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=== संस्कारविधिः ॥ Samskara Vidhi ===

=== संस्कारविधिः ॥ Samskara Vidhi ===

From the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (VI.4.24) we come to know of a process of Jatakarma. This was to be performed when the father desired the child for the special purpose of studing the Vedas. The primitive customs were supplemented by the greeting of the child by the father and the whole was given sanctity by the addition of a homa to the ceremony.<ref name=":4" />

From the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (VI.4.24) we come to know of a process of Jatakarma. This was to be performed when the father desired the child for the special purpose of studying the Vedas. The primitive customs were supplemented by the greeting of the child by the father and the whole was given sanctity by the addition of a homa to the ceremony.<ref name=":4" />

In the Grhyasutras this Samskara is fully described. But here, too, the ritual is purely religious, and popular and superstitious elements are hardly given their proper scope. The Dharmasutras and the Smrtis do not give any descriptive details. The mediaeval treatises, however, introduce many preliminary items e.g. the arrangement of the maternity house, ceremony accompanying entry into it, presence of desirable persons near the expectant mother, and some other, observances which are otherwise unknown to earlier sources. The maternity house or Sutika Bhavan is arranged by the selection of a suitable room in the house, which is entered by the expectant mother a day or two before the delivery amidst auspicious sounds of conch shells and musical instruments.<ref name=":12" />

In the Grhyasutras this Samskara is fully described. But here, too, the ritual is purely religious, and popular and superstitious elements are hardly given their proper scope. The Dharmasutras and the Smrtis do not give any descriptive details. The mediaeval treatises, however, introduce many preliminary items e.g. the arrangement of the maternity house, ceremony accompanying entry into it, presence of desirable persons near the expectant mother, and some other, observances which are otherwise unknown to earlier sources. The maternity house or Sutika Bhavan is arranged by the selection of a suitable room in the house, which is entered by the expectant mother a day or two before the delivery amidst auspicious sounds of conch shells and musical instruments.<ref name=":12" />

In later times the moment of birth was noted with meticulous care for preparing horroscope, as it was thought to be a determining factor in the life of the child. Then the good news was brought to the father. Different sentiments were expressed at the birth of a boy and a girl, as different prospects were depending on them. The firstborn was liked to be a boy, as he freed the father from all ancestral debts. But for a sensible man a girl was not less meritorious, because her gift in marriage brought merits to the father. After this, the father went to the mother in order to see the 'face of the son', because by looking at the face of the newborn son the father is absolved from all debts and attains immortality.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>ऋणमस्मिन्सन्नयति अमृतत्वं च गच्छति। पिता पुत्रस्य जातस्य पश्येच्चेञ्जीवितो मुखम्।।<ref name=":12" /></blockquote>Having seen the face of the child, he bathed with his clothes on invited the elders and performed the Nandi-shraddha and Jatakarma ceremonies.<ref name=":12" /> These shraddhas are performed to please the ancestors. Such were observed by Nanda at the birth of Krishna.

In later times the moment of birth was noted with meticulous care for preparing horoscope, as it was thought to be a determining factor in the life of the child. Then the good news was brought to the father. Different sentiments were expressed at the birth of a boy and a girl, as different prospects were depending on them. The firstborn was liked to be a boy, as he freed the father from all ancestral debts. But for a sensible man a girl was not less meritorious, because her gift in marriage brought merits to the father. After this, the father went to the mother in order to see the 'face of the son', because by looking at the face of the newborn son the father is absolved from all debts and attains immortality.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>ऋणमस्मिन्सन्नयति अमृतत्वं च गच्छति। पिता पुत्रस्य जातस्य पश्येच्चेञ्जीवितो मुखम्।।<ref name=":12" /> जातं कुमारं स्वं दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वाऽनीय गुरुम् पिता। नान्दी श्राद्धावसाने तु जातकर्म समाचरेत् ॥ (Viramitrodaya)</blockquote>Summary: Having seen the face of the child, he bathed with his clothes on invited the elders and performed the Nandi-shraddha and Jatakarma ceremonies.<ref name=":12" /> This shraddha is performed to please the ancestors. Such were observed by Nanda at the birth of Krishna.

Special rites were prescribed if the child died in the birth. If the delivery was safe and the child was born alive a fire was lightened in the room to warm utensils and to smoke the child and the mother. This fire was kept burning for the days. Grains of rice and seeds of mustard were thrown into it with appropriate formulas to drive away various kinds of evil spirits. The Sutika fire was regarded impure and it disappeared on the tenth day when the grhya fire came into use after the purification of the mother and the child was performed.<ref name=":12" />

Special rites were prescribed if the child died in the birth. If the delivery was safe and the child was born alive a fire was lightened in the room to warm utensils and to smoke the child and the mother. This fire was kept burning for the days. Grains of rice and seeds of mustard were thrown into it with appropriate formulas to drive away various kinds of evil spirits. The Sutika fire was regarded impure and it disappeared on the tenth day when the grhya fire came into use after the purification of the mother and the child was performed.<ref name=":12" />

# '''Homa''': The samskara involves a preliminary homa with different oblations and mantras peculiar to each shaka of the Veda.

# '''Homa''': The samskara involves a preliminary homa with different oblations and mantras peculiar to each shaka of the Veda.

# '''Whispering in the child’s ear''': the father utter "Vak (speech)" three times in the right ear of the child Paraskara named this recitation as "Aayushya". It is a rite where the father blesses the child that he has strong limbs and a long life along with the recitation of certain mantras.

# '''Whispering in the child’s ear''': the father utter "Vak (speech)" three times in the right ear of the child Paraskara named this recitation as "Aayushya". It is a rite where the father blesses the child that he has strong limbs and a long life along with the recitation of certain mantras.

# '''Medhajanana: Feeding the child with honey and clarified butter''': Mentioned in nearly all Sutra text, this rite is very popular. The father should give the child a mixture of curds, honey and ghee using a gold piece (a ring) while reciting prescribed mantras.

# '''Medhajanana: Feeding the child with honey and clarified butter''': Mentioned in nearly all Sutra texts, this rite is very popular. The father should give the child a mixture of curds, honey and ghee using a gold piece (a ring) while reciting prescribed mantras.

# '''Namakarana''' i.e., naming the child is further described below. The child is given a nakshatranama, name coined according to the nakshatra in which the child is born. Many opine that this Namakarana vidhi is different from the actual Samaskara performed after the eleventh day (after [[Jaata-Asoucha (जाताशौचम्)|Jaata-Asoucha]]) following the purificatory rites.

# '''Namakarana''' i.e., naming the child is further described below. The child is given a nakshatranama, name coined according to the nakshatra in which the child is born. Many opine that this Namakarana vidhi is different from the actual Samaskara performed after the eleventh day (after [[Jaata-Asoucha (जाताशौचम्)|Jaata-Asoucha]]) following the purificatory rites.

# '''Stanapratidhana''' (giving the breast to the newborn): the father hands over the child to the mother and gives it the breast, with the recitation of mantras (given in Brhd. Upan (6.4.26) and sutra texts).

# '''Stanapratidhana''' (giving the breast to the newborn): the father hands over the child to the mother and gives it the breast, with the recitation of mantras (given in Brhd. Upan (6.4.26) and sutra texts).