Abstract

SHODASHA BALA SAMSKARA – A REVIEW

Dr. Mrudul S. Ghatol*, Dr. Anil B. Kale and Dr. Dattatraya G. Parde

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Abstract

India is a country with a rich and diverse cultural heritage where Hindu Dharma is held in high esteem. Hindu Dharma is not a religion, but a way of life that has been perfected over thousands of years to help people lead prosperous lives. The unique relationship between samskaras (sacraments) and culture shapes a person's life by defining moments or goals that nurture, purify, and ensure dignity and possessions. The purpose of samskara is to improve culture as a whole. Samskaras are performed for the physical, social, and religious development of the individual. Ancient Hindu mythology described sixteen samskaras per person. This article describes the eight Samskaras for child growth and development along with their medicinal significance: Jatakarma (birth rituals), Namkaran (naming a child), Nishakraman (first outing), Annaprashan (first feeding), Chudakarna (head shaving)., Karnachedan (earlobe piercing), Upanayana (threading ceremony) and Vedarambha (beginning of formal education). Samskara is a rite of passage and virtually every culture in the world has such ceremonies. Rites of passage are ceremonies that commemorate significant events in a person's life. Samskara also raises awareness of the realization of social status and individual rights. The doctor can also assess the child's normal growth and development while performing the samskaras. The number of samskaras varies in different Hindu dharma granthas (textbooks), ranging from about 16 to 40, but the corresponding samskaras are 16 in number, ranging from the Garbhadan to the Anteysthi samskara. Of those 16, only 11 will be in infancy. Ayurveda also describes different samskaras at different times in life to mark or announce the achievement of different milestones, thus ensuring adequate growth by distinguishing it from a developmentally delayed child.

Keywords: Jatakarma, Nishkraman Samskara, Development; Developmental Delay.