Jaatakarma (jātakarman): what the Gṛhyasūtras say

When

At birth, before the navel-string is cut (Pār, Gobh, Khād, Manu) or before others touch the child (Āśv).

What the texts describe

• Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ŚāṅkhGS 1.24.1–3

  1. atha jātakarma | 2. jātaṃ kumāraṃ trir abhyavānyānuprāṇyād ṛcā prāṇihi yajuṣā samanihi sāmnodanihīti | 3. sarpirmadhunī dadhyudake ca saṃninīya vrīhiyavau vā saṃnighṛṣya triḥ prāśayej jātarūpeṇa

  1. Now the Gatakarman (i.e. ceremony for the new-born child). 2. Let (the father) breathe three times on the new-born child and then draw in his breath with the words, 'Draw in your breath with the Rik, breathe within with the Yagus, breathe forth with the Saman.' 3. Let him mix together butter and honey, milk curds and water, or grind together rice and barley, and give it to eat (to the child) thrice from gold (i.e. from a golden vessel or with a golden spoon),

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 49–50. Public domain.

• Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ŚāṅkhGS 1.24.7–14

  7. goḥ kṛṣṇasya śuklakṛṣṇāni lohitāni ca romāṇi maṣaṃ kārayitvaitasminn eva catuṣṭaye saṃninīya catuḥ prāśayed iti māṇḍūkeyaḥ | 8. bhūr ṛgvedaṃ tvayi dadhāmy asau svāhā bhuvo yajurvedaṃ tvayi dadhāmy asau svāhā svaḥ sāmavedaṃ tvayi dadhāmy asau svāhā bhūr bhuvaḥ svar vākovākyam itihāsapurāṇam oṃ sarvān vedāṃs tvayi dadhāmy asau svāheti vā | 9. medhājananaṃ dakṣiṇe karṇe vāg iti triḥ | 10. vāg devī manasā saṃvidānā prāṇena vatsena sahendraproktā juṣatāṃ tvā saumanasāya devī mahī mandrā vāṇī vāṇīcī salilā svayaṃbhūr iti cānumantrayeta | 11. śaṇasūtreṇa vigranthya jātarūpam | 12. dakṣiṇe pāṇāv apinahyautthānāt | 13. ūrdhvaṃ daśamyā brāhmaṇebhyo dadyāt | 14. amā vā kurvīta

  7. Let him pulverise black and white and red hairs of a black ox, intermix (that powder) with those four substances (see Sutra 3), and give it to eat (to the child) four times: such (is the opinion of) Mandukeya. 8. If he likes (let him do so) with the words, 'Bhuh! The Rig-veda I lay into thee, N.N., svaha! 'Bhuvah! The Yagur-veda I lay into thee, N.N., svaha! 'Svah! The Sama-veda I lay into thee, N.N., svaha! 'Bhur bhuvah svah! Vakovakya (colloquies), Itihasa, and Purana--Om! All the Vedas I lay into thee, N.N., svaha!' 9. The production of intelligence (is performed) by thrice saying in his right ear, 'Speech!' 10. And let him recite over (the child the following text), 'Speech, the goddess, united with mind, together with breath, the child, uttered by Indra--may she rejoice in thee, the goddess, for the sake of joy, the great one, the sweet sounding, the music, full of music, the flowing, self-produced.' 11. Let him tie a piece of gold to a hempen string, 12. And bind it to (the child's) right hand until (the mother) gets up (from childbed). 13. After the tenth day let him give it to the Brahmanas, 14. Or keep it himself.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 50–51. Public domain.

• Āśvalāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ĀśvGS 1.15.1–3

  1. kumāram jātam purā anyaiḥ ālambhāt sarpiḥ madhunī hiraṇya nikāṣam hiraṇyena prāśayet pra te dadāmi madhunaḥ ghṛtasya vedam savitrā prasūtam maghonām āyuṣmān guptaḥ devatābhiḥ śatam jīva śaradaḥ loke asmin iti | 2. karṇayoḥ upanidhāya medhājananam japati | 3. medhāṃ te 'śvinau devāv ādhattāṃ puṣkarasrajāv iti | 4. aṃsāv abhimṛśaty aśmā bhava paraśur bhava hiraṇyam astṛtaṃ bhava | 5. vedo vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatam iti indra śreṣṭhāni draviṇāni dhehy asme prayandhi maghavann ṛjīṣinn iti ca

