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Ceremony
for the new born
(JAAT
-KARMA)
Whatever ceremonies are performed after a child’s birth are known as “Jaat-karma'
in sanskrit. Every culture has its own rituals. In vedic culture of India,
it is clear that the aim of these rituals are to influence the child at that stage when he or she is
ignorant. The child was in the environment of the mother's womb and when it
comes out, actions in the form of rituals are done for the child to
cope-up with the new environment. Bathing is done to cleanse the body.
Turmeric and mung dal flour as soap is used so that it is gentle for the
skin and acts as an antiseptic. After bath, Charak advices to keep a piece of cotton on the forehead to
prevent cold and cough.
First hearing:
When the rituals are performed, chanting of "sanskrit slokas" are done to
re-awaken the hearing sense. Charaka the Ayurvedic physician writes "'Ashmanoh
Sanghattnam karnamole" which means to strike two stones to produce sound at
the base of the ear. Modern science confirms this ancient practice because
of the fact that out of the five senses , it is hearing sense that an infant
develops in the womb. So Charak says to awaken that sense again when the
child is born. In Vedic tradition the father whispers in the ear of the new
born "Vedo-asi", which means you are the "Being of wisdom and knowledge".
In Muslim tradition "'Allaa-ho-Akbar" is whispered and similarly in each
culture a sacred sound is used. Similar type of birth ceremony is done in
Christian and Jewish and in all other cultures. Whatever may be the cultural
background the message is the same and so are the benefits too.
First feeding - sweet
Small quantity (3 drops) of (one drop) ghee and honey (3 drops) is given to the new born (honey
amount is three times over ghee). This ritual is condemned by modern doctors
who do not understand that this combination clears the meconium in the
newborn's intestine. Usually the ghee-honey mix is given with a clean
gold ring finger and "Aum" is written on the tongue. Aum is the cosmic
representation. Jaat-karma ceremony signifies culture, where ghee
and honey are offered to the child with a gold stick, where 'Om'
is written on the tongue of the new born, where Vedo-asi is whispered in
the child's ear. It signifies such a culture which strikes an ideal balance
of leading a materialistic life along with intellectual and a spiritual life.
That culture was not just only materialistic where there was no place for
the world beyond. Nor is it just spiritual or intellectual where there was
no place for the world of the present, It was a realistic culture where the
present and beyond were in harmony with each other.
Breast feeding
After this ritual then breast milk is given. Vedic view is that there is no
milk like mother's milk for the healthy growth of the child. It is best then
to give only breast milk until there is a need for a substitute.
Read in the
next page about breast milk.
Please click here
to continue
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