The Sun of Auspicious Moments with the Beloved of the Sun Commentary

Regarding the child’s first feeding: the aspects and planetary days of Jupiter original: "Jiva", Mercury original: "Saumya", Venus original: "Sita", and the Moon original: "Inu" are favorable. For the feeding of the child, the Moon and the Sun are praised. Argava states that the zodiac signs of Taurus, Aquarius, Libra, Virgo, Leo, Cancer, and Capricorn are auspicious, while Aries, Gemini, and Scorpio are to be avoided. Narada says: "The ritual should be performed under movable, fixed, soft, or swift lunar mansions Nakshatras, provided it is not the eighth house Naidhana." In the ascendant of the Sun, Aquarius is mentioned. 6 Now, regarding the four considerations: in which sacraments the faults of Jupiter's and Venus's combustion Maudhya - when a planet is too close to the sun to be seen are absent; where they are a fault; the duration of a planet's "infancy" and "old age"; and the lordship of the branches—all this is explained in one section. From conception to the end of the first feeding—meaning rituals from Garbhadhana conception to Annaprashana first solid food—one should not abandon the timing even if Jupiter and Venus are in their "infant" or "aged" states periods immediately after or before combustion or are fully combust. Why is this? Because of the "constraint of time" Kalasya rodhat.

Since the Shastras sacred teachings have fixed the specific time for rituals from conception to the first feeding, one cannot delay them. Mandavya says: "In the seven rituals—including daily travel, the aging of a house, and up to the first feeding—the combustion of Jupiter and Venus is not a fault for domestic auspiciousness." Regarding "Hari-Guru" Jupiter in the sign of Leo, the southern path of the sun Dakshinayana, and intercalary or diminished months Adhikamasa and Kshayamasa, one should not abandon the ritual because of the time constraint; this should be understood through wisdom. For instance, the birth ritual Jatakarma is prescribed exactly at the time of birth. Because of that time constraint, one does not consider whether a planet is combust. The first feeding is prescribed as an option in either the sixth or eighth month. If combustion occurs in one month, it can be done in the other. Since there is a two-month window, there is some flexibility.

Even in those two months, if there is a restriction such as Jupiter being in Leo, it should not be considered here. One should perform the daily and occasional rites that have no other timing, as per the tradition. The sequence of the sacraments is stated in the Katyayana-gatikakarika: "Conception Garbhadhana, producing a male child Pumsavana, parting the hair Simantonnayana, the birth rite Jatakarma, naming Namakarana, the first outing Nishkramana, and the first feeding Annaprashana. Then tonsure Chuda, initiation Upanayana, the four Vedic vows, the gift of a cow Godana, releasing the girdle, and marriage—these are the sixteen actions." By this sequence, one should understand the rituals from conception to feeding. Likewise, Brihaspati says: "In rituals tied to a specific month, the combustion of Jupiter or Venus causes no fault, for then the characteristics of the month are more powerful." Yama also states: "In the rituals for pregnancy, birth, feeding, and monthly ancestral rites Shraddha..."

"...in the daily performance of the Sapindikarana ancestral ritual, one should avoid the intercalary month." Bhrigu says: "Rituals from the parting of the hair and birth to the first feeding should be done in order; there is no fault even if Jupiter is in the sign of Leo." In the Katyayana Smriti, it is said: "Rituals from conception to feeding should be performed even in an impure month Malimlucha up until the piercing of the ears; others are not allowed, says Bhaskara." He says that combustion and other faults must be avoided for rituals starting with the tonsure Chuda/Chaula. This means for tonsure and subsequent rites, one should discard the timing if Jupiter or Venus are combust. Now, the measurement of "infancy" and "old age" for planets is given. For Jupiter and Venus, the infancy and old age lasts for seven days. "Seven days of infancy and seven days of old age." Although there are many views on the duration of planetary infancy and old age, the middle path of seven days is accepted here. Now, for the lordship of the branch...