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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
and gives her blessing that she may have delivery without difficulty.
(3) Janma: This is the birth ceremony. When the child is born, its naval cord is cut, the mother and child are given a bath and the astrologer is asked to prepare its horoscope. The preceptor is called and he ties the amulet round the child's hand after chanting hymns to Goddess Ambika with an intention that she may protect the new-born child.
(4) Suryendudarsana: It means bowing to the sun and the moon. On the third day after the birth of the child, the preceptor, after due worship of the idol of Jina and the image of the sun, makes the mother and the child to bow down to the sun and at the same time recites mantras'. In the evening the same process is performed in connection with bowing down to the
moon.
(5) Kshirasana: On the same day the preceptor sprinkles the sanctified water on the child and then the mother's milk is given to the child. Through his mantras the preceptor blesses the child to the effect that it may be endowed with perfect health and long life.
(6) Shashthi: At night on the sixth day after the birth of the child, the preceptor worships the eight goddesses of protection (i. e., Rakshanadevi), namely, Brāhmaṇī, Maheśvari, Kaumāri, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrāni, Chamundā, and Tripura, and goddess Shashthi or Ambā. On the next day morning the preceptor sprinkles the sanctified water on the child and blesses it with 'mantras.' (7) Suchikarma: As the mother is considered to have become impure because of delivery, she is purified by the preceptor after the lapse of a certain period which varies according to classes. The Brahmins are purified after a period of ten days, the Kshatriyas twelve days, the Vaisyas sixteen days and the Sudras one month. This purification is known as Suchikarma.
(8) Namakarma: It means giving name. to the child. It is performed on the same day on which the 'Suchikarma'
