Changes

- perform the ceremonies after the death of a person   

- perform the ceremonies after the death of a person   

- offer tarpanas and perform shraddha karmas for the pitrs (ancestors)   

- offer tarpanas and perform [[Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)|shraddha]] karmas for the pitrs (ancestors)   

- support the Grhasthaashrama on whom all other sections of the society are dependent   

- support the [[Grhasthashrama (गृहस्थाश्रमः)|Grhasthashrama]] on whom all other sections of the society are dependent   

- produce progeny for the continuation of the lineage and relieve the pitrs of the three rnas   

- produce progeny for the [[Family Structure in Sanatana Dharma (सनातनीय कुटुम्बव्यवस्था)|continuation of the lineage]] and relieve the pitrs of the three [[Rna (ऋणम्)|rnas]]  

- perform yajnas for the welfare of the society   

- perform [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|yajnas]] for the welfare of the family as well as the society   

In the Rigveda we find suktas, mantras, yajnas asking for blessings from devatas to bestow a son — a powerful and virtuous son — on the man who prays.<ref name=":4">Deshpande, Kamalabai (1936) ''The Child in Ancient India.'' Poona: Aryasamskrti Press (Pages 28-)</ref> The Atharvaveda describes mantras, medicinal herbs and social obligations for the man to cohabit with his wife and raise healthy progeny. Traditionally, male progeny have been preferred, as the continuity of the family is maintained through male lineage, and sons are required to perform the necessary rituals that guarantee a safe sojourn for the father and mother after they leave this world.   

In the [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]] we find suktas, mantras, yajnas asking for blessings from devatas to bestow a son — a powerful and virtuous son — on the man who prays.<ref name=":4">Deshpande, Kamalabai (1936) ''The Child in Ancient India.'' Poona: Aryasamskrti Press (Pages 28-43)</ref> The [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] describes mantras, medicinal herbs and social obligations for the man to cohabit with his wife and raise healthy progeny. Traditionally, male progeny have been preferred, as the continuity of the family is maintained through male lineage, and sons are required to perform the necessary rituals that guarantee a safe sojourn for the father and mother after they leave this world.   

It is in the Upanishads, that we see prescriptions for obtaining a progeny of choice (male or female) with particular qualities. The [[Garbhadhanam (गर्भाधानम्)|Garbhadhana Samskara]] involved certain processes to bring about conjugal closeness between the newly married couple and rites for begetting children in general, while the Pumsavana Samskara is a specific sacrament for having male progeny. The Brhdaranyaka Upanishad gives a detailed description of putramantha, i. e. a yajna for getting a son. (Brhd. Upan. 5.6.4)<ref name=":4" />   

It is in the [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|Upanishads]], that we see prescriptions for obtaining a progeny of choice (male or female) with particular qualities. The [[Garbhadhanam (गर्भाधानम्)|Garbhadhana Samskara]] involved certain processes to bring about conjugal closeness between the newly married couple and rites for begetting children in general, while the Pumsavana Samskara is a specific sacrament for having male progeny. The Brhdaranyaka Upanishad gives a detailed description of putramantha, i. e. a yajna for getting a son. (Brhd. Upan. 5.6.4)<ref name=":4" />   

== व्युतपत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== व्युतपत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== Pumsavana Samskara ==

== Pumsavana Samskara ==

The wise seers of ancient times studied the a combination of procedures of Dharmashastras and Kamashastra, with a little addition of some magical operations to give rise to the Pumsavana Samskara. The origin of this Samskara has been expressly mentioned by Ashvalayana (I.13.1) in his Grhyasutra. <blockquote>उपनिषदि गर्भलम्भनं पुंसवनमनवलोभनञ्च १ (Ashv. Grhy. 1.13.1)</blockquote>Quite clearly it is stated that the Upanishads treat the topics of Garbhalambana, Pumsavana and Anavalobhana.<ref name=":4" />

The wise seers of ancient times studied the a combination of procedures of [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|Dharmashastras]] and Kamashastra, with a little addition of some magical operations to give rise to the Pumsavana Samskara. The origin of this Samskara has been expressly mentioned by Ashvalayana (I.13.1) in his Grhyasutra. <blockquote>उपनिषदि गर्भलम्भनं पुंसवनमनवलोभनञ्च १ (Ashv. Grhy. 1.13.1)</blockquote>Quite clearly it is stated that the Upanishads treat the topics of Garbhalambana, Pumsavana and Anavalobhana.<ref name=":4" />

