Jatakarma Samskara

The fourth of the traditional life-cycle
ceremonies (samskaras). The first three
were to be performed before and during
pregnancy, while the jatakarma samskara was to be performed immediately
after the birth. This ceremony had several elements, but the most prominent
were uttering the word “vak” (“speech,”
a synonym for Saraswati) into the
child’s ear and feeding the child honey,
ghee, and other items believed to bring
good luck. This samskara is seldom performed in modern times, although there
are many other rites connected with
birth that are intended to protect the
mother and child and to kindle the
child’s potential.