  1. When a son has been born, (the father) should, before other people touch him, give him to eat from gold (i.e. from a golden vessel or with a golden spoon) butter and honey with which he has ground gold(-dust), with (the verse), 'I administer to thee the wisdom ('veda') of honey, of ghee, raised by Savitri the bountiful. Long-living, protected by the gods, live a hundred autumns in this world!' 2. Approaching (his mouth) to (the child's) two ears he murmurs the 'production of intelligence:' 'Intelligence may give to thee god Savitri, intelligence may goddess Sarasvati, intelligence may give to thee the two divine Asvins, wreathed with lotus.' 3. He touches (the child's) two shoulders with (the verse), 'Be a stone, be an axe, be insuperable gold. Thou indeed art the Veda, called son; so live a hundred autumns'--and with (the verses), 'Indra, give the best treasures' (Rig-veda II, 21, 6), Bestow on us, O bountiful one, O speedy one' (Rig-veda III, 36, 10).

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 182. Public domain.

• Pāraskara Gṛhyasūtra — PārGS 1.16.3–25

  6. jātasya kumārasyācchinnāyāṃ nāḍyāṃ medhājananāyuṣye karoti | 7. anāmikayā suvarṇāntarhitayā madhughṛte prāśayati ghṛtaṃ vā bhūs tvayi dadhāmi bhuvas tvayi dadhāmi svas tvayi dadhāmi bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ sarvaṃ tvayi dadhāmīti | 8. athāsyāyuṣyaṃ karoti | 9. nābhyāṃ dakṣiṇe vā karṇe japati agnir āyuṣmānt sa vanaspatibhir āyuṣmāṃstena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 10. soma āyuṣmānt sa oṣadhībhir āyuṣmāṃs tenatvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 11. brahmāyuṣmat tad brāhmaṇair āyuṣmat tena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 12. devā āyuṣmantas te 'mṛtenāyuṣmantas tena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 13. ṛṣaya āyuṣmantaste vratair āyuṣmantastena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 14. pitara āyuṣmantaste svadhābhir āyuṣmantastena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 15. yajña āyuṣmānt sa dakṣiṇābhir āyuṣmāṃstena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomi | 16. samudra āyuṣmānt sa sravantībhir āyuṣmāṃstena tvāyuṣāyuṣmantaṃ karomīti | 17. tris tris tryāyuṣamiti ca | 18. sa yadi kāmayeta sarvamāyuriyāditi vātsapreṇainam abhimṛśet | 19. divas parīty etasyānuvākasyottamām ṛcaṃ pariśinaṣṭi | 20. pratidiśaṃ pañca brāhmaṇān avasthāpya brūyād imam anuprāṇiteti | 21. pūrvo brūyāt prāṇeti | 22. vyāneti dakṣiṇaḥ | 23. apānetyaparaḥ | 24. udānetyuttaraḥ | 25. samāneti pañcama upariṣṭādavekṣamāṇo brūyāt | 26. svayam vā kuryād anuparikrāmam avidyamāneṣu | 27. sa yasmin deśe jāto bhavati tam abhimantrayate veda te bhūmi hṛdayaṃ divi candramasi śritam | 28. vedāhaṃ tanmāṃ tad vidyāt paśyema śaradaḥ śataṃ jīvema śaradaḥ śataṃ śṛṇuyāma śaradaḥ śatam iti | 29. athainam abhimṛśaty aśmā bhava paraśur bhava hiraṇyam asrutaṃ bhava | 30. ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatamiti | 31. athāsya mātaram abhimantrayata iḍāsi maitrāvaruṇī vīre vīramajījanathāḥ | 32. sā tvaṃ vīravatī bhava yāsmān vīravato 'karaditi | 33. athāsyai dakṣiṇaṃ stanaṃ prakṣālya prayacchatīmaṃ stanamiti | 34. yaste stana ityuttaram etābhyām | 35. udapātraṃ śirasto nidadhāty āpo deveṣu jāgratha yathā deveṣu jāgratha | 36. evam asyāṃ sūtikāyāṃ saputrikāyāṃ jāgratheti | 37. dvāradeśe sūtikāgnim upasamādhāyotthānāt saṃdhivelayoḥ phalīkaraṇamiśrān sarṣapān agnāv āvapati śaṇḍāmarkā upavīraḥ śauṇḍikeya ulūkhalaḥ | 38. malimluco droṇāsaś cyavano naśyatāditaḥ svāhā | 39. ālikhannanimiṣaḥ kiṃvadanta upaśrutirharyakṣaḥ kumbhī śatruḥ pātrapāṇirnṛmaṇirhantrīmukhaḥ sarṣapāruṇaś cyavano naśyatād itaḥ svāheti | 40. yadi kumāra upadravejjālena pracchādyottarīyeṇa vā pitāṅka ādhāya japati kūrkuraḥ sukūrkuraḥ kūrkuro bālabandhanaḥ | 41. ceccecchunaka sṛja namaste astu sīsaro lapetāpahvara tat satyam | 42. yat te devā varam adaduḥ sa tvaṃ kumārameva vā vṛṇīthāḥ | 43. ceccecchunaka sṛja namaste astu sīsaro lapetāpahvara tatsatyam | 44. yat te saramā mātā sīsaraḥ pitā śyāmaśabalau bhrātarau ceccecchunaka sṛja namaste astu sīsaro lapetāpahvareti | 45. abhimṛśati na nāmayati na rudati na hṛṣyati na glāyati yatra vayaṃ vadāmo yatra cābhimṛśāmasīti

