(“tonsure”) Samskara

The eighth of the traditional life cycle
ceremonies (samskaras). In the chudakarana samskara, the hair is shaved
off of the child’s head, although frequently a tuft of hair (chuda) is left. This
is the last of the childhood samskaras,
marking the ritual end of infancy, and it
is still often performed in modern India,
particularly by brahmin families. The
timing for this rite is usually determined
by family custom (kulachara), although
in many cases it is performed when the
child’s age is an odd number (most commonly at one, three, or five years old).
Since most Indian babies are born with
hair, and hair is commonly believed to
trap impurities, the chudakarana is seen
as a rite of purification where the last of
the residual impurities from childbirth
are removed. As in many other cultures,
this cut-off hair is believed to retain a
powerful connection with the child.
Traditional belief holds that in the
wrong hands, this hair could be used to
work black magic against the child.
Given this concern, the hair is usually
carefully gathered and disposed of, most
often by putting it into running water.