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Nishkramana Samskara (निष्क्रमणम्) (view source)
Revision as of 21:54, 10 May 2022
, 21:54, 10 May 2022adding content
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 (Samskrit: निष्क्रमणम्) 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.
== Introduction ==
== 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>
When the child and mother withdraw out of the Sutikagriham, the mother slowly begins to take part in the family life again. The child's world also widened to move to any part of the house. But within a month or, two the universe of the child was found too small. The curiosities of the child and the movements of its limbs required wider scope to satisfy themselves. So it was thought proper that it should be introduced to the outer world. Indeed, it was a land-mark in the life of the child and the parents gave expressions to the sense of joy at this occasion. Life outside the house, however, was not free from natural and supernatural dangers. Therefore, for the protection of the child, deities were worshipped and divine help was sought.<ref name=":12">Pandey, Raj Bali. (1949) ''Hindu Samskaras, A Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Banaras: Vikrama Publications. (Pages 145-)</ref>
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. The child is regarded as the boon bestowed by the devatas. A 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 the rituals 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>
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" />
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 Samskara ==
== Nishkramana Samskara ==
The custom of taking the child out ceremoniously may be very old, but we do not get any reference to it in the Vedic literature. Smrtis and Nibandhas elaborate the rituals and customs relating to it.<ref name=":12" />
=== Time of performance ===
According to various texts the time for performing the Nishkaramana samskara varied from the twelfth day after the birth to the fourth month. <blockquote>चतुर्थे मासि कर्तव्यं शिशोर्निष्क्रमणं गृहात् । (Manu. Smrt. 2.34)
चतुर्थे मासि निष्क्रमणिका ५ सूर्यमुदीक्षयति तच्चक्षुरिति ६ (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 1.17.5-6)</blockquote>The twelfth day is recommended by the Bhavishya Purana and the Brhaspati Smrti only perhaps performed with the Namakarana, when the child was brought out of the Sutikagrha for giving it a name. According to the Grhyashtras and the Smrtis was that this Samskara took place either in the third or in the fourth month after the birth. The rationale of the option between the third and the fourth month is supplied by Yama, who says, "The ceremony of looking at the sun should be performed in the third, and that of looking at the moon in the fourth month.”<ref name=":12" />
If the above prescribed dates expired, the Nishkramana was performed with the Annaprasana ceremony in the opinion of Ashvalayana. There are many astrologically objectionable dates when the ceremony should be postponed. The above options were based on the convenience of the parents, the health of the child and suitability of the weather.<ref name=":12" />
=== Adhikara to perform the Samskara ===
According to the Grhyasutras, the father and the mother performed the ceremony. But the Puranas and the astrological works extend this privilege to others also. In the opinion of the Muhurtasarhgraha it was desirable that the maternal uncle should be invited to perform the ceremony. The Visnudharmottara recommends that the solicitous nurse should take the child out.
These customs are non-Vedic and popular. When the Samskara was regarded a domestic sacrifice, only the father could properly perform it. But when it ceased to be so, the right of performance was transferred even to persons other than him.<ref name=":12" />
=== Ceremony and the Significance ===
On the day of performing the Samskara, a square portion of the court-yard, is plastered with cow dung.
== Ayurveda Perspectives ==
=== Time to perform the samskara ===
=== Time to perform the samskara ===