Suvarna Prashan Sanskar, or Swarna Prashana, is an Ayurvedic ritual for children that involves administering purified gold ash mixed with honey and ghee. It’s one of 16 essential rituals for children described in Ayurveda. Some say that Suvarna Prashan Sanskar can help maintain a healthy mind and body.

  Suvarnaprashana is described in various Ayurvedic texts but mostly elaborated by Kashyapa in Lehanadhyaya..
  Suvarnaprashana can be helpful for physical growth and development in terms of weight, height and memory. It may be helpful in preventive aspect of decreasing weight, height and memory.

 Suvarnaprashana has immune modulator and immune stimulant effect in children.

  Suvarnaprashana is one of the sixteen Sanskar (rituals) which were described in ancient scriptures.

  The modern days have left human beings amidst a lot of stress, the altered food habits, a great deal of distractibility, addiction, varied agricultural practices which in turn affect the strength of individuals both physically and mentally, this makes the humanity to fall prey of diseases. In the ever demanding competitive age of today there is always need to excel. This in turn requires best of health and intelligence. Ayurveda has explained such health promoting agents under the heading of Rasayana . Suvarnaprashana is such Rasayana mentioned in Ayurveda to promote immunity and memory of children. Ayurveda is known for its own specialties.

Today the whole world is affected with different diseases . Modern medicines fail to treat the patients satisfactorily in spite of many researches & latest technologies .because of their hazardous side effects.

Ayurveda the science of life ,provides many other alternative ways to tackle with such disorders successfully. Not only treating unhealthy individuals, Ayurveda mainly helps to maintain the healthy state of mind & body. 

Ayurveda explains suvarnaprashan while modern medicines explains about vaccines.
Vaccines produce immunity against specific diseases where as suvarnprashan produces non-specific immunity along with many beneficial effects.

Kashyapa is the pioneer of Kaumarbhritya who described Suvarnaprashana vidhi in detail with its benefits.
Suvarna Prashana is one of the sixteen Sanskaras (rituals) which were described in ancient scriptures. In particular, Maharshi Kashyap has given  detailed information about “Swarna Prashana” in his book “Kashyap Samhita”. Acharya Kashyap had coined the term “Swarna Prashana”. It was first referred in the Kashyap Samhita (around 650 BCE).Benefits of Swarna Prashana is elaborated in“Kashyap Samhita” as follows:

सुवर्णप्रशन हि एत्तत मेधग्निबलवर्धनम् |

आयुष्यं मंगलं पुन्यं पूर्वं वर्णं ग्रहापहाम।|

मासात परमेधावी व्याधिरभिन च घृष्यते|

शदभीर्मशे श्रुतधराहा सुवर्णप्राश्नाद्भावेत || ka. su.||

As clear from shloka that following benefits can be achieved through Swarna Prashana:
 Medha (intellect)
 Agni (digestive and metabolic power) 
 Bala (strength)
 Ayush (give long life)
 Mangalam (auspicious)
 Punyam (virtuous)
 Vrushyam (aphrodisiac)
 Varnya (increases complexion)
 Grahapaham (eliminates the evil effect of planets

Swarna prashana develops medha (mental ability), agni (digestive power), bala (strength), aayu vardhana (prolonged life span), it is also Mangalakara (brings in good virtues in child, positive attitude in life, optimism, power to overcome mental and physical hardships, good fate), Vrushya (attractive nature and personality), Varnya (tones skin colour), Graha baadha nashaka (voids away associated evils). If swarna prashana is done regularly for 1 month then child becomes extremely intelligent and remains unaffected by any infective diseases.

 Suvarnaprashan if taken for 6 months regularly then child will be shrutadhara excellent grasping.

                                                              

                               Suvarna Prashan benefits based on the duration of use as mentioned in Kashyap Samhita.

1. Single Dosage Immediately after Birth : The single dosage is also considered effective if taken immediately after birth or as soon as possible following the birth. It can be repeated every month for enhanced preventive effects.

2. 30 days : You should continue giving Suvarna Prashana to your child at least for 30 days .The regular use of Suvarna  Prashan for 30 days is helpful for preventing the maximum of the diseases and increasing intelligence. According to Kashyap Samhita, if Suvarna Prashan is taken for a month, the child becomes very intelligent.

3. 6 months : For more beneficial effects on the brain, it can be used for 6 months. If it is taken for 6months, the child becomes able to learn quickly and
remember whatever he hears. 

                                                                  Role of Suvarna Prashan in Today’s Era
                 Suvarna Prashan has beneficial effects on the nervous system and the immune system. Therefore, it is very helpful for improving memory, retention power, intelligence, intellect, cognitive functions of the brain.

 Secondly, it is also effective for improving immunity and preventing diseases. 

The third effect is on the skin. It improves skin glow and prevents skin diseases.

                   According to Acharya Kashyap, suvarnaprashan  Improves Immunity & Prevent Recurrent Infections.
Suvarna Prashan has a significant immunomodulatory action It improves non-specific immunity and builds a great defense against viral as well as bacterial infections.

It is the best solution for children with low immunity and recurrent infections.

 Many children suffer from frequent common cold, cough, fever and upper respiratory tract infections. In such cases,
           Suvarna Prashan should be continued for about 6 months. After using it for 6 months, tendency and frequency to get an infection are lowered significantly.
  Increases Memory & Intelligence
Acharya Kashyapa says if you use Suvarna Prashan for 6 months regularly, it increases child’s memory, intelligence and grasping power. He says the
child becomes able to learn quickly and remember whatever he hears. 
 Suvarna-Prashan is generally recommended for the children under the age of 16 years. However, child below the age of 5 years can get its maximum benefits
because brain development is still under progress. However, it should also be helpful for older children.