History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.295

v2.c23.295

*Niṣkramaṇa*:-—(Taking the child out of the house in the open). This is a minor rite. Pār. gṛ. I. 17 gives the briefest description. Vide also Gobhila II. 8. 1-7 (S. B. E. vol. 30 pp. 56-57), Khādira II. 3. 1-5 (S. B. E. vol. 29. p. 396), Baud. gṛ. II. 2, Mānava gṛ. I. 19. 1-6, Kāṭhaka gṛ. 37-38.⁵⁸³ This was done according to most authorities in the 4th month after birth. Aparārka (p. 28) quotes a purāṇa that the going out of the house may be done on the 12th day or in the 4th month. According to Pār. gṛ. the father makes the child ⁵⁸⁴ look at the sun pronouncing the verse 'that eye' (Vāj. S. 36. 24). The Mānavagṛhya prescribes that the father cooks a mess of food in milk and offers oblations thereof to the sun with the verses 'the brilliant sun has risen in the east' (Mait. S. 4. 14. 4), 'he is the *haṁsa* sitting in pure worlds' (Ṛg. IV. 40. 5 = Mait. S. II. 6. 12 = Tai. S. I. 8. 15. 2), 'whenever him' (Ṛg. X. 88. 11) and then he worships the sun with the verse 'that Jātavedas' (Ṛg. I. 50. 1, it occurs in all Saṁhitās) and then he should present the child turning its face towards the sun with the verse 'salutation to thee, Oh divine (sun) who hast hundreds of rays and who dispellest darkness, remove the misfortune of my lot and endow me with blessings'; then brāhmaṇas are to be fed and the fee is to be a bull. Baud.