Changes

* During Phalaprashana the child is made to sit in front of the liquids and the one he touches first is then offered to him in very little introductory quantity. Kashyapa described that the fruit pulp/juice or rice at first day should be given only 3 to 5 times and that too in a dose that would stay on his/her thumb of hand. Once the ceremony of introducing baby to the food is over, he is then permitted to play with the toys and mingle with other children.

* During Phalaprashana the child is made to sit in front of the liquids and the one he touches first is then offered to him in very little introductory quantity. Kashyapa described that the fruit pulp/juice or rice at first day should be given only 3 to 5 times and that too in a dose that would stay on his/her thumb of hand. Once the ceremony of introducing baby to the food is over, he is then 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 (अग्निदेवता)''']] (oblation to ignited fire) in a puja chanting following mantra praising [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara (अन्नम् वा आहारः)''']] and its importance to mankind.

* For Annaprashana, whatever food items are prepared for the samskara are first offered to [[Agni (अग्निः)|'''Agni devata (अग्निदेवता)''']] (oblation to ignited fire) in a puja chanting following mantra praising [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara (अन्नम् वा आहारः)''']] and its importance to mankind.

<blockquote>यथा सुराणाममृतं नागेन्द्राणां यथा सुधा ।

<blockquote>यथा सुराणाममृतं नागेन्द्राणां यथा सुधा । तथाऽन्न प्राणिनां प्राणा अन्नं चाहुः प्रज।पतिम् ॥१६॥

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>

 

 

 

prajāpatiravamanyatāṁ sāhā । (Kash. Samh. 12.16-17)</blockquote>

* In this way, first the respects are paid to [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara (अन्नम् वा आहारः)''']], and only then that food is offered to the child. 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.

* In this way, first the respects are paid to [[Ahara (आहारः)|'''Anna or ahara (अन्नम् वा आहारः)''']], and only then that food is offered to the child. 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.

== Scientific aspects ==

== 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.

It is accepted even by western medical science that ideally the child should be exclusively breast fed up to the 6th month of age. It is till this time that his digestive system organs and their function is not fully matured. However, the child's growth and development happens in a fast pace. Till the age of 6 months, breast milk can fulfill all the requirements of the child. But, after 6 months, the child's digestive system get ready to digest complex food substances.<ref>Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81</ref> The child starts sitting with own support, rolls from prone to supine position.<ref name=":4">Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383</ref> Teeth eruption also starts in child by this time These activities certainly require more energy than sleeping or laying down activity of child previously. Thus the nutritional requirements of child increase. Breast milk is deficient in iron, vitamin A, D, K and calcium.. Rich carbohydrate, fatty & proteinaceous food in solid form can only fulfil the nutritional needs. Thus, this is the right time to introduce solid food to child in addition to breast feed. A child who receives solid food late, suffers from a number of deficiency diseases like rickets, scurvy etc.<ref name=":4" /> Therefore, by performing the ceremony and starting the external food like fruits and other easily digestible solid foods through Phalaprashana an dAnnaprashana samskara to the child, one can reduce the deficiency of essential vitamins and other nutrients and prevent deficiency diseases which might occur if the nutrition of the child is neglected.

 

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)

 

 Teeth eruption also starts in child by this time.(Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Samskaras]]

[[Category:Samskaras]]