Sanskar vidhi offerrings

Namkaran sanskar :

The Namakaran Sanskar, or naming ceremony, is a significant Hindu ritual that takes place after a child's birth:

• When it takes place

  The ceremony is usually performed on the 10th or 12th day after the child's birth, but some texts suggest it can be done on the first new or full moon after the 10th day.

• What happens

  The child is bathed, dressed in new clothes, and the parents announce the child's name. A religious leader prepares a horoscope, and a Hawan is performed to promote positive vibes. A puja is also performed at a holy temple, which includes chanting the child's name, reading Vedic mantras, and invoking gods and goddesses.

• Why it's important

  The ceremony marks the child's acceptance into society and creates a bond between the child and their parents. It's believed to bless the child with a good life, positive traits, and protection.

• How to choose a name

  The chosen name often reflects the family's values, traditions, and aspirations for the child. According to ancient Sanskrit texts, boys' names typically have two or four syllables, while girls' names typically have an odd number of syllables.

Yajnopavita Sanskar :

The Yajnopavita Sanskar, also known as the Upanayana Sanskar, is a Hindu rite of passage that involves the wearing of a sacred thread called the yajnopavita or jneeu:

• Meaning

  The word "upanayana" means "to take someone near or close" or to take someone to the proximity of knowledge and God.

• Ceremony

  The ceremony includes rituals with the child, family, and teacher. It also involves the recitation of the Gāyatrī Mantra.

• Age

  The ceremony is traditionally performed when a boy is between the ages of 8 and 16.

• Significance

  The ceremony marks the beginning of formal education and spiritual education. It also gives the boy the right to perform yajñas and study.

• Yajnopavita

  The yajnopavita is a three-stranded thread that is worn around the neck with the left shoulder above and the right arm below. The three strands represent the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, as well as the three debts of devऋण, pitृऋण, and ऋषिऋण. The yajnopavita also represents the three stages of sattva, rajas, and tamas.

• Other rituals

  The ceremony also includes the rituals of muंडन and pवित्र जल स्नान.

Chaul Sanskar :

Chaul Sanskar, also known as Mundan or Chudakarna, is a Hindu ceremony that involves a baby's first haircut. It's considered the eighth sanskar, or revered custom, in the Hindu tradition.

Here are some things to know about Chaul Sanskar:

• Significance

  The ceremony is believed to have many benefits, including:

  • Purification: Shaving the head is thought to remove impurities and past karma.

  • Brain and nerve growth: Some believe that shaving the head helps the brain and nerves grow properly.

  • Temperature regulation: Ayurveda suggests that the ritual helps regulate the body's temperature.

  • Energy flow: The act of shaving the head is thought to open the crown chakra, which enhances the body's energy flow.

• Ceremony

  The ceremony is usually performed after calculating an auspicious date and time. The priest shaves part of the child's hair while a barber shaves the rest.

• Hair arrangement

  The child's hair is often left in a tuft at the crown of the head, called a śikhā or cūḍā. The number of tufts is determined by the number of pravaras in the child's gotra.

• Location

  In Rishikesh, the ceremony is performed on the banks of the Ganges. The hair is symbolically offered to the river, and the child and family perform a yajna ceremony and Ganga Aarti.