This document discusses various Balochita Sanskaras (childhood rituals) in Hinduism and their scientific relevance according to Ayurveda. It describes rituals performed from birth up to one year like Jata Karma (first feeding), Namakarana (naming ceremony), Nishkramana (first outing), Prashana (first feeding of solid food) and Karnavedhana (piercing of ears). These rituals aim to provide protection, nutrition, social bonding and assess development. They incorporate practices like mantras, specific foods and timings which provide psychological, nutritional and health benefits grounded in Ayurvedic principles.

1. BALOCHITA SANSKAAR AND
THEIR SCIENTIFIC RELEVANCE
Presented by:
Rashi Jaiswal
MD Scholar ,Ist Year
Kaumarbhritya Department
R.G.G.P.G Ayurvedic College,
Paprola, Kangra , Himachal Pradesh-
176115
Guided by:
Prof. Rakesh Sharma
HOD
Department of Kaumarbhritya
R.G.G.P.G Ayurvedic
College, Paprola, Kangra ,
Himachal Pradesh-176115

2.  Samskaras are those religious rites and ceremonies which sanctify
the body, mind and intellect, so that person becomes fit for the
society.
 In Ayurveda, the word Samskara is introduced as “संस्कारो हि नाम
गुणांन्तराधानम् ” which means qualitative improvement carried out
by incorporating the specific qualities (transforming of the qualities).
 आत्मशरीरान्यतरननष्ठः अनतशयविशेषः संस्कारः
Saṃskāras are for cleansing the mind and body and consequently
leading a healthy, happy and peaceful life in this world and also after
death.
INTRODUCTION

3. • Turning points of life and need to be celebrated. Sanskaras are great,
time-tested tools in our traditional systems which help carve out a
great personality.
• The Upanishads mention Sanskaras as a means to grow and prosper
in all four aspects of human pursuit - Dharma (righteousness), Artha
(wealth), Karma and Kama (work and pleasure), and Moksha
(salvation).
• Apart from scriptural validation, history also proves to us the great
effectiveness of these methods.
• At a secondary level the Samskaras are cultural events that provide
occasions for family and friends to get together and bond. And it is
this bonding that forms the basis for a peaceful life.
• At yet another level they provide an identity to the individual and
link him to the society in which he or she lives. They enable the
individual to understand the gravity of the various life stages and
therefore live a more responsible life.

4. NUMBER
• The number of Sanskara varies in different Hindu Dharma
Granthas, it is about 16-40.
• In Grihya sutra there is mentioning of 18-21 Sanskaras.
While in Manusrimiti, 13 of them and in Gautama Grihya
Sutra, 40 of them are explained.
• While the 16 Sanskaras explained by Maharshi Dayananda
are widely accepted and taken into consideration by Ayurveda
Acharyas. These 16 Sanskaras are often referred to as the
Shodasa Sanskaras.

5. CLASSIFICATION
Sr. no. Vaya vargikarana age classification Samaskara Done
1 Garbhavastha Pre- natal period Garbhadhana
Pumsavana
Simantonayana
2 Balyavastha
(childhood)
Neonatal period Jaatkarma
Namakarana
Infantile Nishkramana
Annprashana/
phalaprashana
Karnavedhana
Pre- school / school Chudakarana
Upnayana
Vedharambha
3 Yuvavastha Adulthood Samavartana,Vivah,
vanprastha, sanyas,antyeshti

6. JATA KARMA
(FEEDING SCHEDULE OF NEONATE
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n|kr~A
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¼Ch.Sh. 8@46½
• It is the first sacrament done after birth.
• It involves the first feeding of baby.
• It is performed as described in Vedas.
• First of all, child should be given honey
and ghee impregnated with hymns prescr
-ibed in Vedas.
• Thereafter following similar ritual, milk
from the right breast should be given to
the child at first.

7. • An earthen jar filled with water should be impregnated with
mantras and kept near the head of the child.
• A concoction of madhu, ghrita and ananta/swarna consecrated
with mantras to be administered three times a day on the first
day of childbirth.
• On second and third day Lakshmana medicated ghrita, while on
fourth day madhu and ghrita is to be offered to the newborn in
amount which is - shavapanitalasamitta (or amount which fills
the neonate palm).
• Henceforth, the baby can be exclusively breast-fed.