  3. When the boy is born, he performs for him, before the navel-string is cut off, the medhaganana (production of intelligence) and the ayushya (rite for procuring long life). 4. (The medhaganana is performed in the following way:) With his fourth finger and with (an instrument of) gold he gives (to the child) honey and ghee, or ghee (alone), to eat with (the formulas), 'Bhuh I put into thee; bhuvah I put into thee; svah I put into thee. Bhur bhuvah svah everything I put into thee.' 5. He then performs the ayushya. 6. Near his navel or his right ear he murmurs: 'Agni is long-lived; through the trees he is long-lived. By that long life I make thee long-lived. 'Soma is long-lived; through the herbs he is, &c. 'The Brahman is long-lived; through the Brahmanas it is, &c. 'The gods are long-lived; through ambrosia (amrita) they are, &c. 'The Rishis are long-lived; through their observances they are, &c. 'The Fathers are long-lived; through the Svadha oblations (or oblations made to the Manes) they are, &c. 'Sacrifice is long-lived; through sacrificial fee it is, &c. 'The ocean is long-lived; through the rivers it is long-lived. By that long life I make thee long-lived;' 7. And three times the verse, 'The threefold age' (Vag. Samh. III, 62). 8. If he desires, 'May he live his full term of life,' he should touch him with the Vatsapra hymn (Vag. Samh. XII, 18-29). 9. From the Anuvaka beginning with 'From heaven' (XII, 18 seqq.) he omits the last Rik (XII, 29). 10. Having placed five Brahmanas towards the (five) regions, he should say to them, 'Breathe ye upon this (child).' 11. The (Brahmana placed) to the east should say, Up-breathing! 12. The one to the south, 'Back-breathing!' 13. The one to the west, 'Down-breathing!' 14. The one to the north, 'Out-breathing!' 15. The fifth one, looking upwards, should say, 'On-breathing!' 16. Or (the father) may do that himself, going round (his child), if he can find no (Brahmanas). 17. He recites over the place at which (the child) is born: 'I know, O earth, thy heart that dwells in heaven, in the moon. That I know; may it know me. May we see a hundred autumns; may we live a hundred autumns; may we hear a hundred autumns.' 18. He then touches him with (the verse), 'Be a stone, be an axe, be imperishable gold. Thou indeed art the Self called son; thus live a hundred autumns.' 19. He then recites over his mother (the verse), 'Thou art Ida, the daughter of Mitra and Varuna; thou strong woman hast born a strong son. Be thou blessed with strong children, thou who hast blessed us with a strong son.' 20. He then washes her right breast, and gives it to the child with (the verse), 'This breast' (Vag. Samh. XVII, 87); 21. The left (breast) with (the verse), 'Thy breast which' (ibid. XXXVIII, 5)--with these two (verses). 22. He puts down a pot of water near her head with (the verse), 'O waters, you watch with the gods. As you watch with the gods, thus watch over this mother who is confined, and her child.' 23. Having established near the door the fire that has been kept from (the wife's) confinement, he throws into that fire at the time of the morning and evening twilight, until (the mother) gets up (from childbed), mustard seeds mixed with rice chaff (pronouncing the following names of demons and goblins): 'May Sanda and Marka, Upavira, Saundikeya, Ulukhala, Malimluka, Dronasa, Kyavana vanish hence. Svaha! 'May Alikhat, Animisha, Kimvadanta, Upasruti, Haryaksha, Kumbhin, Satru, Patrapani, Nrimani, Hantrimukha, Sarshaparuna, Kyavana vanish hence. Svaha!' 24. If (the demon bringing disease) Kumara attacks the boy, the father covers him with a net or with an upper garment, takes him on his lap, and murmurs: Kurkura, Sukurkura, Kurkura, who holds fast children. Ket! ket! doggy! let him loose. Reverence be to thee, the Sisara, barker, bender. 'That is true that the gods have given a boon to thee. Hast thou then chosen even this boy? 'Ket! ket! doggy! let him loose. Reverence be to thee, the Sisara, barker, bender. 'That is true that (the divine she-dog) Sarama is thy mother, Sisara thy father, the black and the speckled (two dogs of Yama) thy brothers. 'Ket! ket! doggy! let him loose. Reverence be to thee, the Sisara, barker, bender.' 25. He then touches (the boy) with (the words), 'He does not suffer, he does not cry, he is not stiff, he is not sick, when we speak to him and when we touch him.'

