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Annaprasana (Samskrit:अन्नप्रासनम्) is the samskara of feeding the child with solid food for the first time in its life. Feeding with solid food is the next important stage in the life of the child after stepping out of the house. Until this stage the child was fed on mother's milk. As the child  develops it requires greater amount of nutrients. Hence around six months of age the child is started on increased nourishment. It is introduced with different types of food, along with the mother's milk for additional supplements.<ref name=":12">Pandey, Raj Bali. (1949) ''Hindu Samskaras, A Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Banaras: Vikrama Publications. (Pages 151-)</ref>

Annaprashana (Samskrit:अन्नप्राशनम्) is the samskara of feeding the child with solid food for the first time in its life. Feeding with solid food is the next important stage in the life of the child after stepping out of the house. Until this stage the child was fed on mother's milk. As the child  develops it requires greater amount of nutrients. Hence around six months of age the child is started on increased nourishment. It is introduced with different types of food, along with mother's milk for additional supplements.<ref name=":12">Pandey, Raj Bali. (1949) ''Hindu Samskaras, A Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments.'' Banaras: Vikrama Publications. (Pages 151-157)</ref>

== Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Anna (अन्नम्), is a lifegiving substance and has long been recognised as the constituent of the Annamayakosha, the physical body. People were aware from the ancient time that there was something mysterious about it from which life emanated. That source of energy was to be infused into the child with the help of deities.<ref name=":12" />

Anna (अन्नम्), is a lifegiving substance and has long been recognised as the constituent of the Annamayakosha, the physical body. People were aware from the ancient time that there was something mysterious about it from which life emanated. That source of energy was to be infused into the child with the help of deities.<ref name=":12" />

Annaprasana marks this event of the child where solid food is introduced to it. Thus this Samskara was connected with the satisfaction of the physical need of the child. This fact is endorsed by Acharya Sushruta, who prescribes the weaning of a child in the sixth month and describes the types of food to be given. It was only later on that this system of feeding the child for the first time assumed a religions shape. For the benefit of the child and the mother both', it was thought necessary that the child should not be wholly dependent on mother's milk and some substitute for her milk should be given to the baby.

Annaprashana marks this event of the child where solid food is introduced to it. Thus this Samskara was connected with the satisfaction of the physical need of the child. This fact is endorsed by Acharya Sushruta, who prescribes the weaning of a child in the sixth month and describes the types of food to be given. It was only later on that this system of feeding the child for the first time assumed a religions shape. For the benefit of the child and the mother both', it was thought necessary that the child should not be wholly dependent on mother's milk and some substitute for her milk should be given to the baby.

== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

Annam means cooked rice and prāśanam is feeding. The child is to be fed rice mixed with ghee and other items–<blockquote>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॥</blockquote>

Annam means cooked rice and prāśanam is feeding. The child is to be fed rice mixed with ghee and other items–<blockquote>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॥</blockquote>

== अन्नप्राशनम् ॥ Annaprashana Samskara ==

== अन्नप्राशनम् ॥ Annaprashana Samskara ==

=== Time of Performance ===

=== Time of Performance ===

According to many Grhyasutras (, the ceremony was performed in the sixth month after the birth of the child.

According to many Grhyasutras, the ceremony was to be performed in the sixth month after the birth of the child.<blockquote>षष्ठे मासेऽन्नप्राशनम् १ (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 1.19.1)

 

षष्ठे मासेऽन्नप्राशनम् १ (Para. Grhy. Sutr. 1.19.1)

The types of food were also mentioned in the texts. The simple prescription was that food of all kinds and of different sorts of flavours should be mixed together and given to the child to eat.<ref name=":12" /> At this time of growth there is requirement of salt in the food for the child. Since it is also the teething time, children tend to consume mud and as such giving food with salt helps to stop such activities.<ref name=":02" /> Some prescribe a mixture of curd, honey and ghee. Different kinds of food, including meat, were recommended for different ends. The later-day tendency, however, was towards vegetarianism, it was due to the belief in non-violence which influenced the Indian diet to a great extent. But animal products like curd, ghee and milk were still retained and regarded as the choicest articles of food for the child. The Markandeya-Purana recommends a mess of milk and rice with honey and ghee. It later on became a practice of giving milk and rice during Annaprashana and even in daily routine.<ref name=":12" />

