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== Ayurvedic Perspectives ==

== Ayurvedic Perspectives ==

Garbhadhana is the process of containing a new life's seed by mother in her womb. This is the first step in producing a new life and it can also be called as the process of conception. Entire wellbeing of the new life in womb depends on this first step. Thus Ayurveda acharyas have given considerable attention to this. As a first step, they have defined the age at which a man and a woman should unite in order to produce a new life which would be of good qualities. They are set up the minimum age for conception for woman at 16 the yrs of age and 25yrs of age for a man. It is believed that, generally at this age a man and a woman have developed fully and can give birth a new life without much complications.  <blockquote>पञ्चविंशे ततो वर्षे पुमान् नारी तु षोडशे | समत्वागतवीर्यौ तौ जानीयात् कुशलो भिषक् ||१३|| (Sush. Samh. 35.13)<ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 35 Sutra 13)</ref> </blockquote>Along with the age there are few criteria set by the scholars which are believed to be essential for development of a healthy new life. Those are as follows,<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 2 Sutra 3)</ref> <ref name=":0">Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 7-9)</ref>

Garbhadhana is the process of containing a new life's seed in a womb. This is the first step in producing a new life and it can also be called as the process of conception. Entire wellbeing of the new life in womb depends on this first step. Thus Ayurveda acharyas have given considerable attention to this. As a first step, they have defined the age at which a man and a woman should unite in order to produce a new life which would be of good qualities.  

* अतुल्यगोत्रस्य  : The man and woman should not be from the same [[Gotra and Pravara (गोत्रप्रवरश्च)|Gotra]] (clan).

* तत्रात्यशिता क्षुधिता पिपासिता भीता विमनाः शोकार्ता क्रुद्धाऽन्यं च पुमांसमिच्छन्ती मैथुने चातिकामा वा न गर्भं धत्ते, विगुणां वा प्रजां जनयति|  अतिबालामतिवृद्धां दीर्घरोगिणीमन्येन वा विकारेणोपसृष्टां वर्जयेत्|  पुरुषेऽप्येत एव दोषाः|  अतः सर्वदोषवर्जितौ स्त्रीपुरुषौ संसृज्येयाताम्||६|| Cha sha 8.6

 

* रजःक्षयान्ते : Menstruation of the woman should have stopped i.e. after 3 to 4 days of her menstruation only they should unite not during menstruation.  

* रहोविसृष्टं मिथुनीकृतस्य: They should unite in a private place  

 

* तस्मादुत्ताना बीजं गृह्णीयात्; तथाहि यथास्थानमवतिष्ठन्ते दोषाः The ideal position for coitus has also been suggested. The female is advised to receive the sperm lying on her back. When the union/conception occurs in this position all the doshas are at their own place and in the state of normalcy meaning they wont infiltrate the product of conception and harm or hamper its quality.

* पर्याप्ते चैनां शीतोदकेन परिषिञ्चेत् : Cleaning with cold water is recommended.

* सञ्जातहर्षौ मैथुने चानुकूलाविष्टगन्धं स्वास्तीर्णं सुखं शयनमुपकल्प्य मनोज्ञं हितमशनमशित्वा नात्यशितौ : High emphasis has been laid upon the mental state of the partners in this entire process of conception. The couple is advised to unite only after the sufficient arousal. They should have had wholesome diet which they relish but at the same time the food should be not be overeaten. Ambiance of the place is also taken into consideration and it is advised that one can make use of various fragrances of choice and comfortable bed to make things go well.  

 

* Atulya-gotra (अतुल्यगोत्र): The man and woman should not be from the same [[Gotra and Pravara (गोत्रप्रवरश्च)|Gotra]] (clan).

* Man and a woman should be physically and psychologically stable and fit (सर्वदोषवर्जितौ स्त्रीपुरुषौ संसृज्येयाताम्): With this it is suggested that man or a woman who have overeaten or hungry, thirsty, scared, stressed, anxious, angry or do not have liking for each other etc either can not conceive or give birth to a child which might have some abnormalities. Also the woman who does not fit into the age criteria set above, who his suffering from some chronic disease or not in good health due to some ailment should also keep from indulging into this act for giving a child birth for her as well as the progeny's better health. '

* In the fertile period of cycle (रजःक्षयान्ते) : Menstruation of the woman should have stopped i.e. after 3 to 4 days of her menstruation only, they should unite not during menstruation.

 

Garbhadhana actually means conception and thus the details related to the act of union for increasing the chances of conception and saw the seeds of healthy progeny are included under this.