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 293–297. Public domain.

• Gobhila Gṛhyasūtra — GobhGS 2.7.17–23

  17. yadāsmai kumāraṃ jātam ācakṣīrann atha brūyāt kāṅkṣata nābhikṛntanena stanapratidhānena ceti | 18. vrīhiyavau peṣayet tayaivāvṛtā yayā śuṅgām | 19. dakṣiṇasya pāṇer aṅguṣṭhenopakaniṣṭhikayā cāṅgulyābhisaṃgṛhya kumārasya jihvāyāṃ nimārṣṭīyam ājñeti | 20. tathaiva medhājananaṃ sarpiḥ prāśayet | 21. jātarūpeṇa vādāya kumārasya mukhe juhoti medhāṃ te mitrāvaruṇāv ityetayarcā sadasaspatim adbhutam iti ca | 22. kṛntata nābhim iti brūyāt stanaṃ ca pratidhatteti | 23. ata ūrdhvam asamālambhanam ā daśarātrāt

  17. When they announce to him that a son has been born, he should say, 'Delay still cutting off the navel-string and giving him the breast.' 18. Let him have rice and barley-grains pounded in the same way as the (Nyagrodha) shoot. 19. Seizing (that pounded substance) with the thumb and the fourth finger of his right hand, he smears it on the tongue of the boy, with the formula, 'This order' (MB. I, 5, 8). 20. In the same way the production of intelligence (is performed). He should give to eat (to the child) clarified butter. 21. Or he takes it with gold (i.e. with a golden spoon) and sacrifices it on the face of the boy with this verse, 'May Mitra and Varuna bestow intelligence on thee' (MB. I, 5, 9), and with (the verse), 'The lord of the seat, the wonderful' (Sama-veda I, 171). 22. Let him say, 'Cut off the navel-string,' and, 'Give the breast (to the child).' 23. From that time let him not touch (his wife) until ten nights have passed.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 55–56. Public domain.

• Khādira Gṛhyasūtra — KhādGS 2.2.32–34

  26. prāk nābhi kṛntanāt stana dānāt ca vrīhi yavau peṣayet śuṅgā āvṛtā | 27. aṅguṣṭhena anāmikayā ca ādāya kumāram prāśayet iyam ājñā iti sarpiḥ ca medhām te iti

  32. Before the navel-string is cut off and the breast is given (to the child, the father) should have rice and barley grains pounded in the way prescribed for the Nyagrodha-shoot (see Sutra 22). 33. He should take thereof with his (right) thumb and fourth finger and give it to the child to eat, with (the formula), 'This order' (MB. I, 5, 8). 34. And butter with (the verse), 'May intelligence to thee' (MB. I, 5, 9).

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 395. Public domain.

