Difference between revisions of "Upaveshana Samskara (उपवेशन संस्कारः)"
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== Samskara vidhi == | == 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 | + | 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. |
| − | Preparation of baby | + | === Preparation of baby === |
| + | The baby should be bathed, adorned with ornaments and dressed in new clothes. | ||
| − | + | The baby should not be sick or unwell on the day of samskara | |
| − | + | === Preparation of the sitting place: === | |
| + | The place where the upaveshana samskara is to be performed is prepared beforehand. <ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthana Adhyaya 12 Sutra 9)</ref> | ||
| − | + | In earlier times the floor which was merely made up of soil used to be smeared with cow dung (a traditional method to prepare a ground). But if the samskara is performed in current times, it just means that the place where baby is going to sit should be thoroughly cleaned, wiped or sanitized. | |
| − | The | + | The place should be safe for the bay. It means that the objects that are sharp or may cause injury to the child on contact should be removed from that place. The place or site of sitting baby should be thoroughly checked for presence of insects, ants etc to prevent any incidents of insect bite as well. |
| − | + | The place is also decorated with various attractive toys with which the baby can play. | |
| − | + | === 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 and brahamana by offering food and donation. | ||
| − | + | === The process === | |
| + | The actual process of upaveshana samskara is simple and short. The baby is made to sit facing eastwards in the middle of the prepared site for some time. After this, child is lifted up carefully. The whole process has to be repeated daily. One has to take care that child should not be made to sit for long duration. | ||
| − | + | ==== Duration of sitting ==== | |
| + | Ayurveda scholars have advised that, the child should not be made to sit for more than 1 muhurta i.e. 48 minutes. | ||
| − | + | ==== Frequency ==== | |
| + | The whole process has to be repeated daily. | ||
| − | + | ==== Adverse effects if the child is made to sit for a longer time than prescribed - ==== | |
| + | The activity of sitting certainly requires more energy than that of sleeping or lying down. Thus when the baby is made to sit in initial days, it is to be looked after that the activity of sitting is performed in a controlled manner i.e. for a limited period. There are some adverse health effects seen in the baby due to sitting for prolonged time. Ayurveda acharyas have listed those adverse effects as below, <ref>Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthana Adhyaya 12 Sutra 10-16)</ref> | ||
| − | + | # Staimitya - Rigidity, immobility or numbness in limbs | |
| + | # Kati dourbalya - Weakness in low back region | ||
| + | # Prushthabhanga - Breaking (pain) at back or inability to sit straight | ||
| + | # Shrama - Exertion and tiredness | ||
| + | # Jwara - Fever | ||
| + | # Sanrodha of vit, mutra, anila- Total constipation leading to retention of feces, urine and flatus | ||
| + | # Adhmana - Bloating | ||
| − | + | ==== Adverse effects of making child sit before 5th or 6th month- ==== | |
| + | If the child of small age i.e. lesser than 5-6 months or the one who is weak and hasn't appear to have gained enough strength to sit, is made to sit early and for long time it leads to multiple health issues like, | ||
| − | + | # Gatrabhedana - Injury to the limbs | |
| + | # Nirghata- Inability to balance body weight and hence the child keeps on falling down | ||
| + | # Jarjar angata- Limbs become weak | ||
| + | # Vedana- Pain at various body parts | ||
| + | # Jwara- Fever | ||
| + | # Disturbance in growth and development | ||
| + | # Inability to develop strength and firmness in the body | ||
| − | + | '''Other issues''' | |
| + | In the ancient times, when the man was living in the lap of nature, it was common to have incidences of various reptiles and insects entering into the house. Since most of these are commonly spotted on the ground and the child can not identify and protect himself, it was described that, the child who sits for a long time on ground also faces danger of injuries and bites from such animals. Therefore prolonged sitting should be avoided. | ||
| − | + | == Importance of Upaveshana Samskara == | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Upaveshana Samskara explains accurate timing for sitting of child. Sitting in early age can leads to complications like vitiation of Vata Dosha, fever, pain and arrest in further growth. | Upaveshana Samskara explains accurate timing for sitting of child. Sitting in early age can leads to complications like vitiation of Vata Dosha, fever, pain and arrest in further growth. | ||
| Line 59: | Line 77: | ||
Introduction to toys in this ceremony provides visual, auditory and sensory stimulation to child, so finally helps in better growth and developments. Toys introduction to child also provides psychological satisfaction to child. (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.) | Introduction to toys in this ceremony provides visual, auditory and sensory stimulation to child, so finally helps in better growth and developments. Toys introduction to child also provides psychological satisfaction to child. (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.) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Daily the child is trained to sit for a while and thus by 12 months of age, he shall be able to sit without support. This is a method of giving stimulus for the ability to sit in a normally growing child. It also assess the different milestones such as rolling over, sitting with support, sitting without support, crawling, creeping etc. (.Arun Raj GR1*, Shailaja U2, Prasanna N Rao. Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383 | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
Revision as of 14:21, 18 April 2022
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This article needs editing.
