A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c25.857

v1.c25.857

The child should leave the room where it remained after birth (sūtikāgāra) for the first time in the fourth month in order to honour Agni, Skanda and the other gods (1.45).³⁸ In the fifth month it should be made to sit on the earth, while bali offerings are made in the four directions of the sky (1.46); a mantra to be employed on this occasion (1.47–48); after the performance of this ritual, the child should be made to sit up daily; after sitting for a while, its hips, etc., should be rubbed (1.49);³⁹ in the sixth month, solid food is given for the first time (annaprāśana);⁴⁰ the child should be weaned gradually (1.50–51ab).⁴¹