1) The document describes Tamil rituals and prayers performed during pregnancy and after childbirth to ensure the safety of the mother and child. These include tying silver and copper coins in cloth bands on the mother's wrist and removing them after prayers to Minnesprin and Kaatheri. 2) More prayers and rituals such as bathing the mother and baby with herbs are described for the 9th day after birth and 1 month later. 3) Detailed instructions are given for the Minnesprin and Kaatheri prayers performed on the 9th day to introduce the baby to the outside and appease the nine planets.

1. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 When a woman falls pregnant, the months must be counted as per the
Tamil calendar for the necessary rituals eg. The woman falls preganant on
the 14th of January – the 16th of January will be counted as the 2nd month
as the tamil month begins on the 15th day of each month. This would mean
that July will be read as the 7th month of pregnancy.

 Before the 8th month ie. The 15th of August a simple prayer must be done
for the Devas Minnesprin and Kaatheri. The process is as follows.


 ►Minnesprin – tie a silver coin in a wrist band size cloth dipped in
tumeric.

 ► Kaatheri - – tie a 5c coin in a wrist band size black cloth.

 Offer prayers first to Minnesprin and request the Deva to bless and guide
the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe pregnancy with
no harm or ill effects befalling both the mother and the unborn child. Then
tie the tumeric dipped wrist band onto the right wrist of the mother
pregnant woman.

2. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 Secondly offer prayers to Kaatheri and request
the Deva to bless and guide the pregnant mother
and the unborn child ensuring a safe pregnancy
with no harm or ill effects befalling both the
mother and the unborn child. Then tie the black
wrist band onto the right wrist of the pregnant
woman.

 In Tamil these bands are called “Moodipu”. After
a few minutes remove these bands and leave
them by the Godlamp as they will be required at a
later stage.

3. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 TIME TO GO IN FOR DELIVERY

 Offer prayers first to Minnesprin and request the Deva to bless and guide
the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe delivery. Then
tie the tumeric dipped wrist band onto the right wrist of the mother
pregnant woman.

 Secondly offer prayers to Kaatheri and request the Deva to bless and
guide the pregnant mother and the unborn child ensuring a safe delivery.
Then tie the black wrist band onto the right wrist of the pregnant woman.

 After a few minutes remove these bands and leave them by the Godlamp
as they will be required at a later stage.

 Offer prayers to the family diety and to Amman. The Pregnant woman must
then cross a rope or a belt 3 times before leaving for the hospital – This is
to ward of any evil spirits from shadowing her.


4. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 The Birth

5. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 RETURN HOME

 When the mother and child return home, halo water [red water] with a
flower and a lit camphor must be turned for them, dot them and let them
enter the house whilst you drop the halo water in the flower garden.

 BABY’S BATH

 For the safety and ease of the baby, he/she must be given a bath by
placing the baby in a sleeping position on the legs [usually done by
grandma and/or elderly ladies]. During the bath, tumeric powder must be
gently rubbed onto the body of the baby – this helps with the removal of
the hair from the baby’s body over time. Thereafter Sambrani must be put
onto hot charcoals and the baby must be waved over the smoke – this
helps to dry the baby and the inhaling of the smoke and scent opens up
the airways and lungs – [note. This should be done for about a minute].
Every second day the Halo water must be turned for the baby to ward of
“eyes” ie. Known as “disthi” to ward off all negative energy that may
surround the baby. This process must be done for 13 days.

6. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
BABY’S BATH

7. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 MOTHER’S BATH

 Boil gum tree and/or eculiptus leaves in water, the mother must bathe with this water as it
helps with her healing process and helps in avoiding her falling ill with menejithis [janni].
This must be done up until the 9th day.

 THE 9TH DAY BABY BATH

 Prepare the following

 ► half a palm size red, white and black cloth
 ► a little hair that’s left on a hairbrush
 ► 1 x dried chilli
 ► a tablespoon of 3 kinds of oil in a saucer
 ► some red hot charcoal in a tray – to be kept in the bathroom

 Dip the cloths, chilli and hair in the 3 kind oil and rub same onto the baby’s head 3 times.
Each time squeeze the oil from the cloths into the fire. This is to extract and get rid off all
negative forces from the baby. Thereafter discard all of these items inclusive of the
charcoals.

8. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
Thereafter bathe the baby as defined in the paragraph : “Baby’s Bath” using a
new fire of coal for the sambrani.
Then turn the Halo water for both
mother and child.

9. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 THE NINTH DAY PRAYER

 STEP 1

 ► Tie 3 small stems of slingaberry leaves with cotton. – represents
Amman
 ► Tie 3 finger length broom sticks with cotton. – represents baby’s
protection.

 Place the above in the Mother’s hand. She must carry the baby with these
items. Both the parents together with the baby must offer fruits and milk
and pray to Surya Narayan [The Sun God] at 11 a.m. Assist the Mother to
hold the baby up in her arms with the slingaberry leaves and broom sticks
in her palms. Pour a can of water onto her palm over the slingaberry
leaves and broom sticks to flow onto the ground. She must then drop the
slingaberry leaves and broom sticks onto the ground.

10. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
 Note: On the 9th day the baby is introduced to the outside environment. Hence the
slingaberry leaves and broom sticks to ask Mother Maariamman to protect the child. The
prayer to Surya Narayan [The Sun God] is for him to give the child a good,brilliant and
radiant source of energy as he shines onto the baby from this day forward. The water is
offered to Surya Narayan as a cooling effect to His burning rays in protection of the baby
as he receives His blessings.

 The Prayer to be recited 3 times is as follows: - Note : first mantra for Ganesha

 Thath Purushyaaya Vidhmahe
 Vakrathundaaya Dheemahi
Thanno Dhandhi Prachodayaath.

 Om Surya Narayana Vidhmahe Agni Devaya Deemahi
 Thanno_ Sarvum Prachodayaath
 Mahaa Dhevyai Cha Vidhmahe Shiva Pathnai
Cha Dheemahi
Thanno Aathi Parashakti Prachodyaath.


11. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
STEP 2
► Prepared food eg [ rice, dhall, chicken curry, and a vegetable
curry with a side tray with 3 kind fuits must be place in the doorway
of the child’s room. This is and offering to the navagraha’s [9
planets] to appease them so that they will not cast their shadow on
the baby. Place Baby on a blanket on the floor inside the room.
From the inside of the room turn camphor in prayer.

12. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
The Prayer to be recited is as follows:
Om Navagrahga Devaya Namah
Om Sandhire Devaya Namah
Om Puthoogrehadhaya Namah
Om Sukire Devadhaya Namah
Om Pithukathpathi Devadhaya Namah
Om Suriye Devadhaya Namah
Om Buje Devadhaya Namah
Om Suri Devadhaya Namah
Om Ragu Devadhaya Namah
Om Kethu Devadhaya Namah

13. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
ONE MONTH LATER
Offer prayer with milk and fruits to the family diety and to Maariamman,
pour milk for Maariammam in thanks for bestowing her blessings on the
child and the parents.
The following prayer must be recited 7 times
Mahaa Meenakshi Vidhmahe Maariamman
Cha Dheemahi
Thanno Aathi Parashakti Prachodyaath.
At end of prayer say thanks as follows:
NANRI, NANRI, NANRI

14. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
THE MINESPRIN PRAYER
During the pregnancy a prayer as a vow was offered to the Deva “Minesprin” hence
this prayer must be done as giving thanks to Deva Minesprin.
► Time of prayer – 11a.m.
► Items = sweet rice, roti, marjim, cigarette, tot of white liquor, milk & fruits
► Place baby on a blanket in the prayer area.
To the east place 1 stone or brick [with Sivan markings – patta], place a banana leaf
with sweet rice, 1 roti, 1 cigarette, 1 tot white liquor.
To the west place 3 stones or bricks [with Sivan markings – patta], place 3 banana
leaves with sweet rice, 1 roti each, 1 cigarette each, 1 tot white liquor each, milk,
fruits and a coconut.
Offer prayers – turn camphor for the east - break coconut and then turn camphor
for the west.

15. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
► Cut a tuft of the Baby’s hair – keep in an envelope
Recite the following mantra during this prayer
Om Minesprin Devadhaya namah
Om Minesprin Devadhaya namah
Om Minesprin Devadhaya namah

16. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
THE KAATHERI PRAYER - [NO MALES ARE TO BE PRESENT]
► Time of prayer = 5 p.m.
► Items = Cooked Rice, Dhall with brinjals, Braized Herbs, 9 pieces of dry
fish, 9 boiled eggs, 3 kinds fruit, milk, coconut, 9 beetle leaves, 9 beetle
nuts, kathawal [black bead bangle] soft soogi, 9 koikaatas, 1 tot white
liquor and 1 mt black cloth [place at the east leaf where you have two
moulds].
► Prepare a square area in the garden. Mix some soil in water and make 9
cone like moulds.
► Set 8 banana leaves with 1 of the 9 moulds behind each – with a piece of
the black cloth draped around it, together with all the above items in
each leaf. 2 to the east [ as 1 leaf] , 2 to the west, 2 to the north, 2 to the
south and 1 in the centre [ note the center leaf must sit a a readily dug
hole].

17. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS

18. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
► Offer prayers – turn camphor for the east - break coconut and then turn
camphor for the west, north, south and centre
► Then cut a tuft of baby’s hair and put ito the envelope of the morning.
[After the prayer the cut tufts of hair together with both the moodipu’s
[wrist bands] must be left in running water ie. Sea or river]
Recite the following mantra during this prayer
Om Kaatheri Devadhaya namah
Om Kaatheri Devadhaya namah
Om Kaatheri Devadhaya namah

19. MINNESPRIN / KAATHERI PRAYERS
► The mother of the child must eat off some of the centre leaf
food.
► The baby must be then wrapped in the black cloth and to be
taken inside the house.
► Balance off all leaf contents to be taken into the house – and all
present must partake off this prayed food with their normal
supper for the evening.
► All the leaves must be buried in the centre hole.
► Thereafter the babys hair must be shaved off. Apply coconut
hair oil daily.