________________
The Puranas on Sacramental, Ethical and Philosophical Planes
day (is called) Kesavapa."" The name, though less known, seems to have its basis in the Sutra literature, for the Afvalayanagrhyasūtra refers to the act of hair-cutting as Kesavapana. Besides the above name, the author also alludes to its popular name Caula, as mentioned in the Smptis As laid down in the Mahāpurana, the main item of the rite is the shaving of the child's head "together with the arrangement of the top-hair in accordance with one's family tradition."37
The Age
The MP does not refer to the proper time of the performance of the Samskära in question In accordance with the Grhyasutras and the earliest Smpti39, the ceremony should take place in the first year or before the expiry of the third year Now, by inserting the Kesavāpa rite between Vjusti (to be cele brated at the end of the first year) and Lapisamkhyānasaṁgraha (to be performed in the fifth year) Jinasena seems to suggest that the rite should take place in the third year or before the performance of the Lipisamkhyānasamgraha sacrament Thus, so far as the essential features of the Samskära are concerned, Jinasena's prescription of the rite is not at variance with the Brahmanical stand-point
Lipisamhhy anasamgraha
(Acquisition of 'cripts and numerals)
It is one of the most important sacraments of educational character. And, it is significant to note that Jinascna's Mahāpurana 18 the earliest known work to have recognized this educational act as a separate sacrament For, the Brahmanical Sülra literature and the early Smitts do not take note of the sacrament 1 Some of the Nibandhas that mention this Samskara
35 केशवापस्तु केशाना शुभेऽह्निन्यपरोपणम्
838885
36 1 17 12
37 सचून स्वान्वयोचितम् ।
38 Paraskara-grhyasūtra, 2 1 1 2,
39 Manu 235
40 MP 38 102-103
41 Vide HS, pp 137-39
243
-Ibid, 88 98a
-MP 38 98b
