Annaprashana (अन्नप्राशनम्)

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Annam means cooked rice and prāśanam is feeding. The child is to be fed rice –

जन्मनोऽपि षष्ठे मासि ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा आशिषो वाचयित्वा दधिमधुघृतम् ओदनम् इति संसृज्य अवदाय उत्तरैः मन्त्रैः कुमारं प्राशयेत्। आपस्तम्बगृह्यसूत्रम् १६.१॥

janmano'pi ṣaṣṭhe māsi brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā āśiṣo vācayitvā dadhimadhughṛtam odanam iti saṃsṛjya avadāya uttaraiḥ mantraiḥ kumāraṃ prāśayet। Āpastambagṛhyasūtram 16.1॥

In the sixth month, when days are counted from the day of birth, i.e. after one hundred and fifty days, the sixth Saṃskāra called Annaprāśanam has to be performed. Having fed Brāhmaṇas and received benedictions from them, the son should be made to taste rice mixed with curd, honey and ghee (clarified butter), while the four Mantras, starting with "bhūrāpam" are being recited.

This is the act of introduction of the solid food material for the first time. It is performed at 10th month (Kashyapa), 6th month (Susruta and Vagbhata) or 5th/6th month (Gruhya sutras).[32] According to Kashyapa, on the day of ceremony in Prajapatya Nakshatra, cooked food is kept in between the square place prepared by besmearing the cow dung. The sign of swastika is made on that. A picture filled with water is also placed there. Physician is the performer of the ceremony. After offering the food to the Agni the remaining part of the food is offered to child for 3 or 5 times.[33][34]

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. 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)

Phalprashana and Annaprashana Samskara (Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2017;5(5):78-81)

Phalprashana

Acharya Kashyapa said that child should be given fruit juices from the age of 6 months. Annaprashana Age of child Acharya Kashyapa: 10th month Acharya Susruta: 6th month Dharma Sindhu Sara: between 6-12 months, depending on availability of milk. For male child, in even months and for female, child in odd months.

Annaprashana should be done on an auspicious day. After igniting fire, a delicious diet comprising of cereals and drinks made from meat of Laavaka, Kapinjala etc., should be first offered as oblation to the fire along with chanting of mantras. After oblation, the remaining food made soft by mashing is given to child 3 or 5 times in a quantity equal to that of a thumb (Angustha Matra). Importance of Annaprashana Samskara

 Fruit juices provide vitamin c and other nutrients to child.

 By this time the child digestive system get ready to digest complex food substances.

 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.

 Teeth eruption also starts in child by this time.