• Hiraṇyakeśi Gṛhyasūtra — HirGS 2.3.2–11

  2. jāte aśmani paraśum nidhāya upariṣṭāt hiraṇyam teṣu uttara adhareṣu upariṣṭāt kumāram dhārayati aśmā bhava paraśuḥ bhava hiraṇyam a stṛtam bhava vedaḥ vai putra nāmā asi jīva tvam śaradaḥ śatam aṅgāt aṅgāt sambhavasi hṛdayāt adhijāyase ātmā vai putra nāmā asi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatam iti | 3. yadi aparā na patet añjalinā udakam ādāya mūrdhānam asya avasiñcet tiladā iva padyasva na māṃsam asi na u dalam avapadyasva sva pathāt iti | 4. upanirharanti aupāsanam | 5. atiharanti sūtikāgnim | 6. saḥ eṣaḥ uttapanīyaḥ eva | 7. na asmin kiṃcana karma kriyate anyatra uddhūpanāt | 8. atha enam kaṇaiḥ sarṣapa miśraiḥ uddhūpayati śaṇḍaḥ markaḥ upavīraḥ śāṇḍīkeraḥ ulūkhalaḥ cyavanaḥ naśyatād itas svāhā ālikhan vilikhan animiṣan kiṃvadantaḥ upaśrutiḥ svāhā aryamṇaḥ kumbhī śatruḥ pātrapāṇiḥ nipuṇiḥ svāhā āntrīmukhaḥ sarṣapāruṇaḥ naśyatād itas svāhā keśinī śvalominī bajābojā upakāśinī apeta naśyatād itas svāhā kauberakāḥ viśvavāsaḥ rakṣaḥ rājena preṣitāḥ grāmān sajātayaḥ yanti īpsantaḥ parijākṛtān svāhā etān hata etān badhnīta iti ayam brahmaṇaḥ dūtaḥ tān agniḥ paryasarat tān indraḥ tān bṛhaspatiḥ tān aham veda brāhmaṇaḥ pramṛśataḥ kūṭa dantān vikeśān lamba stanān svāhā naktaṃcāriṇaḥ uraspeśān śūla hastān kapāla pān svāhā pūrvaḥ eṣām pitā iti uccaiḥśrāvyakarṇakaḥ mātā jaghanyā gacchanti grāme vikhuram icchantī svāhā naktaṃcāriṇī svasā sandhinā prekṣate kulam yā svapatsu jāgarti yasyai vijātāyām manaḥ svāhā tāsām tvam kṛṣṇavartmane klomānam hṛdayam yakṛt agne akṣīṇi nirdaha svāhā iti | 9. pratimantram aṅgāreṣu āvapati | 10. tatas pāṇī prakṣālya bhūmim ālabhate yat te su sīme hṛdayam divi candramasi śritam tasya amṛta tvasya naḥ dhehi mā aham pautram agham rudam veda te bhūmi hṛdayam divi candramasi śritam tathā amṛta tvasya īśānaḥ mā aham pautram agham rudam iti | 11. atha atas medhājananam | 12. darbheṇa hiraṇyam prabadhya tat antardhāya upariṣṭāt prāñcam kumāram dhāryamāṇam ghṛtam prāśayati bhūḥ ṛcaḥ tvayi juhomi svāhā bhuvaḥ yajūṃṣi tvayi juhomi svāhā suvar sāmāni tvayi juhomi svāhā bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvar atharva aṅgirasaḥ tvayi juhomi svāhā iti | 13. atha enam uṣṇa śītābhiḥ adbhiḥ snāpayati kṣetriyai tvā nirṛtyai tvā druhaḥ muñcāmi varuṇasya pāśāt anāgasam brahmaṇe tvā karomi śive te dyāvāpṛthivī ubhe ime śam te agniḥ saha adbhiḥ astu śam dyāvāpṛthivī saha oṣadhībhiḥ śam antarikṣam saha vātena te śam te catasraḥ pradiśaḥ bhavantu sūryam ṛtam tamasaḥ grāhyāḥ yat devāḥ amuñcan asṛjan vi enasaḥ evam aham imam kṣetriyāt jāmiśaṃsāt druhaḥ muñcāmi varuṇasya pāśāt iti | 14. atha enam mātuḥ upasthe ādadhāti

