Pt Sri Pranesh Achar (Ananda Rangan)
General
According to tradition, a human being is expected to undergo sixteen saṁskāras, known as the Śoḍaśa Saṁskāras. Choulam is one of these saṁskāras.
Choulam refers to the first hair-cutting ceremony. In Tamil, it is called “Mottai Poduthal”. During this ceremony, the head is shaved, leaving either a single small tuft or a few strands of hair. This marks the beginning of discipline and purity in a child’s life.
This saṁskāra is also called Chūḍākarma in the scriptures. The word Chūḍā means a tuft or seed-like beginning.
The scriptures state:
“Prathamebde tritīye vā kartavyaṁ śruti-codanāt |
Chūḍākarma dvijātīnām sarveṣām eva dharmataḥ ||”
This means that Chola (Chūḍākarma) should be performed for all eligible children, as prescribed by the śāstras.
The ceremony may be performed at:
The earlier it is performed, the better it is considered.