Add and improvise the content from reliable sources. |
Upaveshana samskara is described in Ayurveda texts under childhood samskaras. The term upaveshana refers to the act of sitting. Thus it is the samskara done in the period wen 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
उप + विश--भावे ल्युट् । (वसा) १ आसने २ स्थापने (Vachaspatyam)[1]
The term is made up of 2 parts, 'Upa' and 'Visha'. Collectively it refers to the act of sitting.
Time to perform upaveshana samskara
Ayurveda acharyas have proposed following time to perform this samskara. [2] [3]
- Ashtanga Samgraha, : Upaveshana samskara to be done in the 5th month
- Kashyapa Samhita : It is to be performed in the 6th month.
According to Kashyapa Samhita, this samskara is performed along with the Phalaprashana Samskara in 6th month.
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.
Preparation of baby
The baby should be bathed, adorned with ornaments and dressed in new clothes.
The baby should not be sick or unwell on the day of samskara
Preparation of the sitting place:
The place where the upaveshana samskara is to be performed is prepared beforehand. [4]
In earlier times the floor which was merely made up of soil used to be smeared with cow dung (a traditional method to prepare a ground). But if the samskara is performed in current times, it just means that the place where baby is going to sit should be thoroughly cleaned, wiped or sanitized.
The place should be safe for the bay. It means that the objects that are sharp or may cause injury to the child on contact should be removed from that place. The place or site of sitting baby should be thoroughly checked for presence of insects, ants etc to prevent any incidents of insect bite as well.
The place is also decorated with various attractive toys with which the baby can play.
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 and brahamana by offering food and donation.
The process
The actual process of upaveshana samskara is simple and short. The baby is made to sit facing eastwards in the middle of the prepared site for some time. After this, child is lifted up carefully. The whole process has to be repeated daily. One has to take care that child should not be made to sit for long duration.
Duration of sitting
Ayurveda scholars have advised that, the child should not be made to sit for more than 1 muhurta i.e. 48 minutes.
Frequency
The whole process has to be repeated daily.
Adverse effects if the child is made to sit for a longer time than prescribed -
The activity of sitting certainly requires more energy than that of sleeping or lying down. Thus when the baby is made to sit in initial days, it is to be looked after that the activity of sitting is performed in a controlled manner i.e. for a limited period. There are some adverse health effects seen in the baby due to sitting for prolonged time. Ayurveda acharyas have listed those adverse effects as below, [5]
- Staimitya - Rigidity, immobility or numbness in limbs
- Kati dourbalya - Weakness in low back region
- Prushthabhanga - Breaking (pain) at back or inability to sit straight
- Shrama - Exertion and tiredness
- Jwara - Fever
- Sanrodha of vit, mutra, anila- Total constipation leading to retention of feces, urine and flatus
- Adhmana - Bloating
Adverse effects of making child sit before 5th or 6th month-
If the child of small age i.e. lesser than 5-6 months or the one who is weak and hasn't appear to have gained enough strength to sit, is made to sit early and for long time it leads to multiple health issues like,
- Gatrabhedana - Injury to the limbs
- Nirghata- Inability to balance body weight and hence the child keeps on falling down
- Jarjar angata- Limbs become weak
- Vedana- Pain at various body parts
- Jwara- Fever
- Disturbance in growth and development
- Inability to develop strength and firmness in the body
Other issues
In the ancient times, when the man was living in the lap of nature, it was common to have incidences of various reptiles and insects entering into the house. Since most of these are commonly spotted on the ground and the child can not identify and protect himself, it was described that, the child who sits for a long time on ground also faces danger of injuries and bites from such animals. Therefore prolonged sitting should be avoided.
Importance of Upaveshana Samskara
Upaveshana Samskara explains accurate timing for sitting of child. Sitting in early age can leads to complications like vitiation of Vata Dosha, fever, pain and arrest in further growth.
According to modern science also, child should start sitting in tripod position by this age. So it helps in assessment of gross motor milestone of child. By this age child should developed unidextrous reach for a toy or object.
Introduction to toys in this ceremony provides visual, auditory and sensory stimulation to child, so finally helps in better growth and developments. Toys introduction to child also provides psychological satisfaction to child. (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.)
Daily the child is trained to sit for a while and thus by 12 months of age, he shall be able to sit without support. This is a method of giving stimulus for the ability to sit in a normally growing child. It also assess the different milestones such as rolling over, sitting with support, sitting without support, crawling, creeping etc. (.Arun Raj GR1*, Shailaja U2, Prasanna N Rao. Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383
References
- ↑ Vachaspatyam
- ↑ Arun Raj GR1*, Shailaja U2, Prasanna N Rao. Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci., Vol.2, No.12 (2013) Pages 372 - 383
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthana Adhyaya 12 Sutra 9)
- ↑ Kashyapa Samhita (Khilasthana Adhyaya 12 Sutra 10-16)