Mundan is one ritual which is celebrated/witnessed in all religions in one form or the other. But do you actually know the meaning of mundan? Have you any idea of why, when & how the mundan is performed? If you don't, then read this post about the mundan ceremony.
In this article, you will find answers to the following questions:
The Hindu religion is one of the most transparent and believed-in religions of all times. Among its various ceremonies, traditions, rituals, and festivals, mundan ceremony is considered as one of the important and significant ceremony. It is basically the cutting of baby hair (shaving the head) for the first time since his/her birth (the birth hair of the baby are cut by the barber (known as 'nai' in Hindi)). It is also called Chaula or Choodakarna/Chudakarana. The Hinduism, the mundan ritual is observed during the first or the third year of the child's life (boy as well as girl). In the same tone, Kesi Dahi Ceremony is traditionally performed in the Sikh religion. This is done by washing the hair of the newborn baby boy with curd.
The reason behind mundan or first haircut in various communities is the belief that it purifies the child and liberates him from the negativity of his past life. There are some other beliefs for performing mundan, such as:
The fast paced lives of new generation have left very little time for their loved one, including the newborn and toddlers. In such scenario, most of the modern couples choose their home as the place for mundan ceremony. At any auspicious day, they call in the barber at home and carry out the first haircut of the baby. Taking a step ahead, few modern parents prefer to take their kid to a beauty parlor or salon to get the mundan done. Seeing this trend and demand, few salons have started offering 'special mundan haircuts', where they shave the head for an auspicious amount. Although, it is against the mundan ceremony traditions, but still it reaps benefits like saving on finance as well as time.
However, the Hindu religion says that the mundan ceremony should take place on a specific date, time and place, as cited by the Pandit / Pundit. Note that these details vary from child to child, as they depend on the child's date of birth, date of place, time of birth etc. According to the aphorism of the pandit, one must visit the holy place / temple and make sure that the mundan ceremony takes place there, at the exact time. The first haircut is also done on the banks of Holy River like the Ganga and The Yamuna.
The shaving of head of a kid for the first time is called mundan and it should be performed according to aphorism of pandits in the Hindu religion. A havan may or may not be performed by a pandit, depending on the location of mundan. If you are getting the mundan carried out at Banke Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan then just take the blessings of the God by praying to him, but after the kid's head is shaved and washed. There is no need of a havan in this case.
According to adage of the pundit, the child may sit in the lap of her mother or father during this observance. The pandit shaves off a small part of the kid's hair while chanting sacred hymes. Thereafter, the complete shaving of the head is done by the barber. In some religions, the initial rite is done by the father instead of the pandit.
Holy water (Gangajal) is used to wash the shaven head, after which sandalwood and turmeric paste is applied for cooling the head and quick healing of any cuts. The shaved hair is offered to a sacred river like the Ganga or the Yamuna. Also, the shaved hair can be offered to a deity after collecting them in red cloth. Depending on the religion and gotra, the pandit may guide you with a different way for disposing the hair.
In some cultures, it is ritual to leave a tuft of hair on the head. Known as bodi, choti or shikha, this tuft of hair is believed to protect the brain.
In this article, you will find answers to the following questions:
What is mundan?
Why is mundan performed?
When is mundan ceremony performed?
Where can the mundan ceremony take place?
How is the mundan performed?
What is mundan?
The Hindu religion is one of the most transparent and believed-in religions of all times. Among its various ceremonies, traditions, rituals, and festivals, mundan ceremony is considered as one of the important and significant ceremony. It is basically the cutting of baby hair (shaving the head) for the first time since his/her birth (the birth hair of the baby are cut by the barber (known as 'nai' in Hindi)). It is also called Chaula or Choodakarna/Chudakarana. The Hinduism, the mundan ritual is observed during the first or the third year of the child's life (boy as well as girl). In the same tone, Kesi Dahi Ceremony is traditionally performed in the Sikh religion. This is done by washing the hair of the newborn baby boy with curd.
Why is mundan performed?
The reason behind mundan or first haircut in various communities is the belief that it purifies the child and liberates him from the negativity of his past life. There are some other beliefs for performing mundan, such as:
- Accords a long life filled with prosperous future
- Keeps the child out of harm's way by protecting against evil
- Sublimates the child's soul and body etc.
When is mundan ceremony performed?
In the Hindu religion, it is dictated to observe the mundan ceremony during the first or the third year of the child's life. Following traditions, most of the people take the help of a Pandit / Pundit for finding the specific date, time and place, which is the most auspicious for the occasion.
Where can the mundan ceremony take place?
The fast paced lives of new generation have left very little time for their loved one, including the newborn and toddlers. In such scenario, most of the modern couples choose their home as the place for mundan ceremony. At any auspicious day, they call in the barber at home and carry out the first haircut of the baby. Taking a step ahead, few modern parents prefer to take their kid to a beauty parlor or salon to get the mundan done. Seeing this trend and demand, few salons have started offering 'special mundan haircuts', where they shave the head for an auspicious amount. Although, it is against the mundan ceremony traditions, but still it reaps benefits like saving on finance as well as time.
However, the Hindu religion says that the mundan ceremony should take place on a specific date, time and place, as cited by the Pandit / Pundit. Note that these details vary from child to child, as they depend on the child's date of birth, date of place, time of birth etc. According to the aphorism of the pandit, one must visit the holy place / temple and make sure that the mundan ceremony takes place there, at the exact time. The first haircut is also done on the banks of Holy River like the Ganga and The Yamuna.
How is the mundan performed?
The shaving of head of a kid for the first time is called mundan and it should be performed according to aphorism of pandits in the Hindu religion. A havan may or may not be performed by a pandit, depending on the location of mundan. If you are getting the mundan carried out at Banke Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan then just take the blessings of the God by praying to him, but after the kid's head is shaved and washed. There is no need of a havan in this case.
According to adage of the pundit, the child may sit in the lap of her mother or father during this observance. The pandit shaves off a small part of the kid's hair while chanting sacred hymes. Thereafter, the complete shaving of the head is done by the barber. In some religions, the initial rite is done by the father instead of the pandit.
Holy water (Gangajal) is used to wash the shaven head, after which sandalwood and turmeric paste is applied for cooling the head and quick healing of any cuts. The shaved hair is offered to a sacred river like the Ganga or the Yamuna. Also, the shaved hair can be offered to a deity after collecting them in red cloth. Depending on the religion and gotra, the pandit may guide you with a different way for disposing the hair.
In some cultures, it is ritual to leave a tuft of hair on the head. Known as bodi, choti or shikha, this tuft of hair is believed to protect the brain.
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