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## Upanayana Ceremony: A Jain Perspective
**254**
**Composed by Somasen Bhattarak**
Place six clay lamps filled with cow dung in the north direction, one after another. Then lift them and place them around the child. Next, place a knife, scissors, seven blades of grass, and a razor on a water-filled pot. Offer flowers, fragrance, and rice grains on them. The child's father, after taking a bath, should stand in front of the child sitting in the mother's lap. Holding a vessel of cold water in one hand and a vessel of hot water in the other, he should pour the water from both vessels into a third vessel. Then, add turmeric and yogurt to the water and sprinkle it on the child's hair with his left hand. Wash the hair with his right hand. After that, rub the hair with butter and wash it with warm water. Finally, wash the hair with the water from the auspicious pot, and then sprinkle it with fragrant water. (152-159)
Then, three sections are made on the right side of the child's hair. In the first section, the hair is cut with scissors. (160)
Place a bowl of rice in front of the child. The father, holding a piece of Khadira wood, five blades of grass, flowers, fragrance, and a razor in his left hand, should make a braid of the child's hair. Holding the braid with his thumb and fingers, he should cut the hair with the scissors in his right hand. (160-162)
**Mantra:** "Om Namo Aite Bhagavate Jinesvaraya, Mama Putra Upanayanamundamundito Mahabagi Bhavatu Bhavatu Swaha."
While cutting the hair, chant this mantra. After cutting the hair, give it to the mother along with leaves of the Sami tree. The mother, saying "Tatha Bhavatu," should put the hair in a cow dung lamp after mixing it with milk and ghee.
In the second section, place a bowl of sesame seeds in front of the child. Holding the same tools as before, the father should cut the hair while chanting the mantra: "Om Namah Siddhaparameshtine, Mama Putro Nirgranthamundabagi Bhavatu Swaha." Then, he should give the hair to the mother. The mother should follow the same procedure as before.