Does anyone know the religious and/or Ayurvedic perspective on the ritual you see in South India when an infant is first fed rice at the age of six months?
The baby's head is shaved and copious quantities of mascara are applied to the area around the eyes before the rice is fed.
Is 6 month's the amount of time recommended in Ayurveda or is this a more religious ritual? I am wondering if anyone knows the name of this ritual and can expound on how Ayurevda has influenced Hinduism in the area; and vice-cersa.
Om Namo Shivaya
The baby's head is shaved and copious quantities of mascara are applied to the area around the eyes before the rice is fed.
Is 6 month's the amount of time recommended in Ayurveda or is this a more religious ritual? I am wondering if anyone knows the name of this ritual and can expound on how Ayurevda has influenced Hinduism in the area; and vice-cersa.
Om Namo Shivaya
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Sat, December 15, 2007 - 1:48 PMAyurveda is a Vedic science and thus there is no disassociation such as Ayurveda influencing Hinduism (Vedic Culture). the ceremony is called anna-prāśana samskara. Samskaras are meant for purification of ones existence, one suffers ailments according ones past vikarmas, therefore true health reformation is not something so physical as just herbal application but also requires purification of the heart. Ayurveda is situated in the Vedic culture wherein it is understood that there are different stages of karmas that one is affected by. Phalonmukha is the stage wherein ones karmas and vikarmas begin to manifest themselves. One of the product of vikarmas is health problems therefore the purpose of such samskaras are to destroy the root of th problem, the vikarmic reaction. Thank you.
Hare Krishna
ps. Anna -prāśana is also prevalent through out the north as well. -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Tue, December 18, 2007 - 8:47 PMAnna-prashana is not just a religious ritual, six months time is advised by sushruta (sushruta – sharirasthana 10/49) and also astanga sangraha.
The way it is performed varies in different regions (north, south, and middle India). According to Ayurveda infant at the age of six months enters the stage of 'annada' (one who is able to eat solid food). This is an important milestone in growth and development of the child. This ritual is explained in detail ancient Ayurvedic text kashyap samhita (which specializes in pediatrics). A special platform measuring 4 x 4 hasta (apprx 2 x 2 meters) is to be prepared. This should be decorated with kumkum, fruits, and flowers and some foods. At appropriate time (as per planetary situation) the child is to be seated on this platform and fed with nicely cooked rice in very little quantity. Although the quantity is not increased until the baby starts erupting teeth.
cm
www.ayurvedicrx.com -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Wed, December 19, 2007 - 5:45 PMYou made me curious, so I looked up the astrological timing of the Anna-prashana. For male children the Anna-prashana is better to be performed in even months (6th, 8th, 10th etc from birth) while for female infants it is better in odd months (5th, 7th, 9th, etc.). There is a list of more specifics but that is the only thing that stands out for Anna-prashana in "Muhurta-Chintamani of Daivagya Acharya Shri Ram".
The thing to understand is that the beginning of things is important- the first haircut, the first solid food, the piercing of the ears. In Ayurveda the day one starts to see the doctor or starts to take a medicine is important. Crucial operations are even more important to pick a correct time (this time choosing is called muhurta).
11.20 of the above text says if at the time of the Anna-prashana mars is in the the 9th, 5th, 12th, first, 4th, or 7th house the child will become a patient of pitta, if Sun is in one of those houses the child will suffer Leucoderma, if Saturn is there then there will be Vata problems, if Venus is there the child will enjoy all kinds of foods……… -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Wed, December 19, 2007 - 6:00 PMSounds like a really beautiful ritual.
And even if it has absolutely no effect whatsoever, it can still have tremendous and valuable meaning.
~V~
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Fri, December 21, 2007 - 10:22 PMI am grateful for the important insight shared here.
The sixth month mark is recognized in Ayurveda and western science as a good time to introduce solids. But what of the infant who has two teeth by 4 months? Would it be prudent to ignore general custom and begin the rice eating early as the arrival of the teeth is indicative of a primed digestive system?
While six months is good for the average, the outliers should be accounted for too. Should a four month old that has teeth be given rice milk? -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Tue, December 25, 2007 - 7:37 AMNormal time to start eruption is 6-8th month. Early eruption 'may' suggest improper asthidhatu and hence it does not mean that the infant would be able to digest solid food. I believe that best choice for the child until 6 months is breast milk of the mother and solid food after the landmark of 6 month. -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Thu, December 27, 2007 - 10:10 AMMy son was on only breastmilk for about 7 1/2 months until he was fed by our beloved guru Amma aka Sri Mata Amritanandamayi. It was a true blessing. During the feeding ceremony he was given sweet rice (kind of like kheer/rice pudding) and by Her feeding him, he was shown the proper way to eat etc... it was really beautiful, i have it on video and watch it from time to time, sooo sweet. It is such a sacred ritual and i am sooo glad we did this for him. He was definitely ready and talk about hungry, loool!! I don't remeber him ever sleeping sooo well after his first food ;o)!! -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Fri, December 28, 2007 - 5:26 AMYour son is lucky. I regularly read the magezine Matruvani published by Mata Amritanandamayi Trust and I am quite impressed by it. -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Mon, December 31, 2007 - 12:58 PMMy son is very lucky, i feel often very humbled and blessed by his and my good fortunes.. grace really... I love the matruvani magazine, so authentic... i also love the Immortal Bliss magazine as well...Many blessings to you cm.
namah sivaya
bala
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Thu, January 3, 2008 - 9:07 PMHi CM,
Thanks again for your insight.
Can you expand on your comments here regarding improper asthidhatu?
I am curious about this since I myself have experienced this personally. Basically, I developed early and am now almost 2 meters tall. My bones grew way too fast, the muscles could not keep up. Is this what you are describing?
And, what would you reccomend as a general treatment? Or is this untreatable?
If anyone knows of a Ayurvedic practitioner in the SF Bay area that does pediatrics, please let me know. I don't think this specialty is very common in the US. -
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 7:09 AMHi Andrew
Asthidhatu is 5th dhatu and its main function is support (dharana) to the body (including mechanical support, i.e., formation of skeleton and other solid body parts). Asthi and vata are intimately related (asthi is one of the 'sthanas', i.e., place, of vata). Pakvashaya (colon) is also seat of vata and hence affects metabolism of asthidhatu.
Normal state of Asthidhatu depends on many factors, these could be present right from conception to growth of the fetus during nine months, and nourishment after birth. Causes of vitiation of asthi vahini (channel of asthi) are described by Charaka as follows: Vata-vitiating diet abdomen behavior, over-exertion, vighattana (?inflammation), and trauma.
Abnormal increase in asthi (adhyasthi) (as evidenced by excessive height) can occur due to vata-vitiating causes during any of the above-mentioned stages of development. Of course, there could be genetic a cause also.
This is certainly treatable. Treatment of asthi-diseases consists internal medications such as guduchi satva and panchakarma, especially basti, with medicated milk (special milk prepared with some bitter herbs + ghee). For infants (4-6 months) basti is generally not done unless it is really necessary. I have seen excellent results with appropriate combination of shrunga and mandur-bhasma, nadihingu, and guduchi for different conditions during teeth eruption.
cm
www.ayurvedicrx.com
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Re: Newborn Rice Eating Ritual
Thu, January 10, 2008 - 9:21 PMA small aside: I just heard of a child born with teeth! Present at birth.
To the uninitiated parent, this could be perceived as a good thing but from what I read here, this is way out of balance.
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