Jatakarma the New Born Baby Ceremony

Jatakarma is the first samskara that is performed as soon as a child is born.

The benefits of performing Jatakarma are:

जातकर्मक्रियां कुर्यात् पुत्रायुः श्रीविवृद्धये
ग्रहदोषविनाशाय सूतिकाऽशुभविच्छिदे
कुमारग्रहनाशाय पुंसां सत्त्वविवृद्धये

Jatakarma is performed only for the male child — only boys, not girls. This is done for increasing the longevity and prosperity of the child, to remove graha doshas — both Navagrahas and Balagrahas. Balagrahas are certain negative forces that affect children during infancy. And also, as explained earlier, it would also remove the papa inherited from the father and mother.

The timing of Jatakarma is as soon as the child is born, before the umbilical cord is cut. The moment the umbilical cord is cut, ten days of impurity begins. So, it should be done even before the umbilical cord is cut.

If, due to various reasons — all the more these days when childbirth happens invariably in a hospital — if Jatakarma cannot be done during the specified time, then it should be done as soon as the ten days of impurity are over. Mostly these days, this is combined with Namakarana also. Even then, if there is a problem, then a suitable muhurta should be seen and Jatakarma performed. It is good for the overall welfare of the child.

A good way to understand what all happens during Jatakarma or what is the essence of Jatakarma would be to understand the meaning of the mantras used in Jatakarma. We will look at mantras used in Yajurveda Jatakarma as per Apastamba Sutra. Mantras and procedures for other Vedas are also similar.

To start with, the father, as soon as he hears the news of the arrival of the child, takes bath while still wearing his clothes. This is called sachelasnanam or sachailasnanam. Then, by touching the child, he chants certain mantras.

The first mantra starts with:

दिवस्परि प्रथमं जज्ञे अग्निरस्मद् द्वितीयं परि जातवेदाः
तृतीयमप्सु नृमणा अजस्रमिन्धान एनं जरते स्वाधीः

These are essentially Agni Upasthana Mantras — stutis or praises of Agni. Agni was first born in the sky — either as Surya or as lightning. Both are forms of Agni only. Agni is born from yajamanas who perform yajnas. This happens mostly by churning of arani. Even the regular fire used for cooking and other purposes — that fire also blesses us. That fire is also there for our benefit. We can’t live without his help.

There is a third kind of Agni which is submarine, below the ocean. This is called Badavagni — बडवानलः. This Agni is the tapah shakti of Sage Aurva, grandfather of Parashurama. Whichever be the form, he is there to bless. Surya blesses with life force, with food, with rains. Yagagni blesses with everything. Badavagni hid himself under the ocean so that the intense heat does not harm anyone. Agni always wants to bless. Him we praise with all sincerity.

The next mantra:

विद्मा ते अग्ने त्रेधा त्रयाणि विद्मा ते सद्म विभृतं पुरुत्रा
विद्मा ते नाम परमं गुहा यद्विद्मा तमुत्सं यत आजगन्थ

These are the three places of birth of Agni. Now there are three positions of Agni — earth, atmosphere, and sky.

What is Agni? Agni means energy. All forms of energy are derivatives of Agni only. So, we can say Badavagni, the submarine fire, is the energy in the waves — caused by the wind or otherwise.

Here, the mantra says — Agni exists on earth as Agni, fire itself; in the atmosphere or mid-heaven as Vayu or wind energy; and in the sky as Surya. Fire, wind, and sun — all three are different forms of Agni only.

In addition to these, there are also various other places where the presence of Agni is there. There are many names of Agni in the Vedas which throw light on the various characteristics of Agni. If you try to understand the meanings of those names, you will understand how energy works. You will understand how every form of energy is Agni only.

You would have never thought — before you heard this — that lightning is a form of Agni, wind is a form of Agni, and waves are a form of Agni.

In fact, why is Agni called a carrier of offerings to Devas? Because he exists in all three planes — earth, atmosphere, and heaven. As fire on earth, as air in the atmosphere, and as sun in the heaven or sky. His presence is there in all three planes. His presence is continuous. He is like a continuous medium from earth extending up to heaven.

Are you aware that homa can be performed in water? Ahutis can be given in water? Yes — there are such homas. This is because of Agni’s presence in water.

Do you know that homa can be performed on a person's head? Ahutis of ghee are offered on a person’s head — in Vinayaka Shanti it is done. This is because Agni is present in the human body.

This mantra says — we want to know all these secrets about you, about Agni. We are keen to know:

विद्म — jnatum icchama, jnatum arhama

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi