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Chudakarana is an important Hindu ceremony, during which the first haircut of the child is done. This is also one of the Sanskara out of 16 important Sanskara mentioned in Hindu scriptures. Chudakarana is also known as Mundana, Choula and tonsure. Mundana, if performed at an auspicious time, augers longevity, glow on the face, strength, fame and bravery.
Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Fairfield, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
All time intervals are categorized into three
For boy Mundana is performed at 3rd, 5th or 7th years either from birth date or conception date. For girl Mundana is performed at even years. Usually, family customs prevail upon the year of Mundana. In some families it is done along with Upanayana Sanskara. In such cases Upanayana Muhurta prevails over Mundana Muhurta.
Following considerations are necessary for choosing an appropriate tonsure Muhurta.
Solar Months: For tonsure, solar months of Makara (10), Kumbha (11), Mesha (1), Vrishabha (2) and Mithuna (3) are considered auspicious. In other words, solar months when Surya is in Uttarayana except Meena (12) month are considered good. Few authorities maps these solar months with corresponding lunar months, but calculations with solar months are more accurate as auspicious months are decided based on Ayana.
Nakshatra: All movable Nakshatra i.e. Punarvasu (7), Swati (15), Shravana (22), Dhanishtha (23), Shatabhisha (24), gentle and friendly Nakshatra i.e. Mrigashira (5), Chitra (14), Revati (27), short Nakshatra i.e. Ashwini (1), Pushya (8), Hasta (13) and bitter and ferocious Nakshatra i.e. Jyeshtha (18) are considered auspicious for Chudakarana.
Tithi: Dwitiya (2), Tritiya (3), Panchami (5), Saptami (7), Dashami (10), Ekadashi (11), Trayodashi (13) Tithi of Shukla and Krishna Paksha are considered auspicious for Chudakarana.
Days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are considered auspicious for Chudakarana.
Lagna: All Lagna which belongs to malefic Graha, i.e. Simha (5), Mesha (1), Vrishchika (8), Makara (10) and Kumbha (11) should be discarded during Mundana Muhurta.
Lagna of 8th Rashi from Janma Rashi and Janma Lagna are also avoided. For that one must enter birth details and leave those Muhurta intervals where Ashtama Lagna prevails.
Kundali: 8th House from the Lagna, at the time of Chudakarana, should be unoccupied except Shukra. Shukra in 8th House during tonsure Muhurta is considered good.
Weak Chandra, Surya, Mangala and Shani in Kendra should be avoided. As per Muhurta Chintamani, weak Chandra in Kendra gives death, Surya gives fever, Mangal hurts with weapon, Shani gives deformity in some body parts. Budha, Shukra and Guru in Kendra are considered highly auspicious. Ideally, benefic Graha should be in Kendra and Trikona and malefic Graha should be in 3rd, 6th and 11th house.
Others: For Chudakarana Muhurta, Brihaspati and Shukra Asta timings and their Bala and Vriddha stages should be discarded. Sankranti, Eclipse, Kranti Samya Dosha, Leaped Lunar months and general Panchang Dosha are avoided. Tonsure during nighttime is considered highly inauspicious.
Chudakarana of the eldest son or daughter should not be done when Surya is in Vrishabha Rashi. Also, when mother is five+ months pregnant then tonsure of child less than 5 years should not be done.
Chandra and Tara Shuddhi: Proper Chandra and Tara Shuddhi for child should be performed.
