Jatakarma

Jatakarman (Sanskrit: जातकर्मन्; IAST: Jātakarman; lit. 'natal rites') is one of the major samskaras in Hinduism, that celebrates the birth of a child. It is typically a private rite of passage that is observed by the new parents, relatives of the baby and close friends.

==Etymology== Jatakarman is a composite Sanskrit word, with roots Jāta and karman. The word Jata (जात) literally means "born, brought into existence, engendered, arisen, caused, appeared". The word karman (कर्मन्) literally means "action, performance, duty, obligation, any religious activity or rite, attainment". The composite word, Jatakarman, thus means "a rite when one is born" or "a birth ceremony".