“Chuda” means the lock of hair that is kept on the head while the rest of hair has been shaved away. Chaula was performed on the 1st or 2nd or 3rd year after birth. The authorities vary in their opinion. Some performed after Upanayana. It is not clear whether this Samskara was performed during the vedic times. Taittiriya Samhita and Manu Smriti both refer to a Rig vedic passage that says “where arrows fall together like boys having many tufts of hair”.

There are intricate and elaborate rules that govern the selection of time and date of performance of Chaula. Ashvalayana, Gobhila, Varaha and Parasara Grihya sutras contain elaborate and exhaustive references to performance of Chaula.

Following is a description of preparation. Four vessels, containing rice, barley, masa beans and sesame seeds are kept to the north of the Grihya fire. The mother, with the boy on her lap sits to the west of the fire. Two vessels, one containing dung of a bull and another containing sami leaves are also placed on the west side of the fire. To the right of the mother sits the father holding 21 bunches of kusa grass. 21 bunches are required because he cuts off hair four times on the right side and three times on the left side and each time three kusa grass bunches are required. Warm or cold water is used. An ordinary razor is used for cutting off of hair. According to Gobhila and Khadira grihya sutras however the barber, hot water, mirror, razor, and bunches of kusa grass should be on the south of the fire while dung of bull and quantity of cooked rice mixed with sesame seeds should be kept to the north of the grihya fire. Another reference is to the effect that the razor should be made of Udumbara wood. Some other authorities say that the razor should be made of Loha. One commentator explains that the loha is copper.

After the prescribed homa has been performed, the father chants mantras addressed to Savitr and looks at the barber while chanting the mantra. He then chants mantras addressed to Vayu as he looks at the warm water. He then mixed the hot and cold water.

He then adds butter or drops of curds to a portion of water and then as he chants a prescribed mantra thrice, moistens the hair on the head of the child. On the right portion of the head he places a bunch of three-kusa grass, with the pointed end facing the boy. The razor is then applied and the hair together with the kusa grass is cut. Each time the hair is cut it is given, facing east, to the mother together with some Sami leaves. The mother then deposits the cut hair together with the Sami leaves on the dung of bull. The ritual is done while appropriate mantras are chanted in the case of a boy and without any mantras in the case of girls. The cut locks of hair are then buried together with the dung in a cow stable or thrown away in a tank or in the vicinity of water.

According to Manu and Yagnavalkya smritis all samskaras from jatakarma to caula must be performed for girls at appropriate times in order to purify their bodies but without mantras.