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How To Perform Mundan Ceremony For Babies

How To Perform Mundan Ceremony For Babies

Are you planning to celebrate the Mundan ceremony for your child? Find out the Mundan ritual and the precautions to take during the baby’s Mundan ceremony. Continue reading for the significance of the Mundan ceremony for babies.

What is Mundan Ceremony For Babies

The Mundan or Mundan Sanskar ceremony is a Hindu practice, involving the baby’s head being tonsured. Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims perform this ritual of taking away hair retained since birth. This tonsuring is performed after the kid finishes his first year and between the age of three years at any time. The ritual should take place in an odd year and an odd month, a specific point that needs to be strictly followed. Usually, the Mundan is done on the 7th, 9th, and 11th months.

How To Perform Mundan Ceremony For Babies

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Procedure of Mundan Sanskar

Some of the parents want to do the Mundan on the river banks of Ganga, but the ritual is also being performed at home these days due to some urgent time and other problems. A Brahmin or a priest is called upon and a ‘Havan’ or a ‘Homa’ is arranged. A barber who really specializes in this Mundan ritual is called over or the child is taken to the nearest temple, where his or her head is shaved.

Much like that, the hair that’s cut off will not be thrown off. Each single hair strand is carefully collected and preserved to be offered to God or submerged in the Ganga’s holy waters or any of its tributaries.

For boys and girls, Mundan is different. The head of the eth girls is absolutely rasped off while a Chuda or a tuft is held on the crown of his head for the boys. This is often referred to as Shika and it literally means the Gotra to which the boy belongs.

After the Mundan is put on the baby head with a paste of turmeric and sandalwood. This is not only a ritual that is conducted as part of the purifying act, but also ensures that the Haldi (turmeric) and sandalwood’s antiseptic properties prevent the potential occurrence or any discomfort or infection from occurring. It is also recommended not to use any soap or shampoo on the baby’s head for the same purpose.

Mundan Ceremony  Ritual

  • The child’s world is always done on an auspicious day and time that depends on the child’s date of birth. The day is also called “mundan muhurat,” where a priest takes into account a variety of aspects of astrology and mythology.
  • At the fixed date and time, the priest sets a havan or pooja. The mother is sitting with the infant in her lap in front of the holy pyre. Although some families choose to perform this ritual in their houses, others prefer to go to a shrine or temple to do so.
  • The priest sings holy hymns and shaves off some hair of the baby. The holy hymn is also known as the mundan Sanskar Mantra. These mantras are composed especially for this rite.
  • The rest of the hair is shaved with the utmost care by the barber.
    The head of the infant is then washed in sacred water from the priest, also known as the “Gangaajal.” It is supposed that the water will help the head soothe and cure.
  • At the end of the day, the shaved hair is offered to the Gods or given away by other means, as indicated by the priest.

Beliefs Behind Baby Mundan Ceremony

In Hindu culture, the first full head of hair of a child is deeply thought to purify the child and rub it free from any evil eye or bad presence.

This practice also has a variety of other values behind it. To understand more, read on.

  • It helps to keep your body and head cool, especially in the summer.
  • It cleanses the child’s soul and body.
  • They appear to suffer from headaches while children are teething. This pain is thought to be minimized by the shaving ritual.
  • Hair growth after tonsuring, leading to healthy hair, is assumed to increase.
  • It provides long life and good health for the child.
  • It eliminates karma or negativity from any past life.

Precautions for Doing Mundan Ceremony

Let us take a look at the precautions that a baby Mundan should take.

  • You must be confident that the barber you called the Mundan is indeed an expert in the action.
  • Make sure the sterilized tool is used by the barber and a new blade is used in the razor.
  • Have your appointment in the nearest temple or salon so you’ll be able to get the Mundan by a trustworthy person.
  • Ensure the baby is well enough to rest so that during the Mundan it does not get cranky. If the baby is fidgety or crying, it may be very difficult to make it healthy.
  • Finally, please remember that in front of your baby there is no mirror. What’s crucial is that the baby does not see the process as it will frighten him.

There is a lot of significance and sense attached to the mundan ceremony, which is why many families still continue to make it part of their rituals today. In addition to spiritual purposes, this activity has its own advantages and benefits for the child. Just make sure you follow all the steps and measures required to make the mundane ceremony a healthy and unforgettable family occasion.

It is important to note that, according to tradition, modern nuclear families may not always get the time and ability to observe this Mundan ritual. So they opt for a tonsure in the living room that has a baby’s head-shaving facility and specializes in that process. This is also a new facility in the major cities of India that is provided by many renowned salons.

Also Read: How To Do Baby Naming Ceremony (Naamkaran)

 

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