  2. When the child is born, he lays an axe on a stone, and a piece of gold on that axe; after he has turned these things upside down (so that the stone lies uppermost), he holds the boy over them with (the two verses), 'Be a stone, be an axe, be insuperable gold. Thou indeed art the Veda called son; so live a hundred autumns. 'From limb by limb thou art produced; out of the heart thou art born. Thou indeed art the self (atman) called son; so live a hundred autumns.' 3. (The contents of this Sutra are similar to those of Paraskara I, 16, 2.) 4. They take the Aupasana (or regular Grihya) fire away, and they bring the Sutikagni (or the fire of the confinement). 5. That (fire) is only used for warming (dishes, etc.). 6. No ceremonies are performed with it except the fumigation (see the next Sutra). 7. He fumigates (the child) with small grains mixed with mustard seeds. These he throws into the coals (of the Sutikagni) (eleven times, each time with one of the following Mantras): (a) 'May Sanda and Marka, Upavira, Sandikera, Ulukhala, Kyavana vanish from here. Svaha! (b) 'Alikhat, Vilikhat, Animisha, Kimvadanta, Upasruti. Svaha! (c) 'Aryamna, Kumbhin, Satru, Patrapani, Nipuni. Svaha! (d) 'May Antrimukha, Sarshaparuna vanish from here. Svaha! (e) 'Kesini, Svalomini, Bagaboga, Upakasini--go away, vanish from here. Svaha! (f) 'The servants of Kuvera, Visvavasa (?), sent by the king of demons, all of one common origin, walk through the villages, visiting those who wake (?). Svaha! (g) '"Kill them! Bind them!" thus (says) this messenger of Brahman. Agni has encompassed them. Indra knows them; Brihaspati knows them; I the Brahmana know them who seize (men), who have prominent teeth, rugged hair, hanging breasts. Svaha! (h) 'The night-walkers, wearing ornaments on their breasts, with lances in their hands, drinking out of skulls! Svaha! (i) 'Their father Ukkaihsravyakarnaka walks (?) at their head, their mother walks in the rear, seeking a vikhura (?) in the village. Svaha! (k) 'The sister, the night-walker, looks at the family through the rift (?)--she who wakes while people sleep, whose mind is turned on the wife that has become mother. Svaha! (l) 'O god with the black path, Agni, burn the lungs, the hearts, the livers of those (female demons); burn their eyes. Svaha!' 8. Then he washes his hands and touches the ground with (the verses), 'O thou whose hair is well parted! Thy heart that dwells in heaven, in the moon: of that immortality impart to us. May I not weep over distress (falling to my lot) through my sons. 'I know thy heart, O earth, that dwells in heaven, in the moon: thus may I, the lord of immortality, not weep over distress (falling to my lot) through my sons.' 9. Now (follows) the medhaganana (or production of intelligence). With (an instrument of) gold over which he has laid a Darbha shoot tied (to that piece of gold) he gives to the child, which is held so that it faces the east, ghee to eat, with the formulas, 'Bhuh! I sacrifice the Rikas over thee! Bhuvah! I sacrifice the Yagus over thee! Suvah! I sacrifice the Samans over thee! Bhur bhuvah suvah! I sacrifice the Atharvan and Angiras hymns over thee!' 10. He then bathes the child with lukewarm water with (the following Mantras): 'From chronic disease, from destruction, from wile, from Varuna's fetter I release thee. I make thee guiltless before the Brahman; may both Heaven and Earth be kind towards thee. 'May Agni together with the waters bring thee bliss, Heaven and Earth together with the herbs; may the air together with the wind bring thee bliss; may the four quarters of the heaven bring thee bliss. 'Rightly have the gods released the sun from darkness and from the seizing demon; they have dismissed him from guilt; thus I deliver this boy from chronic disease, from curse that comes from his kin, from wile, from Varuna's fetter.' 11. He then places the child in his mother's lap with (the verse):

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 210–213. Public domain.

• Hiraṇyakeśi Gṛhyasūtra — HirGS 2.4.1–5

  1. yā daivīścatasraḥ pradiśo vātapatnīrabhi sūryo vicaṣṭe | 2. tāsāṃ tvā jarasa ādadhāmi pra yakṣma etu nirṛtiṃ parācaiḥ | 3. iti | 4. ādhāyābhimantrayate | 5. mā te putraṃ rakṣo hiṃsīnmā dhenuratisāriṇī | 6. priyā dhanasya bhūyā edhamānā sve vaśa iti | 7. prakṣālya dakṣiṇaṃ stanamādhāpayati | 8. ayaṃ kumāro jarāṃ dhayatu sarvamāyuretu | 9. tasmai stanaṃ prapyāyasvāyuḥ kīrtirvarco yaśo balam | 10. iti | 11. evamuttaram | 12. nāmayati na rudati yatra vayaṃ vadāmo yatra vābhimṛśāmasītyubhāvabhimṛśyāthāsyai śirasta udakumbhamapihitaṃ nidadhāti | 13. āpo gṛheṣu jāgrata yathā deveṣu jāgratha | 14. evamasyai suputrāyai jāgrata | 15. iti

  1. 'The four divine quarters of the heaven, the consorts of Wind, whom the sun surveys: to their long life I turn thee; may consumption go away to destruction!' 2. Having placed (him there) he addresses (his wife with the Mantra), 'May no demon do harm to thy son, no cow that rushes upon him (?). Mayst thou become the friend of treasures; mayst thou live in prosperity in thy own way.' 3. He washes her right breast and makes her give it to the child with (the formula), 'May this boy suckle long life; may he reach old age. Let thy breast be exuberant for him, and life, glory, renown, splendour, strength.' 4. In the same way the left breast. 5. With (the words), 'He does not suffer, he does not cry, when we speak to him and when we touch him'--he touches both breasts. Then he places a covered water-pot near her head, with (the formula), 'O waters, watch in the house. As you watch with the gods, thus watch over this wife, the mother of a good son.'

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 213–214. Public domain.

• Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra — ĀpGS 15.1–7 (Paṭala 6, Khaṇḍa 15)

  1. jātaṃ vātsapreṇābhimṛśyottareṇa yajuṣopastha ādhāyottarābhyām abhimantraṇaṃ mūrdhanyavaghrāṇaṃ dakṣiṇe karṇe jāpaḥ | 2. nakṣatranāma ca nirdiśati | 3. tad rahasyaṃ bhavati | 4. madhu ghṛtamiti saṃsṛjya tasmin darbheṇa hiraṇyaṃ niṣṭarkyaṃ baddhvāvadāyottarair mantraiḥ kumāraṃ prāśayitvottarābhiḥ pañcabhiḥ snāpayitvā dadhi ghṛtamiti saṃsṛjya kāṃsyena pṛṣadājyaṃ vyāhṛtībhir oṅkāracaturthābhiḥ kumāraṃ prāśayitvādbhiḥ śeṣaṃ saṃsṛjya goṣṭhe ninayet | 5. uttarayā māturupastha ādhāyottarayā dakṣiṇaṃ stanaṃ pratidhāpyottarābhyāṃ pṛthivīmabhimṛśyottareṇa yajuṣā saṃviṣṭam | 6. uttareṇa yajuṣā śirasta udakumbhaṃ nidhāya sarṣapān phalīkaraṇamiśrān añjalinottarais tristriḥ pratisvāhākāraṃ hutvā saṃśāsti praviṣṭe praviṣṭa eva tūṣṇīmagnāvāvapateti | 7. evam ahar ahar ā nirdaśatāyāḥ

  1. After he has touched the new-born child with the Vatsapra hymn (Taitt. Samh. IV, 2, 2; M. II, 11, 20), and has taken him on his lap with the next Yagus (M. II, II, 21), with the next (three) (verses--II, 11, 22; 12, 1. 2--one by one) he addresses the child, kisses him on his head, and murmurs (the third verse) into his right ear. 2. And he gives him a Nakshatra name. 3. That is secret. 4. He pours together honey and ghee; into this (mixture) he dips a piece of gold which he has tied with a noose to a Darbha blade. With the next (three) formulas (II, 12, 3-5) he gives the boy (by means of the piece of gold, some of the mixture) to eat. With the next five (verses, II, 12, 6-10) he bathes him. Then he pours curds and ghee together and gives him this (mixture which is called) 'sprinkled butter' (prishadagya) to eat out of a brass vessel, with the Vyahritis to which the syllable 'Om' is added as the fourth (II, 12, 11-14). The remainder he should mix with water and pour out in a cow-stable. 5. With the next (verse, M. II, 13, 1) he places (the child) in the mother's lap; with the next (II, 13, 2) he causes her to give him her right breast; with the next two (verses, II, 13, 3. 4) he touches the earth, and after (the child) has been laid down, (he touches him) with the next (formula, II, 13, 5). 6. With the next Yagus (II, 13, 6) he places a water-pot at (the child's) head, sacrifices mustard seeds and rice-chaff with his joined hands three times with each of the next (formulas, II, 13, 7-14, 2), repeating each time the word Svaha, and says (to the people who are accustomed to enter the room in which his wife lies), 'Whenever you enter, strew silently (mustard seeds with rice-chaff) on the fire.' 7. This is to be done until the ten days (after the child's birth) have elapsed.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 281–282. Public domain.

• Manusmṛti (Mānava-dharmaśāstra) — Manu 2.29 (Bühler numbering)

  prāṅ nābhivardhanāt puṃso jātakarma vidhīyate / mantravat prāśanaṃ cāsya hiraṇyamadhusarpiṣām

  Before the navel-string is cut, the Gatakarman (birth-rite) must be performed for a male (child); and while sacred formulas are being recited, he must be fed with gold, honey, and butter.

  Georg Bühler, The Laws of Manu, Sacred Books of the East 25 (1886), p. 34. Public domain.

• Āśvalāyana Gṛhyasūtra — ĀśvGS 1.15.9–10

  11. pravāsāt etya putrasya śiraḥ parigṛhya japati aṅgāt aṅgāt sambhavasi hṛdayāt adhi jāyase ātmā vai putra nāmā asi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatam iti mūrdhani tris avaghrāya | 12. āvṛtā eva kumāryai

  9. When he returns from a journey, he embraces his son's head and murmurs, 'From limb by limb thou art produced; out of the heart thou art born. Thou indeed art the self called son; so live a hundred autumns!'--(thus) he kisses him three times on his head. 10. The rite only (without the Mantra is performed) for a girl.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 183. Public domain.