* Place: A couple should unite in a private place

* The ideal position for coitus has also been suggested. The female is advised to receive the sperm lying on her back. When the union/conception occurs in this position all the doshas are at their own place and in the state of normalcy meaning they wont infiltrate the product of conception and harm or hamper its quality.

* Cleaning with cold water (पर्याप्ते चैनां शीतोदकेन परिषिञ्चेत् ) is recommended.

* Other important factors affecting conception: High emphasis has been laid upon the mental state of the partners in this entire process of conception. The couple is advised to unite only after the sufficient arousal. They should have had wholesome diet which they relish but at the same time the food should be not be overeaten. Ambiance of the place is also taken into consideration and it is advised that one can make use of various fragrances of choice and comfortable bed to make things go well.

*  

*  

When all the above mentioned conditions are considered and followed, a couple is advised to copulate for producing a new life. Acharya Vagbhata also gives a vedic verse that generates an environment and a call to the new life energy (atman) that is going to enter the product of conception to give it a life. The sutra is as follows,  

* When all the above mentioned conditions are considered and followed, a couple is advised to copulate for producing a new life. Acharya Vagbhata also gives a vedic verse that generates an environment and a call to the new life energy (atman) that is going to enter the product of conception to bring it to life. The sutra is as follows,  

  <blockquote>तत्र मन्त्रं प्रयुञ्जीत- “अहिरसि आयुरसि सर्वतः प्रतिष्ठाऽसि धाता त्वा ददतु विधाता त्वा दधातु ब्रह्मवर्चसा भव” इति|

  <blockquote>तत्र मन्त्रं प्रयुञ्जीत- “अहिरसि आयुरसि सर्वतः प्रतिष्ठाऽसि धाता त्वा ददतु विधाता त्वा दधातु ब्रह्मवर्चसा भव” इति|

इत्युक्त्वा संवसेयाताम्||८|| (Char. Samh. 8.8)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Meaning: Then, they should recite the ''mantra'' meaning: ‘Thou art the day; Thou art the life; Thou art well established from all sides. May the supporter endow Thee; may the dispenser dispense to Thee: be Thou born with ''Brahmic'' splendor’. May Brahma, Brhaspati, Visnu, Soma, Surya and the two Ashwins, as also Bhaga, Mitra and Varuna, bless me with a heroic son.’ Having uttered this, the couple should commence the sexual act.<ref>Available from [https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Jatisutriya_Sharira#Postures_and_circumstances_to_be_avoided_for_coitus charakasamhitaonline.com]</ref>   

इत्युक्त्वा संवसेयाताम्||८|| (Char. Samh. 8.8)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Meaning: Then, they should recite the ''mantra'' meaning: ‘Thou art the day; Thou art the life; Thou art well established from all sides. May the supporter endow Thee; may the dispenser dispense to Thee: be Thou born with ''Brahmic'' splendor’. May Brahma, Brhaspati, Visnu, Soma, Surya and the two Ashwins, as also Bhaga, Mitra and Varuna, bless me with a heroic son.’ Having uttered this, the couple should commence the sexual act.<ref>Available from [https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Jatisutriya_Sharira#Postures_and_circumstances_to_be_avoided_for_coitus charakasamhitaonline.com]</ref>   

सा चेदेवमाशासीत- बृहन्तमवदातं हर्यक्षमोजस्विनं शुचिं सत्त्वसम्पन्नं पुत्रमिच्छेयमिति, शुद्धस्नानात् प्रभृत्यस्यै मन्थमवदातयवानां मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां संसृज्य श्वेताया गोः सरूपवत्सायाः पयसाऽऽलोड्य राजते कांस्ये वा पात्रे काले काले सप्ताहं सततं प्रयच्छेत् पानाय|  

A detailed regime to be followed a week before conception and even after that has also been suggested in Ayurveda literature. All these external environmental factors play important role in increasing the chances of conception, sustenance of a pregnancy and well-being of a mother and baby. A trained [[Vaidya (वैद्यः)|Vaidya]] can guide the interested couples in this regard. 

प्रातश्च शालियवान्नविकारान् दधिमधुसर्पिर्भिः पयोभिर्वा संसृज्य भुञ्जीत, तथा सायमवदातशरणशयनासनपानवसनभूषणा च स्यात्|

Ayurveda Acharyas have also expounded a sacrament or a [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|Yajna]] wherein man and woman (couple) together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. This is called as Putreeya vidhi. <ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 10-14)</ref> After explaining all the details regarding arrangement and preparation of yajna procedure acharyas describe the actual procedure. It is suggested that, the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May devata Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes.

