Issue 8.5 - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

Annaprasan
Annaprasan literally is ‘putting solid food or rice
into a child’s mouth for the first time’. Anna means
‘food’, especially ‘boiled rice’. Prashana means
‘eating, feeding’, and specifically ‘the first feeding of
a child’. The ceremony ritualizes the start of a
nursing child’s additional solid nourishment from
the age of six or seven months. This Sanskara
developed out of the physical need of the child for
more nourishment. It also established a point in the
child’s development at which the mother should
consider beginning to wean him.
The Ceremony
After a Muhurta has been selected for the
ceremony, friends and relatives are invited. Food is
cooked to the chanting of appropriate Vedic
mantras. The father feeds the child as the priest
recites the Mahavyahritis. The child is then placed
on kusha grass before the fire. Next, the father
offers oblations to Agni praying that the child
should be strong and well spoken. He also prays for
a long, happy and contented life, for fame, and for a
broad vision for the child.
After this, according to the Markandeya Purana, the
child is placed amongst tools and articles used in
various crafts and occupations. It is believed that
16 | Bhavan Australia | Nov 2010
the article that he touches first decides his future
occupation. When this has been done, the
Brahmins invited for the occasion and relatives are
fed food specially cooked for the occasion. The
Brahmins are also given gifts.
Grihyasutras
According to the Grihyasutras, Annaprashana
should be performed when the child is between six
and seven months old. For a weak child, it can be
postponed further. However it should not be
performed before the child is four months old
because he will not be able to digest food before
then. Nor should the ceremony be performed after
he is a year old because delaying additional
nourishment could retard the child’s natural
growth and development. Some people believe that
it should be performed after the child’s first teeth
come out as this is a sure sign that he will be able
to digest solid food.
Sushruta
According to Sushruta, the food given to the child
during Annaprashana should be easy to digest. He
should be fed different foods with different flavours.
A mixture of honey, yogurt, and ghee or meat is
offered to the child. The meat of every animal and
bird is believed to have a different quality,
which is imparted to the child. Like, fish
is believed to give swiftness. The
Markandeya Purana recommends
milk, rice, ghee and honey.
The concept of Annaprashana
existed among the Aryans
before they came to India.
This view is supported by
the presence of a similar
ceremony among the
Parsis. It became a
religious ritual by the time
of the Sutras.
Source: www.gurjari.net