TheChudakarana (Sanskrit:चूडाकरण,lit. 'arrangement of the hair tuft') or theMundana (Sanskrit:मुण्डन,lit. 'tonsure'), is the eighth of the sixteenHindusaṃskāras (sacraments), in which a child receives theirfirst haircut.
It is known by various names throughout the Indian subcontinent,like :-
No reference is provided in anyGrhya Sutras, but, in general this samskara is taken place at the end of second year or before the expiry of the third year, but the later authorities extend the age to the seventh year.[1] The child's hair isshorn, frequently leaving only theśikhā orcūḍā, a tuft at the crown of the head.
Originally, the arrangement of the śikhā was the most significant feature of the Chudakarana and the number of tufts was determined by the number of thepravaras belonging to thegotra of the child. Later, in northernIndia, keeping only one tuft became universal. But in theDeccan and southern India, earlier traditions remained alive to some extent.[2]
In tradition, the hair from birth is associated with undesirable traits from past lives. Thus at the time of themundana, the child is freshly shaven to signify freedom from the past and moving into the future. The rite is performed as a special ceremony in most homes, for young girls and boys.
AtRishikesh, on the banks of theGanges, there is a specialchudakarana ormundanasamskara. In this ceremony, along with cutting and shaving hair,Vedicmantras and prayers are chanted by trained priests,acharyas andrishikumaras. The child's head is shaven and the hair is then symbolically offered to theholy river. The child and their family then perform a sacredyajna ceremony and theGanga Aarti.
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