by padma

Created on: April 20, 2009

Hindu rituals of a new born baby.

Hinduism abound with rich rituals that are meant to bless the individual, bringing him closer to his spiritual self and most importantly prepares the soul and the individual for the next stage of life by impressing upon his unconscious being the subtle vibrations of the chants and mantras being sung for the particular samskara ( ritual) being performed. There are 10 widely practised samskaras. From conception to marriage through to death, each stage of human development is comprehensively covered.

The mere news of a pregnancy ignites amidst the Hindu family such joy and excitement and the preparations to welcome this new individual to our world starts with pomp and fervour well before he is even born. And sometimes, in deeply religious families who follow the customs strictly, such as perhaps the family of priests, rituals for the unborn starts right at conception, Garbhadana samskara (the creative act ) is performed by the groom and bride and the child is conceived amidst the pure vibrations of the mantras so that good impressions may be impressed in the brain-cells of the embryo. Two more rituals will follow while the child is still in the womb, Pumsavana preformed during the third month while the food sheath and vital sheath of the child are being formed and Simantonnayana during the seventh month to bestow health upon the child and mother. The above three Samskaras protect the mother and the child. The body of the child develops nicely. The harmonious vibrations set up by the recitation of Mantras and the performance of the ceremonies help in shaping the body of the child beautifully.

Now comes the ritual for the new born

As soon as the child is born Jatakarma samskara is performed where the umbilical chord is cut and the father welcomes his new-born child into the world, while praying for his long life, intelligence and well-being, and feeds it with honey and ghee (clarified butter) on a gold ring while reciting a sacred mantra (chant) in his right ear. This ceremony can also be performed by another member of the family if the father is not present after consulting with the family priest. The ghee and honey cleanses the child's digestive tract by assisting the newborn to pass meconium and also nourishes and strengthen until the first breastfeeding takes place.

The atmosphere is one of reverence for the new mother, adoration for the new born, and utter love and gratefulness for the Supreme (god) who enables such a wondrous act

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