Annaprasana - Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Annaprasana, also known as the first rice-feeding ceremony, is a sacred samskara performed for infants at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple. It marks the baby’s transition to solid food, typically conducted when the child is between six to eight months old. In this auspicious ritual, the child is placed before the deity, and after invoking the blessings of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, the first morsel of cooked rice or sweet food is offered by the father or a close elder. The puja is performed with Vedic chants, deepa aradhana, and naivedyam, seeking divine grace for the child’s health, strength, intellect, and long life. The sanctified environment of the temple and the presence of the deity make this moment highly auspicious and spiritually charged. Performing Annaprasana at this temple is believed to invoke lifelong blessings and protection from the Lord, ensuring a prosperous and righteous journey for the child.

The Annaprasana puja begins with the family arriving at the temple with the infant, usually between the age of 6 to 8 months. The ritual starts with Sankalpam, where the priest chants the child’s name, nakshatra, gotra, and purpose of the puja. A Ganapati puja is performed first to remove obstacles, followed by Kalasha sthapana and Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy puja with flowers, sandal paste, and naivedyam. The infant is then seated facing the deity, and after the main rituals, the first morsel of cooked rice, usually sweet pongal or plain rice with ghee, is offered by the father or maternal uncle. Vedic chants and blessings are recited during this offering. Arati is shown to the child, and the priest blesses the baby with theertham and akshata. Devotees then offer naivedyam to the deity and distribute prasadam. This ceremony seeks divine grace for the child’s health, nourishment, and spiritual growth.