8. • A prashya (confection) for baby to confer intelligence, long life
and good strength in the dose of one harenu (peas) in quantity,
fortified with sacred hymns.
• The confection is prepared from the paste of aindri (Bacopa
monnieri), brahmi (Centella asiatica), vacha (Acorus calamus) or
sankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and added with ghee and
honey or with gold, vacha (Acorus calamus), brahmi (Centella
asiatica), tapya and haritaki (Terminalia chebula) or the bhasma of
gold and amalki (Emblica officinalis) may be given with ghee and
honey.
• Jata karma should be performed by prajapatya method described
in religious texts.

9. • Jata karma is the birth rite which helps the baby transcend from
intrauterine life to extra uterine life.
• Swarna prashan given to baby by gold bhasma, honey and ghee
serves the purpose of both nutrition and immunization.
• Honey and ghee have a high caloric value, giving energy to baby
whose previous source of nutrition from placenta has stopped.
• Honey also serves as a mild allergen, which gives the first
opportunity to baby’s body to start the synthesis of antibodies, thus
shielding the baby from infections. Also this first feed initiates
gastrointestinal movements and activates the gut.
SIGNIFICANCE

10. • Gold powder gives physical protection to baby, enhances brain
development and is in micro particles easily absorbable by baby’s
intestine.
• This licking of medicine preparations also gives an opportunity to
physician to assess the rooting and sucking reflex of neonate. Use
of Mantra in Jata karma gives psychological support to parents
especially mother.
• A relaxed, confident attitude of mother helps the milk ejection
reflex. Breast feeding is to be given on the first day so as to ensure
proper nutrition and protective immunoglobulin present in
colostrum. Early initiation of breast feed also stimulates prolactin
reflex and oxytocin reflex The water filled earthen jar may serve
cooling purpose or maintenance of humidity in baby’s ward room.

11. DOLASHAYAN
• It is performed on 12-13th day of life
when the baby is transferred to a cradle
by the mother for first time.
• On the same day all first degree relati
ves of the chlid get purified by Navgraha
homa,Teertha Snana and Sprinkling of
sanctified water.
• Putting the baby to a cradle is a very
important event where trained old ladies participate.
• Later baby will be transferred to a decorated cradle ,while
old ladies give tips to the mother regarding caring of the
baby.

12. SIGNIFICANCE
• Transfer of the baby to a cradle is done on 12th day.It indirectly
suggests that up to 12 days baby should not be separated from
mother .
• Bbay shold be kept in touch with mother to maintain
temperature, to facilitate easy feeding, to increase breast molk
secretion and to increase maternal bonding.
• Prevention of infection by the visitors.This fulfills the principle
of Isolation of baby.
• His gives opportunity for the mother to observe the baby
continuously.
• Trained ladies give tips to the mother regarding neonatal health
care and breast feeding.

13. NAMKARANA
(NAMING CEREMONY)
• Age of child – 10th or11th or 12th or 100th day or 1 year
• Aim – Identity and impact throughout the life
METHOD-
• Mother and baby bath with medicated water.
• Light, uncontaminated and clear clothing.
• Favorable, pleasing, light and fine ornaments.
• Touch auspicious objects, worship the appropriate God, fire and
Brahman.
• Swastikavachana.
• Child should be kept over a bed of new, unsoiled cloths.Head of
the child towards the east or north in lap.
• Two names -
 Celestial name (Nakshatrika)
 Colloquial name (Abhiprayika ) (Ghosh-antastha-ushma)

14. SIGNIFICANCE
 Name provide identification as well as social and personal
reorganisation to baby
 This provides opportunity for examination of baby. Normally,
the baby recovers from various traumas including cephal
hematoma, fracture and dislocation, facial palsy and
physiological jaundice.
 Nakshatrika Nama which has been given as per dominance of
star on the day of birth helps to remember date of birth .This also
helps for astrological calculations.
 Baby regains the birth weight on 10th day after birth.
 Umbilical cord falls normally after 5 to 10 days but
may take longer.