सौम्याभिश्चैनां कथाभिर्मनोनुकूलाभिरुपासीत|

With this vidhi, they believe that one can get a child with desired qualities e.g colour of eyes, complexion, physical features etc. (Now -a-daya this is called as genetically modified or having designer babies). Also, along with this, the woman is advised to a proper code of conduct suitable to get a child with desired psychological traits. (This is can be tought to the woman or a pregnat lady under [[Suprajanana Samskara (सुप्रजनन संस्कारः)|Suprajanana Samskara]]).

सहचर्यश्चैनां प्रियहिताभ्यां सततमुपचरेयुस्तथा भर्ता|

यथोक्तेन विधिनोपसंस्कृतशरीरयोः स्त्रीपुरुषयोर्मिश्रीभावमापन्नयोः शुक्रं शोणितेन सह संयोगं समेत्याव्यापन्नमव्यापन्नेन योनावनुपहतायामप्रदुष्टे गर्भाशये गर्भमभिनिर्वर्तयत्येकान्तेन|

न च मिश्रीभावमापद्येयातामिति|

यथा- निर्मले वाससि सुपरिकल्पिते रञ्जनं समुदितगुणमुपनिपातादेव रागमभिनिर्वर्तयति, तद्वत्; यथा वा क्षीरं दध्नाऽभिषुतमभिषवणाद्विहाय स्वभावमापद्यते दधिभावं, शुक्रं तद्वत्||१७||

When a couple, whose body and mind are purified by above mentioned methods, engages in sexual intercourse, the undamaged sperm unites with the healthy ovum in a clean genital tract and the healthy uterus is home to an embryo with all the desired characters. Just as a well-washed cloth catches the colour of good dye instantly or milk, when mixed with drops of curd, transforms into curd leaving its original characters, the seeds acquire the positive attributes of the parents and the environment.

 

 

 

 

At the end of one week, a priest should select a place on the north side of the house, having a downward slope towards the east or the north. The selected place/ground should be duly smeared with cowdung and water. After sprinkling the place with water, he should prepare and fix the altar.

 

On the west of the altar, the priest should take his seat on an undamaged cotton cushion or on the skin of a white bull, if he is officiating on behalf of a ''brahmana'' patron, on the skin of a tiger or bull if ''kshatriya'', and on the skin of a deer or a ram, in case of a ''vaisya''.

 

Thus seated, he should kindle the scared fire with the twigs of ''palasha'' (Butea monosperma Kuntze), ''ingudi'' (Balanites aegyptica Delile), ''udumbara'' (Ficus racemosa Linn) or ''madhuka'' (Madhuka indica J.F.Gmel), spread the ''kusha'' (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf.) grass around, and fix the enclosure of fire with big stalks of ''palasha'' (Butea monospermakuntze) on all four sides, and then spread the altar with parched/roasted paddy and white coloured flowers having sweet fragrance. Then, he should prepare a water pot, clean and sanctified by ''mantras'', make available adequate amount of ghee for offerings, and place auspicious objects (such as bulls or stallions) of said qualities and colors, etc. in and around the place of offering as mentioned earlier.

 

Thereafter the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes.

 

On the completion of the rite, she should, placing her right foot first, walk around the fire keeping to her right and accompanied by her husband. Then, after taking the the blessing of the ''brahmanas'', the couple should consume the remains of the sacrificial ghee - first the husband and then the wife - taking care not to leave any leftovers. On completion of this ritual, they shall cohabit for a period of eight nights, wearing the dress etc., as prescribed earlier. In this manner they will be able to beget a progeny, as desired. [11]

As regards the woman desirous of a child with sky blue complexion, red eye, broad chest and long limbs, or a woman who seeks off spring with black complexion, with black, soft and long hair, glittering white eye and teeth, radiant and self-restrained, the rituals to be followed are the same as described above. The preparations and materials required will not be of the same color but it should be made, in either case, to match the desired complexion of the child to be born, agreeable to the mother’s desire. [

== Why Garbhadhana/ Putreeya vidhi and modern day perspective ==

By knowing about the kind of child she desires, the woman should be advised to mentally travel to such places where people having similar dispositions live. Also, she should be advised to take diet, assume behavior, and engage in activities, attire, and social/cultural behooving such places and people.

What is the purpose of designer babies?

Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained.  

A “designer baby” is a baby whose genetic make-up has been selected or engineered '''to ensure certain traits are present and/or to eliminate particular effects/defects'''.What is the process of having a designer baby?

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Samskaras]]

[[Category:Samskaras]]