Line 1: |
Line 1: |
− | {{NeedCitation}}{{ToBeEdited}}
| + | Nishkramana Samskara is one of the Samskaras practiced by the followers of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatama dharma]]. It signifies new born child's first outdoor visit or first exposure to environment outside home. It is celebrated as a ceremony of socializing the newborn for the first time. It is the time when for the first time in his/her life the baby goes to the place outside home and the first place to visit is the temple. Divine blessings are invoked by offering prayers to Surya and Chandra devatas for the well being of the baby. |
| | | |
− | Nishkramana Samskara is one of the [[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|Shodasha Samskaras]] practiced in [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatama dharma]]. It signifies new born child's first outdoor visit or first exposure to environment outside home. It is celebrated as a ceremony of socializing the newborn for the first time. It is the time when 1st in his/her life the baby goes to the place outside home thus as a first place to visit, the baby is taken to the temple. God's blessing are invoked by offering prayers to various devatas for the well being of the baby. | + | == Introduction == |
| + | Nishkramana marks the baby's first step out of the house. This event is marked with the invocations of deities, which a 3 or 4 month old child may never understand, however, they are significant to the new parents to whom the child is the central point of hope, aspiration and their future. He is regarded as the boon given by the devatas. An prayer is recited to the elements of nature to guard and protect the child as he steps out of the house. Such a prayer appears to reflect the emotional state of the new parents, but more importantly it reveals the medical basis of the ritual involved in this Samskara. Such rituals reinforce the connect that ancient people had with nature and depict how they blended into the daily life of a person.<ref name=":02">Pt. Madhavacharya Shastri and Pt. Shrikanth Shastri (1952) ''[https://archive.org/details/whykyondharmadigdarsanpurvardhamadhavacharyashastri1952_248_E Kyon? Dharma Digdarshan, Purvardha.]'' Delhi: Madhav Pustakalay (Page 438 - )</ref> |
| | | |
− | == Time to perform Nishkramana Samskara == | + | All activities related to this samskara focus on improvement of the child's wellbeing. Advised to perform in the fourth month, it is the time when a child starts to recognize the outside world both by his jnana and karma indriyas. He becomes older and stronger enough to bear the natural forces such as wind and heat.<ref name=":02" /> |
− | Nishkramana is performed when the child becomes 4 months old. The time described for this is appropriate as by this time baby develops enough immunity and tolerance to external environment. The presence of a Vaidya (pediatrician) on this occasion provides an opportunity for routine check up and examination of normal milestones development in baby. | + | |
| + | == Nishkramana Samskara == |
| + | |
| + | === Time to perform the samskara === |
| + | Nishkramana is performed when the child is four months old. The time described for this is appropriate as by this time baby develops enough immunity and tolerance to external environment. The presence of a Vaidya (pediatrician) on this occasion provides an opportunity for routine check up and examination of normal milestones development in baby. |
| | | |
| === Some developmental milestones of a child at 4th month === | | === Some developmental milestones of a child at 4th month === |