==

Samskaras practiced in Sanatana dharma were supposed to be celebrated in a ceremonious manner. Upaveshana samskara is not an exception to it. It is the samskara wherein the newborn child is made to sit for the first time in his/her life. Usually before this, the child in always kept in lying down position and all his/her activities like eating, playing with the toys are performed in that same position only. Now when the child develops sufficient strength to hold his neck, back, and weight against gravity, he/she enters a new phase of life. For this, the child has to develop certain amount of strength in muscles, bones, joints etc. Thus when this samskara or act of making child sit with or without support is not done properly it can lead to serious adverse effects on the child's health. Hence Ayurveda acharyas have given guidelines and instructions so as to make this transition smooth and trouble-free for the baby.  

Samskaras practiced in Sanatana dharma were supposed to be celebrated in a ceremonious manner. Upaveshana samskara is not an exception to it. It is the samskara wherein the newborn child is made to sit for the first time in his/her life. Usually before this, the child in always kept in lying down position and all his/her activities like eating, playing with the toys are performed in that same position only. Now when the child develops sufficient strength to hold his neck, back, and weight against gravity, he/she enters a new phase of life. For this, the child has to develop certain amount of strength in muscles, bones, joints etc. Thus when this samskara or act of making child sit with or without support is not done properly it can lead to serious adverse effects on the child's health. Hence Ayurveda acharyas have given guidelines and instructions so as to make this transition smooth and trouble-free for the baby.  

The place is also decorated with various attractive toys with which the baby can play.

The place is also decorated with various attractive toys with which the baby can play.

=== Worship of deities ===

=== देवतापूजनम् ॥ Worship of deities ===

Before starting the samskara, parents, relatives and all those present at the time should first worship the deities, offer prayers to devatas (देवता)  and brahamana (ब्राह्मन्) by offering food and donation.  

Before starting the samskara, parents, relatives and all those present at the time should first worship the deities, offer prayers to devatas (देवता)  and brahamana (ब्राह्मन्) by offering food and donation.  

Vagbhata (वाग्भटः) in Ashtanga Samgraha has advised to start samskara by giving bali (बलिम्) to all 4 directions  <blockquote>बलिं दत्वा चतुर्दिशम् (Asht. Samg. 1. 36)<ref name=":2">Ashtanga Samgraha (Uttarasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 36)</ref> </blockquote>And last but not the least, Vagbhata has described a mantra which should be chanted and the mother earth should be worshiped which would be holding the child in place in this samskara and thereafter in life. The mantra to be chanted is as follows,<blockquote>धरण्यशेषभूतानां माता त्वमसि कामधुक्|

Vagbhata (वाग्भटः) in Ashtanga Samgraha has advised to start samskara by giving bali (बलिम्) to all 4 directions  <blockquote>बलिं दत्वा चतुर्दिशम् (Asht. Samg. 1. 36)<ref name=":2">Ashtanga Samgraha (Uttarasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutra 36)</ref>  

अजरा चाप्रमेया च सर्वभूतनमस्कृता|

baliṃ datvā caturdiśam  </blockquote>And last but not the least, Vagbhata has described a mantra which should be chanted and the mother earth should be worshiped which would be holding the child in place in this samskara and thereafter in life. The mantra to be chanted is as follows,<blockquote>धरण्यशेषभूतानां माता त्वमसि कामधुक्| अजरा चाप्रमेया च सर्वभूतनमस्कृता|

चराचराणां लोकानां प्रतिष्ठास्यव्ययासि च|

चराचराणां लोकानां प्रतिष्ठास्यव्ययासि च| कुमारं पाहि मातेव ब्रह्मा तदनुमन्यताम्| (Asht. Samg. 1. 36)<ref name=":2" />

कुमारं पाहि मातेव ब्रह्मा तदनुमन्यताम्| (Asht. Samg. 1. 36)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>With this mantra, mother earth is praised. Mantra expresses gratitude towards mother earth for holding all the lives in place and requests her to protect and safeguard the child for lifetime on whom the samskara is being done. The land/soil/ground is worshipped and given a place or name of mother, the mother earth for supporting and nurturing all lives.  

 

carācarāṇāṃ lokānāṃ pratiṣṭhāsyavyayāsi ca| kumāraṃ pāhi māteva brahmā tadanumanyatām| (Asht. Samg. 1. 36)</blockquote>With this mantra, mother earth is praised. Mantra expresses gratitude towards mother earth for holding all the lives in place and requests her to protect and safeguard the child for lifetime on whom the samskara is being done. The land/soil/ground is worshipped and given a place or name of mother, the mother earth for supporting and nurturing all lives.  

=== The process ===

=== The process ===