• Pāraskara Gṛhyasūtra — PārGS 1.18.1–7

  1. proṣyetya gṛhānupatiṣṭhate pūrvavat | 2. putraṃ dṛṣṭvā japati aṅgādaṅgāt sambhavasi hṛdayād adhijāyase | 3. ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatamiti | 4. athāsya mūrdhānam avajighrati | 5. prajāpateṣ ṭvā hiṃkāreṇāvajighrāmi sahasrāyuṣāsau jīva śaradaḥ śatamiti | 6. gavāṃ tvā hiṃkāreṇeti ca trir dakṣiṇe 'sya karṇe japati | 7. asme prayandhi maghavann ṛjīṣinn indra rāyo viśvavārasya bhūreḥ | 8. asme śataṃ śarado jīvase dhā asme vīrāñ śaśvata indra śiprinniti | 9. indra śreṣṭhāni draviṇāni dhehi cittiṃ dakṣasya subhagatvam asme | 10. poṣaṃ rayīṇāmariṣṭiṃ tanūnāṃ svādmānaṃ vācaḥ sudinatvam ahnāmiti savye | 11. striyai tu mūrdhānam evāvajighrati tūṣṇīm

  1. When he returns from a journey, he approaches his house in the manner stated above. 2. When he sees his son, he murmurs, 'From limb by limb thou art produced; out of the heart thou art born. Thou indeed art the Self called son; so live a hundred autumns!' 3. He then kisses his head with (the words), 'With the himkara (the mystical syllable hin) of Pragapati, which gives thousandfold life, I kiss thee, N.N.! Live a hundred autumns!'-- 4. And three times with (the words), 'With the himkara of the cows.' 5. In his right ear he murmurs, 'Bestow on us, O bountiful, onward-pressing Indra, plentiful, rich treasures. Give us a hundred autumns to live; give us many heroes, strong jawed Indra;' 6. In the left ear, 'Indra, bestow on us the best treasures, insight of mind, happiness, increase of wealth, health of our bodies, sweetness of speech, and that our days may be good days.' 7. For a girl he only kisses the head silently.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 298. Public domain.

• Gobhila Gṛhyasūtra — GobhGS 2.8.21–25

  21. viproṣya jyeṣṭhasya putrasyobhābhyāṃ pāṇibhyāṃ mūrdhānaṃ parigṛhya japed yadā vā pitā ma iti vidyād upetasya vāṅgād aṅgāt sambhavasīti | 22. paśūnāṃ tvā hiṅkāreṇābhijighrāmīty abhijighrya yathārtham | 23. evam evāvareṣām | 24. yathājyeṣṭhaṃ yathopalambhaṃ vā | 25. striyās tūṣṇīṃ mūrdhany abhijighraṇaṃ mūrdhanyabhijighraṇam

  21. When (the father) returns from a journey, or when (the son) begins to know, 'This is my father,' or when (the son) has been initiated, (the father) should grasp with his two hands his son round the head, and should murmur, 'From limb by limb thou art produced' (MB. I, 5, 16-18). 22. With (the formula), 'With the cattle's himkara I kiss thee' (l.l. 19) he should kiss him. Then he may do what he likes. 23. In the same way (he should do) to his younger sons-- 24. According to their age or in the order in which he meets them. 25. Girls he should silently kiss on their head; he should silently kiss them on their head.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 59. Public domain.

• Khādira Gṛhyasūtra — KhādGS 2.3.13–15

  12. viproṣya aṅgāt aṅgāt iti putrasya mūrdhānam parigṛhṇīyāt | 13. paśūnām tvā iti abhijighret tūṣṇīm striyāḥ

  13. (The father) when returning from a journey, should grasp (with his two hands) his son round the head, with (the verses), 'From limb by limb' (MB. I, 5, 16-18). 14. With (the formula), 'With the cattle's' (l.l. 19), he should kiss him. 15. Silently (he should do the same) with a daughter.

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part I, Sacred Books of the East 29 (1886), p. 397. Public domain.

• Āpastamba Gṛhyasūtra — ĀpGS 15.12–13 (Paṭala 6, Khaṇḍa 15)

  12. pravāsādetya putrasyottarābhyāmabhimantraṇaṃ mūrdhanyavaghrāṇaṃ dakṣiṇe karṇa uttarānmantrān japet | 13. kumārīmuttareṇa yajuṣābhimantrayate

  12. When (the father) returns from a journey, he should address the child and kiss him on his head with the next two (verses, M. II, 14, 3. 4), and should murmur the next Mantras (II, 14, 5) into his right ear. 13. With the next Yagus (II, 14, 6) he addresses a daughter (when returning from a journey).

  Hermann Oldenberg, The Grihya-Sutras: Rules of Vedic Domestic Ceremonies, Part II, Sacred Books of the East 30 (1892), p. 283. Public domain.

Sanskrit: Oliver Hellwig, Digital Corpus of Sanskrit (DCS), 2010–2021, licensed CC BY 4.0. English: Hermann Oldenberg (trans.), The Grihya-Sutras, Sacred Books of the East 29/30 (1886/1892), public domain, except where marked otherwise.