The `Jatakarma` is a ceremony, which is performed to welcome the newborn baby in this world. The rituals or actions, which are performed after the child is born, are known as "Jatkarma" ceremonies. These involve lot of actions to install some values in the newborn child although he does not understand their values.
Before the birth of a child, it gets food through umbilical cord. The eyes and mouth of the foetus remain closed with phegmatic substance to evade the entry of water. So, after birth these are cleaned and then it gets relief from the physical attachment with the mother. Now the child`s mouth, ears, nose and lungs are cleaned to help it to drink mother`s milk and can breathe properly. After the delivery, water is sprinkled on the pregnant woman along with prescribed mantras.
When the child takes birth, the oily pack, which covers the body, when the child is inside the mother`s womb, is removed giving him a good bathe. All the `Jatakarma` are mainly done to stimulate all the five sensory organs of the child. According to Sushrut, an ancient Ayurvedic textbook, a small amount of ghee is placed on the child`s tongue. It protects the baby from cold and catarrh.
After then the `Jatakarma` follows by sprinkling of water on the woman, who has given birth to the child by the concerned persons. These are performed as prescribed in Paraskar Grihya sutra and Ashvalayana, Gobhiliya and Shaunakiya Grihya Sutra.
The original `Jatakarma` process, which was practiced earlier, has changed a lot now. Some of the rituals are now in vogue but they are said to be based on `Puranas`. As per the "Brihadaranyaka Upanishad", the `Jatakarma` includes five steps-
1. `Homa`, which is performed with curds and clear butter along with mantras.
2. The word `vak` is whispered in the ear of the child.
3. The child is made to lick from a golden spoon cards, honey and clarified butter.
4. The child is addressed by a secret name
5. . The mother offers her breast milk to the child. 6. The mother is addressed with some prescribed mantras.
There are a lot of differences in the `Jatakarma` ritual rules prescribed by different authorities. For example, according to the `Satapata Brahmana` the child is breathed from east, south, west, north and from above by five brahmins.
The general `Jatakarma` ritual follows the following steps-
1. Homa-
2. Madhajanana
3. Ayushya
4. Amsabhimarsana
5. Matrabhimantrana
6. Pancha-brahmanashthapana
7. Sthana-pratidana
8. Desabhimantrana
9. Namakarana
10. Uttana
Homa- This is performed according to the Brahataranyaka Upanishad, Manava grihya sutra and Kataka grihya sutra. Here, `stutikagni` or Uttapaniya Agni is installed replacing the `Aupasana fire` and then it is kept near the door of the chamber of the child`s birthplace.
Madhajanana- In this ritual of `Jatakarma`, the main action is to make the child to lick from a golden spoon honey, curds and clarified butter.
Ayushya- This `Jatakarma` ritual involves the whispering of prescribed mantras over the naval or into the right ear of the child, which raise powers that gives long life to the child. Asvalayana and Bharadvaja advise to perform it during the `Madhajanana`.
Amsabhimarsana- In this ritual of `Jatakarma`, the father touches the shoulders of his child as he chants the prescribed mantras.
Matrabhimantrana- In this rite of `Jatakarma`, the addresses the mother of the child with the mantras, which mean-`Oh! Maitravaruni! Oh! Strong one! You have given birth to a valiant son. May you be blessed with more such sons. We now possess a valiant son. People bless our son so that he may excel his father, excel his grandfather, attain highest position, prosperity, glory and spiritual eminence etc.
Pancha-brahmanashthapana- The father needs to breath thrice over the child while chanting verses from three Vedas. This rite of `Jatakarma` also includes the breathing of five brahmanas from the east Prana, Vyana, Apana, Udana and Samana (names of five vayus).
Sthana-pratidana- In this rite of `Jatakarma`, the mother offers her breast milk to her child when the father chants mantras.
Desabhimantrana- In this rite, the father touches the earth, where the child was born along with the chanting of mantras.
Namakarana- this rite of `Jatakarma` involves giving a name to the child. According to Asvalayana, two names are kept on that day, one is for general use and another secret one to be known by the parents only until the Upanayana of the child takes place. Again, as per Sankhayana`s view, the secret name is given on the day of birth and the common one is given on the tenth day.
Uttana- While performing this rite of `Jatakarma`, the father of the child shaves, takes bath, purifies his house and performs `Jatakagni`, a sacrifice to earth through a person belonging to the other gotra. All these are performed on the 10th or 12th day after the childbirth.
According to the psychologists, whatever the child learns during the age of five years, it will remain with him throughout his life. `Om` is written on his tongue with the spike of the golden spoon so that whatever he speaks will take him towards the spirituality. The father of the child whispers to the ear of the child the word `Vedosi`, which means `you are a knowledgeable person`.
All these birth ceremonies of `Jatakarma` have some spiritual as well as scientific significance.
