Jaatkarma Sanskaara

ओम् इडासि मैत्रावरुणी वीरे वीरमजीजनथाः ।
सा त्वं वीरवती भव याऽस्मान्वीरवतोऽकरत् ॥

Om iḍaasi maitraa-varuṇee
veere veeram-jeejanathaah.
Saa tvam veeravatee bhava
yaa’smaan-veeravato’karat.¹

O affectionate one and brave mother, may your love and care continue to flow over us. You are blessed as the mother of our child and as my partner in life. May you continue to be brave and excellent in your motherhood.

इडा flow असि you are मैत्र affectionate, benevolent वरुणी energy वीर brave, heroic वीरम brave जननी mother सा she, he त्वम् you वीरवती woman whose husband is alive भव you be य and अस्मान् us वीरवत् heroic, wealth that is sons/children अकरत् best

ओम् इमाँ स्तनमुर्ज्जस्वन्तं धयापां प्रपीनमग्ने सरिरस्य मध्ये ।
उत्सं जुषस्व मधुमन्तमर्वन्त्समुद्रियँ सदनमाविशस्व ॥

Om imaam stanam-oorjjas-vantam dhayaapaam
prapeenamagne sarirasya madhye.
Utsam juṣhasva madhumantam-arvant-
samoodriyam sadana-maa-vishasva.²

May you be blessed as you commence breastfeeding. This milk is full of vigor and contains all the essential elements to make you strong and healthy. It leads to your growth and development and allows you to develop strong bones and tissues, creating a strong body. The source of milk is inexhaustible, like the ocean. May you be filled, and may you grow from the intake of this healthy milk from your mother’s breasts.

इमम् this स्तनम् like breast ऊर्जस्वन्तम् strong, fully of vigor, powerful धय drink अपाम् essential elements of प्रपीनमग्ने full of pure, being full of clean/pure (प्रपीनम् full of, act of drinking) सरिरस्य body and bones मध्ये amongst, in between, among उत्सम् well, fountain (inexhaustible supply) जुषस्व attach to, be satisfied with मधुमन्तम् sweet and good qualityअर्वन् strong and quick, nimble समुद्रियम् ocean-like सदन dwelling, residing in मा not विशस्व hurtful, poisonous

The following mantra is chanted to commence breastfeeding (left, then right breast).

ओं यस्ते स्तनः शशयो यो मयोभूर्यो रत्नधा वसुविद्यः सुदत्रः ।
येन विश्वा पुष्यसि वार्याणि सरस्वति तमिह धातवे कः ॥

Om yaste stanah shashayo yo mayo-bhooryo
ratnadhaa vasuvidyah sudatrah.
Yena vishva puṣhyasi vaaryaaṇee
sarasvati tamiha dhaatave kah. ³

May blessings be with Mother and child as breastfeeding begins. May this mother, who is the unfailing source of milk for her baby, always remain strong, contented, knowledgeable, and benevolent. O Child, may you suckle this gift of milk, which is rich, nourishing, precious, and intended to enable your growth and development.

यः who, which ते you, your स्तनः breast शशय every-flowing, unfailing यः which मयोभू gives happiness, gives life रत्नधा possessing richess, having great quality वसुवित् giver/bestower of wealth, giver of the best यः which सुदत्रः granting gifts, one who gives gifts येन so that, since विश्वा all पुष्यसि thrive, nourish, strengthen वार्य precious, desirable सरस्वति knowledgeable lady तम् his, her इह here, in this world धातवे as intended for feeding अकः do, for him/her

ओम् आपो देवेषु जाग्रथ यथा देवेषु जाग्रथ ।
एवमस्यार्थं सूतिकायार्थं सपुत्रिकायां जाग्रथ ॥

Om aapo deveṣhu jaagratha 
yathaa deveṣhu jaagrathaa.
Evamasyaam sootikaayaam 
saputrikaayaam jaagratha.⁴

Water is divinely effective for us all. It keeps us hydrated, cleans us, and keeps us vigilant. May we remain vigilant for our child’s sake. Water is advantageous for the well-being of both mother and child. May both the child and mother remain protected and hydrated.

आपो water देवेषु divine, effective जाग्रथ awake, active यथा than, for instance एवम् just, really, thus असि he, she, it आर्थ advantageous, for sense सूतिका new mother (woman who just had child) सपुत्रि together with children जाग्रथ awake, be vigilant, active