षष्ठेऽन्नप्राशनं मासि यद्वेष्टं मङ्गलं कुले । । २.३४ । । (Manu. Smrt. 2.34)

Whatever the type of food may be, one thing was kept in mind that it should be light and conducive to the health of the child. Sushruta says, “One should feed the child in the sixth month with light and suitable food’’.

Langakshi however, differs about the time and prescribes an individual test when the child could digest solid food. He gives the option, “Or after teeth come out.’ Teeth were the visible signs that the child was able to take solid food. Giving food before the fourth month was strictly prohibited. For weak children further extension of time was allowed. The feeding ceremony should be performed in the sixth solar month after the birth; if postponed, in the eighth, ninth or tenth month; some view that it might be performed when the child is one year old. Even months for boys and odd ones for girls were prescribed.  

The auspicious day is chosen as per the panchanga. On the day of the feeding ceremony 'the materials of sacrificial food were first of all cleansed and then cooked with appropriate Veda mantras. Speech, vigour, breath, and sense organs are invoked with appropriate mantras for the well being of the body which is made of "Anna". Here "Anna" is used in a wide sense. The prayer was offered that all the senses of the child should be gratified so that he may live a happy and contended life. In the end the father set apart food of all kinds and flavours for feeding the child and fed it silently or with the syllable “Hant (well!)’’. The ceremony terminated with the feasting .of the Brahmans.<ref name=":12" />

=== Different kinds of Food ===

The types of food were also mentioned in the texts. The simple prescription was that food of all kinds and of different sorts of flavours should be mixed together and given to the child to eat. Some prescribe a mixture of curd, honey and ghee.

 

== Biological Implications ==

The significance of the Annaprashana-Sanskara was that the children were weaned away from their mothers at proper time. They were not left at the caprice of their parents who often injure their children by overfeeding them without taking into consideration their digestive capacity. The feeding ceremony also warned the mother that at a certain time she should stop suckling the child. The ignorant mother, out of love for her child, goes on suckling it up to year or more, thereby she allows her own energy to be sapped away without doing real good to the child. A timely caution was given by the ceremony for the benefit of both the child and the mother.<ref name=":12" />

 

Since the prescription of solid food contains rice, corn, curd, ghee, some kinds of fruits etc, the nutrient intake of the child significantly increases to fulfil its biological demands. Nutrition-wise the food given to the child should have specified levels of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fiber; alongside on many labels it is mentioned that "Breast milk is best for your baby. Give cereals in addition to mother's milk". Unfortunately, due to various reasons the mothers of present times are refraining from breast feeding their infants. While Annaprashana focuses on additional supplements, breast feeding till the specified age is a requirement. Today we find that tinned food or processed food is greatly used in many parts of the world to reduce the burden of cooking fresh food. Such measures are detrimental to the child who at such a young age is exposed to the harmful chemicals used in preparing processed foods. The aim of Annaprashana is to introduce a wholesome diet to the child with the element of sacredness and purity in the act of eating food. Though the child is personally unaware of the benefits of the samskara, it instills sanctity and carefulness in the mother to prepare a healthy diet for the child.<ref>Ramakrishna Rao, K. V. (1994) ''[https://ia803008.us.archive.org/30/items/ThePsychologyOfSamskaras/The%20Psychology%20of%20Samskaras_text.pdf The Psychology of Samskaras.]'' Article in Vivekananda Kendra Patrika. (Pages 56-65)</ref>

== आयुर्वेदे अन्नप्राशनम् ॥ Annaprashana as in Ayurveda ==

== आयुर्वेदे अन्नप्राशनम् ॥ Annaprashana as in Ayurveda ==