Guest guest Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 There is a belif among hindus that for 16 days from when a baby is born in a home, all images of the devine are to the concealed. No prayers are to be offered to any images. Puja room is shut. Members of the family are to refrain from visiting temples. This practice is observed for 16 days from birth. Personaly, I feel that such a practice is detrimental as it hampers one from offering devine blessings to a helpless newborn. What is the tantric veiwpont on such a belif? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 I find this astonishing. Can't think of any parallels. Is it a widespread custom? Max >There is a belif among hindus that for 16 days from when a baby is >born in a home, all images of the devine are to the concealed. No >prayers are to be offered to any images. Puja room is shut. Members of >the family are to refrain from visiting temples. > >This practice is observed for 16 days from birth. > >Personaly, I feel that such a practice is detrimental as it hampers >one from offering devine blessings to a helpless newborn. > >What is the tantric veiwpont on such a belif? -- Max Dashu Suppressed Histories Archives Women in Global Perspective http://www.suppressedhistories.net New poster: Our Reproductive Rights! http://www.maxdashu.net/shamanic/reprorights.html Beautiful, multi-issue, empowering 11 x 17 laser print Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2006 Report Share Posted October 3, 2006 I do not know where you picked up the story. The various practices at different stages of life are clearly given in detail ; hoe-ever there has been much dilution and avoidance of the rituals; An Indication of the rituals upto the tenth day as described by the scriptures is summerised in " The Hindu Universe" and reproduced below ; Similar references can be had by a googlesearch for "Jatakarma" Quote SAMSKARAS JATAKARMA This Samskara appears to be of great antiquity. The manner, in which it was to be practiced, as prescribed by the sutras has vanished a long time ago. There are some practices, which are now in vogue, but they appear to be based on puranas. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad describes the rite to consist of five parts (1)Homa performed with curds and clarified butter to the accompaniment of mantras (2) whispering into the ear of the child the word ‘vak’ (speech) thrice (3) making the child to lick from a golden spoon curds, honey and clarified butter. (These are offered also with a golden ring) (4) Addressing the child with a secret name (5) allowing the mother to offer her breast to the child (6) addressing the mother with prescribed mantras. The Satapata Brahmana adds another detail, which is to ask five brahmanas to breathe on the child from east, south, west, north and from above. There are wide differences in the prescriptions of the various ancient authorities. There are some rites prescribed by few which are not found in some other authorities. Generally Jatakarma as it was practiced consisted of Homa, Madhajanana, Ayushya, Amsabhimarsana, Matrabhimantrana, Pancha-brahmanasthapana, Sthana-pratidana, Desabhimantrana, Namakarana, a rite to ward of evil spirits and Uttana. HOMA Brahataranyaka Upanishad, Manava grihya sutra and Kataka grihya sutra prescribe performance of a homa at the time of birth of the child. According to some authorities the Aupasana fire is taken away and in its place is installed Stutikagni or Uttapaniya Agni, which is set up near the door of the chamber where the birth of the child has taken place. MEDHAJANANA There are two versions available. Brhataranyaka Upanishad says that the father whispers the word ‘Vak’ (speech) thrice into the ear of the child and then makes the child to lick from a golden spoon curds, honey and clarified butter. Sankhayana and Asvalayana hold that Medhajanana is whispering of the word ‘vak’ into the ear of the child. Most of the sutras such as Vaikhanasa, Hiranyakesi and Gobhila hold the view that it is the action of making the child to lick from a golden spoon honey, curds and clarified butter. AYUSYA This rite is whispering over the navel or into the right ear of the child prescribed mantras, which invoke powers, that bestows long life on the child.. Asvalayana and Bharadvaja prescribe that this should be done as the child is licking honey, curds and clarified butter offered with a golden spoon or a golden ring. AMSABHIMARSANA This rite which has been prescribed by some authorities consists of touching the shoulders of the child by the father as he chants prescribed mantras. MATRABHIMANTRANA In this rite the father addresses the mother with mantras that say ‘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-BRAHMANASTHAPANA This rite is of five brahmanas breathing over the child from the east Prana, Vyana, Apana, Udana and Samana (names of five vayus). Sankhayana says that the father himself should breath thrice over the boy as he chants verses referring to three Vedas. There are several sutras, which do not mention this rite. STANA-PRATIDANA This rite is of the mother giving her breast to the infant as the father chants prescribed mantras. DESABHIMANTRANA This is the rite of touching the earth where the child was born by the father as he chants prescribed mantras. NAMAKARANA Some authorities speak of giving a name to the child on the day of its birth. Asvalayana prescribes giving two names on that day, one for common use and the other, a secret one known only to the parents till the Upanayana of the child. Sankhayana however says the opposite. According to him, it is said, that the secret name is given on the day of birth while the one for common use is given on the tenth day. In fact different authorities offer different versions of this rite. KEEPING AWAY EVIL SPIRITS Many authorities prescribe in great detail mantras, which are more or less magic. These are to be chanted while offering to fire mustard seeds and rice chaff. The mantras to be chanted and the number of times the offerings are to be made to fire differ among various authorities. UTTANA On the 10th or 12th day after the child is born, the father shaves, has his bath, purifies his house and performs on his Jatakagni a sacrifice to Earth through a person who belongs to a gotra other than his own. Then he brings back his Aupasana fire on which he offers his sacrifices and then feeds brahmins. Some authorities have given elaborate and detailed prescriptions. As mentioned earlier, these rites have not been practiced since very long times. Santhanagopal Student of Indias Ageless Heritage & Philosophy. email;santhanam68 Mumbai 400 007 India. Phone 3634462 -------------------- Santhanagopal Student of Indias Ageless Heritage & Philosophy. email;santhanam68 Mumbai 400 007 India. Phone 3634462 Unquote; It upto you to draw conclusions as to how much attention can be paid to "divine images" when you are tied up with samskaras for a new living image in front of you , in the form of the baby. Max Dashu <maxdashu (AT) lmi (DOT) net> wrote: I find this astonishing. Can't think of any parallels. Is it a widespread custom? Max >There is a belif among hindus that for 16 days from when a baby is >born in a home, all images of the devine are to the concealed. No >prayers are to be offered to any images. Puja room is shut. Members of >the family are to refrain from visiting temples. > >This practice is observed for 16 days from birth. > >Personaly, I feel that such a practice is detrimental as it hampers >one from offering devine blessings to a helpless newborn. > >What is the tantric veiwpont on such a belif? -- Max Dashu Suppressed Histories Archives Women in Global Perspective http://www.suppressedhistories.net New poster: Our Reproductive Rights! http://www.maxdashu.net/shamanic/reprorights.html Beautiful, multi-issue, empowering 11 x 17 laser print Find out what India is talking about on - Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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