Homa for the Newborn and the Mother – Jatakarma Samskara

We saw that there are many prayers and procedures embedded into Jatakarma for the protection of the child.

We also saw that the concept of negative forces such as demons is part and parcel of Sanatana Dharma, validated by the Vedas, Dharma Shastras, Puranas, Itihasas, and even many of the more recent prayers such as Hanuman Chalisa.

Now, for the protection of the child, a homa is performed. This is done in the room where the newborn child and the mother are. You will find mention of such protective procedures even in Ayurveda. The dravya for this is a mix of sesame seeds and skin of rice.

अयं कलिं पतयन्तम् श्वानमिवोद्वृद्धम् अजां वाशितामिव मरुतः पर्याध्वं स्वाहा

The mantra is addressed to the group of devatas called Maruts. They are very fierce gods. As the bhuta called Kali, who is the presiding deity of Kaliyuga and responsible for all kinds of evil, approaches to grab this child — O Maruts, please chase him away like how sheep are chased away by multiple loud yells.

शण्डेरथश्शण्डिकेर उलूखलः च्यवनो नश्यतात् इतस्स्वाहा

Shanderatha — Shanda himself is a demon. Shanderatha is another demon more powerful than Shanda and who rides Shanda as a chariot, sitting on top of him.

Shandikera is another demon who controls all those who are under Shanda.

The third demon is Ulukhala — huge and evil.

The fourth demon is Chyavana — Chyavana causes abortions and pregnancy-related troubles, even post-labour troubles.

May all these four demons be chased away from here.

अयश्शण्डो मर्क उपवीर उलूखलः च्यवनो नश्यतात् इतस्स्वाहा

Marka is another demon. Upaveera is a demon whom even other demons are scared of.

Aya is a demon whose mouth is made of steel, who bites sharply.

May they all go away from here.

केशिनीः श्वलोमिनीः खजापः अजोपकाशिनीः अपेत नश्यतात् इतस्स्वाहा

Demoness with crooked ugly hair, demoness with hair like dogs, demoness who is bald, demoness who looks like a female goat — may they all go away from here.

मिश्रवाससः कौबेरक रक्षोराजेन प्रेषिताः ग्रामं सजानयो गच्छन्ति इच्छन्तः अपरिदाकृतान् स्वाहा

Those demons sent by the king of demons, Kubera, along with their wives, who want to grab this child — may they all be destroyed.

एतान् घ्नत एतान् गृह्णीत इत्ययं ब्रह्मणस्पुत्रः तानग्निः पर्यसरत्तानिन्द्रस्त्तान्बृहस्पतिः तानहं वेद ब्राह्मणः प्रमृशतः कूटदन्तान् विकेशान् लम्बनस्तनान् स्वाहा

We recognize these demons. May Agni chase them away. Agni should shout — catch them, kill them — when he does this.

May Indra and Brihaspati also chase these demons who are coming to harm this child.

They are of various kinds — some have big teeth, some have hair spread out, some have their breasts hanging down.

May they all be chased away.

Remember — these are Veda mantras.

नक्तंचारिणः उरस्पेशान् शूलहस्तान् कपालपान् पूर्व एषां पिता एति उच्चैश्राव्यकर्णकः माता जघन्या सर्पति ग्रामे विधुरमिच्छान्ती स्वाहा

Some demons are hard of hearing, they come in the night. There are flames on their shoulders, they carry spears and skulls in their hands.

May their father run away first, shouting loudly to his sons — run away, run away or you will get killed by Agni.

Their mother also runs backwards in fear.

निशीथचारिणी स्वसा सन्धिना प्रेक्षते कुलम् या स्वपन्तं बोधयति यस्यै विजातायां मनः तासां त्वं कृष्णवर्त्मने क्लोमानं हृदयं यकृत् अग्ने अक्षीणि निर्दह स्वाहा

Prayer to Agni again — the sister of these demons, she peeps through holes inside the house and she wants to affect the mind of my wife.

The reference here is to post-partum psychosis.

May Agni burn the flesh that is inside that demoness — her heart, her liver, and her eyes.

This homa should continue for ten days, without fail. Every time the caretaker of the mother and child enters the sutika gruha or the room in which the mother and newborn are kept, the dravya should be offered in Agni.

No need to chant mantras every time. Just offering of dravya in Agni is enough — taking it with both hands, anjali.

Rationalists say these are all superstitions. There are no demons. It is all creation of the mind.

Then what is not a creation of mind? Only what enters through the sensory organs — only they are real?

Our scriptures say they are the most unreliable, most unreal.

The same picture doesn’t create the same feeling in everyone. The same music doesn’t appeal to everyone. So what is so real about these?

How will rationalists justify virtual reality? Just a mobile phone and a headset — what is so real about it?

You people just grow up. You are in the primary classes. There is a lot more you have to learn and understand.

Before that, don’t come to such stupid conclusions.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi