Putra Murdhabhighranam (Smelling the Son’s Head):

This may be performed after the Anna Prashana ceremony while giving blessings when the father returns from a long journey.

The father should wash his feet, perform acamana, and facing East hold the child's head (or the eldest son’s head first, if there are more than one son), saying:

om prajapatih vishnu rishih

anushöup chandah

shri padmanabho devata 

putrasya murddhanam upasamgrihya jape viniyogah

om angat angat samshravasi

hridayat adhijayase

pranam te pranena samdadham

jiva me yavad ayusham

“Breath of life, from limb to limb you flow. From the heart you conquer. Oh son, to you by my breathing I give life. Live a long life for me.”

He should smell the child’s head, saying:

om prajapatih vishnu rishih

anushöup chandah

shri purushottamo devata

putra murddhabhighrane viniyogah

om pashunam tva himkarena abhijighrami (name of son)dasa

“Oh ....(name of son), making a sound like the breathing of the cows, I smell your head.”

He should then apologize for any faults in the ceremony (acchidra vacanam)