15. SURYODAYA DARSHANA/CHANDRA
DARSHANA
vFk [kyq f”k”kkstkZrL;rr~deZ.;kfHkfuo`Ùks izFke ,o ekfl
d`rk{kkgkseeaxyLoLR;uL;lw;kZsn;n”kZuksiLFkkua]iznks’ks
pUnzel% A (Ka. Khi.
12/3)
• Here the child is made to see and worship the rising sun and moon.
• This ritual is performed at 1st month (Kashyapa) or 3rd month
(Dharma Sindhu Sara).
SIGNIFICANCE
• This indicates completion of neonatal period and onset of infancy.
• To test the development of the child in its ability to look at the
objects allowing macular fixation.
• Exposing the child to sun helps in vitamin D synthesis in skin thus

16. NISHKRAMAN
The child is taken out of Kumaragara for the first time usually to a
temple
• TIME – 4th month
METHOD-
शरच्छ्तं जीव शशशो ! त्वं देवैरशिरक्षित:
चतुर्थे सुततकागाराग्निस्क्न्द्पुरोगमाि्, मासे तिश्क्रममेेत्......
• The baby is carried out of kumaragara by father or by mother
with shankh naad and chanting of mantras.
• Baby bath and adorned, wearing clean clothes, possessing musturd,
honey, ghrita or gorochana.

17. • Dhatri should take out of the house and ready to enter the
temple .
• Agni worship with ghrita etc. and also God worship with
various pushpa, mala and dhupas.
• After taking blessings re-enters the own house.

18. SIGNIFICANCE
 By 4th month child develops head holding capacity, turns his
head towards a sound i.e. ringing bell of a temple, this provides
the opportunity to examine its hearing capacity.
 By expose to the sunlight at morning, the synthesis of vitamin D
accelerates.
 By seeing moon or sun, the macular fixation and pupillary
adjustment/reaction of the child can be observed
 In external environnent, infant develops resistance power to
adjust in different atmosphere

19. UPVESHAN
 It should be done on 6th month.
 Baby should not be allowed to
sit for a longer time. If it not observed
properly then it develops kyphosis,
weakness of lumber region,
exhaustion, fever, constipation, retention of urine.
 During the 5th month on an auspicious day, the child should be
placed on ground .
 Child should be allowed to sit for a longer time gradually

20. SIGNIFICANCE
 As per developmental milestone, by 5th to 6th month child is
able to sit with support, tries to hold things and put it to the
mouth
 It gives opportunity for initiation of sitting and assesses
physical, neurological and psychological growth of child.

21. PRASHANA
 Phalaprashana (fruit juices) should be
advised at the age of 6th month while
in 10th month or after eruption of teeth,
Annaprashana (feeding of cereals) should
be indicated.
 The child at the age of six months, should be given food light
and Hitkar (appropriate wholesome food).
 According to Vagbhat on the 6th month, solid food should be
given to the child gradually as much as he required as he goes on
and breast feeding should be gradually discontinued.

22. SIGNIFICANCE
 Fruit juices provides adequate amount of Vitamin C which is
deficient in breast milk of mother, cow or any other milk
 At age of 6 month, breast milk now not enough to fulfill the
requirement of growing child. So, it is the accurate time to
introduce light and digestible supplementary feeding at the
beginning as fruit juices i.e. Phalprashana and gradually it is to
be replaced by cereal diet i.e. Annaprashana.
 It provides essential nutrients like Fe in adequate quantity, which
is deficient in mother milk.

23.  After eruption of teeth gradual weaning should be done and
child should be given substitute fruit juices as well as light
and digestible nutrient cereals.
 It brings out the change of taste in the baby and different
type of taste sensation develop properly
 It initiates proper enzymatic function of G.I.T. for the
digestion of protein, carbohydrate and fat etc.

24. KARNA VEDHANA
• Piercing the ear lobule at appropriate site is called karnavedhan.
TIME – 6 to12 months of age
METHOD-
Shukla paksha, prashasta nakshatra, mangal swastika vachana
 Sitting position in lap of dhatri, with toys
 Stretching lobule by left hand and piercing at devkrita chidra
 Straight and slowly piercing by Aara or suchi
 Male baby - right ear and Female baby – left year
 Pichu varti
 Samyakaviddhen aamtailen parisechyeta
Trihyaatrihyaata cha vartinmsthulatarama

25. SIGNIFICANCE
 The purpose of this is to protect the child from many
diseases and to wear ornament (Raksha-Bhushana
Nimittam).
 To initiate antigen-antibody reaction, providing active
immunity to the child

26. CONCLUSION
• Here only sanskaras which are performed upto 1 year are
mentioned which are the most relevant in childhood.
• Screening of growth and development.
• Provide sound mental and physical health
• Bonding between individual and community.
• Refinement in the growth activity of child.
• Rational guidelines toward child care during celebrating different
Samskaras.
• Mind preparation to assimilate not only the Vedic knowledge but
also make strong character.

27. THANKS