Category: Science in Ancient texts (Hindu Sanskar)
Hi Beautiful & Peaceful Souls,
In this series of blogs about sixteen sanskars, after discussing Nishkraman (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/nishkraman-sanskar-outing-ceremony-of.html) and Annaprashan sanskar in my previous blogs,(https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of-annaprashan.html) today I will discuss Mundan/Chudakarana sanskar.
What is Mundan/Chudakarana Sanskar (Tonsuring of Hair First Time)?
चूडाकर्म द्विजातीनां सर्वेषामेव धर्मतः |
प्रथमेSब्दे तृतीये वा कर्तव्यं श्रुतिचोदनात ||
According to Vishudh Manusmriti, it involves shaving of head of child for the first time after birth. This sanskar should be performed at the end of 1st year and before the end of 3rd year of child birth (13).
It is best to perform this sanskar in 3rd year because child's scalp is very tender before this time. The top of head is called fontanelle, is especially soft because the skull bones do not get fully knitted together till the age of 3 years. Till then, the birth hair give protection to the skull.
As per this ritual, hair of child are divided into two parts, a) Shikha (Tuft of hair), the part which is kept intact and b) the remaining hair which are removed from head with chant of mantras. These hair is then kept on seat of straws and are sanctified with Gaumutra. They are buried beneath the land either on bank of river Ganga or in Gaushala. After this, child's head is washed with holy water. A paste of turmeric and sandalwood is applied to head to heal the cut, if any.
Scientific Aspects of Mundan Sanskar:
1. The purpose of Mundan sanskar is piety, intellectual development and beauty. This is to enhance longevity, purity and beauty. Since child remains in womb till nine months this makes child's hair impure and can lead to scalp infection. Shaving is good to prevent certain skin problems like cradle cap, which is later converted into seborrheic dermatitis due to collection to sweat in scalp area by obstructing the sweat glands. If untreated, this becomes predisposing factor for psoriasis also (8).
Moreover, natural growth of hair on baby's head is uneven, so, after shaving, child will have even growth. There is a myth that shaving head can lead to thickness of here but there are no scientific evidences that proved that shaving give thick hair (10).
2. Another reason to perform this sanskar is, the teething process starts from 1st to 3rd year. During this process, child experiences heavy head, heat, headache, swollen gums, drool, loss motions, conjunctivitis. All these things affect child's head making him irritated and aggressive. So, this sanskar helps to keep child's head cool and light.
3. After shaving the head, the size and shape of head should be documented carefully for normal or abnormal findings. Detection of abnormalities like craniocynostosis (a congenital defect in which bones in baby's skull join too early even before baby's brain is fully formed), wide sutures, microcephaly (child's head is smaller than normal), macrocephaly (overly large head), elevated or depressed fontanelle (soft spot on baby's head where skull bones have not fused together). Palpation of scalp carefully may also reveal cranial defects or craniotabes.
4. At one year of age, infant develops milestones such as, walking without support, mature pincer grasp, able to turn pages of book and scribble, playing simple ball games and first molar eruption. So, all these activities can be monitored in case this sanskar is done after one year of child's birth.
5. Acharya Kashyapa explained Mundan as the first line of treatment. That time conforms diagnosis of Rickets in child.
Why Shikha is left at the back of child's head in this sanskar?
Acharya Sushruta opines that Shikha (special arrangement of hair on top of scalp which is left during Mundan sanskar) is the site of Sira (vessels) and Sandhi (Sutures: fibrous joints connecting bones of skull) and hair acts as protective layer for these. Shikha also acts as center point for receiving the energy from environment. The small portion of hair that hangs on behind our head applies little pressure on our brain that helps to improve concentration, memory and mind control. The awareness and alertness in body is controlled by center of brain which is at the place where shikha is kept.
According to Acharya Sushruta, this spot on head is the point of nexus of all the nerves and shikha helps in protecting this spot. Below this spot occurs Brahmarandhra where Sushumna nerve arrives from the lower part of the body to the brain. Brahmarandhra is the highest chakra (sahashara chakra also known as seventh or Crown Chakra) which is the center of wisdom. Shikha helps in boosting this center which can enhance our capability to experience the mystery of this universe. It is the place considered to be an opening where our soul connects with macrocosm. Crown chakra is associated with pineal gland which produces melatonin, a hormone that affects other glands in the endocrine system. This mirrors the relationship and interaction of crown chakra with other chakras.
Friends, I know some people perform mundan ceremony in a temple. I am no one to suggest whether it is right or wrong but, in my opinion it is not hygienic to perform mundan ceremony inside the temple premise and leave child's dirty hair there only. Temple is a place to attain purity of mind and thoughts. Therefore, in my opinion, it should be done outside the temple and child's hair should be buried under the soil near river after disinfecting them properly.
Hope, you like it
Your's Sincerely
Purnima Ghai
References:
1.http://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/3-2-98-953.pdf
2.http://interscience.org.uk/images/article/v8-i1/9ijahm.pdf
3.https://www.ijam.co.in/index.php/ijam/article/view/142/143
5.https://www.swaminarayan.faith/media/3688/sanskar-english.pdf
8.https://www.wjpmr.com/home/article_abstract/2272
9.http://www.sriramwallpapers.com/blog/The-real-science-behind-Hinduism-Concept-and-Practices
10.https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82434481.pdf
11. Photo Courtesy: Scraplabs
12. Book: Sanskar Chandrika
13. Book: Vishudh Manusmriti
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