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=== Putreeya vidhi ===

=== Putreeya vidhi ===

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.  

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 name=":3">Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 10-17)</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.  

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.

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.

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]]).  

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-days this is called as genetically modified or 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 taught to the woman or a pregnant lady under [[Suprajanana Samskara (सुप्रजनन संस्कारः)|Suprajanana Samskara]]).  

In this way, Putreeya vidhi has been described which includes rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking should follow.  

In this way, Putreeya vidhi has been described which includes rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking should follow.  

==== Phalam ====

==== Phalam ====

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

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

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

यथा- निर्मले वाससि सुपरिकल्पिते रञ्जनं समुदितगुणमुपनिपातादेव रागमभिनिर्वर्तयति, तद्वत्; यथा वा क्षीरं दध्नाऽभिषुतमभिषवणाद्विहाय स्वभावमापद्यते दधिभावं, शुक्रं तद्वत् ॥ (Char. Samh. 8.17)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Meaning: 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.<ref>Available from charakasamhitaonline.com</ref>

 

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.

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

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

* '''Low fertility rate:''' Global fertility rates have decreased considerably since the 1970s.<ref>Pezzulo C. et al. Geographical distribution of fertility rates in 70 low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries, 2010–16: a subnational analysis of cross-sectional surveys, [https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00082-6 The Lancet Global Health,2021; 9 (6): e802-e812,ISSN 2214-109X]</ref> According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four couples in developing countries is affected by infertility. A study says that, total fertility rate varied from below replacement (2·1 children per women) in 36 of the 932 subnational regions (mainly located in India, Myanmar, Colombia, and Armenia). Therefore infertility has become a serious health issue worldwide. Of 60–80 million couples suffering from infertility every year worldwide, probably between 15 and 20 million (25%) are in India alone. The magnitude of the problem calls for urgent action.<ref>Katole A, Saoji AV. Prevalence of Primary Infertility and its Associated Risk Factors in Urban Population of Central India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. ''Indian J Community Med''. 2019;44(4):337-341. doi:10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_7_19</ref> Therefore samskaras like garbhadhanam, procedures described that along with some important guidelines might serve to address this issue to at least some extent. This could be a cost effective, easily accessible and safe modality which could be practiced to increase the chances of conception in couples planning for pregnancy.  

* '''Low fertility rate:''' Global fertility rates have decreased considerably since the 1970s.<ref>Pezzulo C. et al. Geographical distribution of fertility rates in 70 low-income, lower-middle-income, and upper-middle-income countries, 2010–16: a subnational analysis of cross-sectional surveys, [https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00082-6 The Lancet Global Health,2021; 9 (6): e802-e812,ISSN 2214-109X]</ref> According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four couples in developing countries is affected by infertility. A study says that, total fertility rate varied from below replacement (2·1 children per women) in 36 of the 932 subnational regions (mainly located in India, Myanmar, Colombia, and Armenia). Therefore infertility has become a serious health issue worldwide. Of 60–80 million couples suffering from infertility every year worldwide, probably between 15 and 20 million (25%) are in India alone. The magnitude of the problem calls for urgent action.<ref>Katole A, Saoji AV. Prevalence of Primary Infertility and its Associated Risk Factors in Urban Population of Central India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. ''Indian J Community Med''. 2019;44(4):337-341. doi:10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_7_19</ref> Therefore samskaras like garbhadhanam, procedures described that along with some important guidelines might serve to address this issue to at least some extent. This could be a cost effective, easily accessible and safe modality which could be practiced to increase the chances of conception in couples trying to conceive.

* '''Designer babies :''' 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. The demand for designer babies is high in today's world and it is expected that this prenatal demand for designer babies will grow dramatically over next decade. <ref>Demand for 'designer babies' to grow dramatically. [https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article/demand-designer-babies-grow-dramatically The Times.] </ref><ref>Designing a Baby: the Market and the Concerns. Available from https://web.colby.edu/st112wa2018/2018/04/28/designing-a-baby-the-market-and-the-concerns/</ref> Designer baby is a child who is developed from an embryo that had been genetically altered. The changes would affect every cell in that child's body, and be passed to all their children and their children's children. This process has become known as heritable genome editing. Although genetic modification of babies to make child with desirable qualities looks modern it is appears to be false. The desire to have a baby who would be superior to the parents and will be having all the desirous qualities was prevalent in ancient times as well. Therefore samskaras might have been used as tools to develop babies with superior qualities in past times. Samskaras like Garbhadhana provide a guideline for increasing the chances of conception, enhancing the quality of the embryo and ensure its prenatal wellbeing. Various instructions given by Ayurveda scholars under all prenatal samaskaras like garbhadhanam and procedures like Putreeya vidhi (described earlier on this page) might have a strong impact on overall quality of a baby in mother's womb which should be further evaluated and validated. Moreover the tools and the methods used to bring about the desired modifications are completely ethical and sustainable.

* '''Designer babies :''' 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. The demand for designer babies is high in today's world and it is expected that this prenatal demand for designer babies will grow dramatically over next decade. <ref>Demand for 'designer babies' to grow dramatically. [https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article/demand-designer-babies-grow-dramatically The Times.] </ref><ref>Designing a Baby: the Market and the Concerns. Available from https://web.colby.edu/st112wa2018/2018/04/28/designing-a-baby-the-market-and-the-concerns/</ref> Designer baby is a child who is developed from an embryo that had been genetically altered. The changes would affect every cell in that child's body, and be passed to all their children and their children's children. This process has become known as heritable genome editing. Although genetic modification of babies to make child with desirable qualities looks modern it is appears to be false. The desire to have a baby who would be superior to the parents and will be having all the desirous qualities was prevalent in ancient times as well. Therefore samskaras might have been used as tools to develop babies with superior qualities in past times. Samskaras like Garbhadhana provide a guideline for increasing the chances of conception, enhancing the quality of the embryo and ensure its prenatal wellbeing. Various instructions given by Ayurveda scholars under all prenatal samaskaras like garbhadhanam and procedures like Putreeya vidhi (described earlier on this page) might have a strong impact on overall quality of a baby in mother's womb which should be further evaluated and validated. Moreover the tools and the methods used to bring about the desired modifications are completely ethical and sustainable.

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Samskaras]]

[[Category:Samskaras]]