=== Prajapatya as in Vedas ===

=== Prajapatya as in Vedas ===

Early references to rituals aimed at masculinizing the foetus are found in the Atharvaveda and Samaveda-Mantra-Brahmana.<ref name=":12" /> Masculinizing the fetus is related to life of the developing baby. Atharvaveda dedicates Sukta 11 in Kanda 6 to Prajapatya (or Pumasavana).<ref name=":3">Dr. Tulsi Ram (2013) ''Atharvaveda, Vol 1.'' Delhi: Vijaykumar Govindram Hasanand</ref> <blockquote>पुंसि वै रेतो भवति तत्स्त्रियामनु षिच्यते । तद्वै पुत्रस्य वेदनं तत्प्रजापतिरब्रवीत्॥२॥ (Atha. Veda. 6.11.2) </blockquote>Meaning: Man possesses the seed (semen), he discharges it in the womb of a female. That (along with the use of asvattha) gives rise to the male child with certainty. This is what Prajapati, the sustainer of humanity has said.<ref>Devi Chand. ''The Atharvaveda, Sanskrit text with English translation''. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. (Page 217)</ref>  

Early references to rituals aimed at masculinizing the foetus are found in the Atharvaveda and [[Samaveda (सामवेदः)|Samaveda]]-Mantra-Brahmana.<ref name=":12" /> Masculinizing the fetus is related to life of the developing baby. Atharvaveda dedicates Sukta 11 in Kanda 6 to Prajapatya (or Pumasavana).<ref name=":3">Dr. Tulsi Ram (2013) ''Atharvaveda, Vol 1.'' Delhi: Vijaykumar Govindram Hasanand</ref> <blockquote>पुंसि वै रेतो भवति तत्स्त्रियामनु षिच्यते । तद्वै पुत्रस्य वेदनं तत्प्रजापतिरब्रवीत्॥२॥ (Atha. Veda. 6.11.2) </blockquote>Meaning: Man possesses the seed (semen), he discharges it in the womb of a female. That (along with the use of asvattha) gives rise to the male child with certainty. This is what Prajapati, the sustainer of humanity has said.<ref>Devi Chand. ''The Atharvaveda, Sanskrit text with English translation''. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd. (Page 217)</ref>  

As per Dr. Tulsiram, this sukta says two things for the birth of a male child: the powder of five parts of a peepal (asvattha) tree rooted and grown on a shami tree when taken by the woman produces certain chemical and genetic conditions in the woman for the birth of a male child. Secondly, the man should be virile, and the wife should be sober at heart and graceful in culture and conduct.<ref name=":3" />  

As per Dr. Tulsiram, this sukta says two things for the birth of a male child: the powder of five parts of a peepal (asvattha) tree rooted and grown on a shami tree when taken by the woman produces certain chemical and genetic conditions in the woman for the birth of a male child. Secondly, the man should be virile, and the wife should be sober at heart and graceful in culture and conduct.<ref name=":3" />  

As per this vidhi the shoot from the fag-end of a branch of Nyagrodha (Banyan tree) is to be crushed and the juice has to be dropped in the right nostril of the wife by husband, while reciting some Mantras, prescribed.  

As per this vidhi the shoot from the fag-end of a branch of Nyagrodha (Banyan tree) is to be crushed and the juice has to be dropped in the right nostril of the wife by husband, while reciting some Mantras, prescribed.  

The religious part includes the ritual by prescribing a homa where a cooked mess of food for Prajapati (Prajapatya Sthalipaka) is offered and the touching of the wife’s heart with a mantra “ What is in your heart, 0 woman, with well-parted hair, (yat te susime hrdaye),— which is unknown to the Rgveda.<ref name=":4" />

The religious part includes the ritual by prescribing a homa where a cooked mess of food for Prajapati (Prajapatya Sthalipaka) is offered and the touching of the wife’s heart with a mantra “ What is in your heart, 0 woman, with well-parted hair, (yat te susime hrdaye),— which is unknown to the Rigveda.<ref name=":4" />

In the Yajurveda sutras we find that the magical rite using the curds has not been mentioned, but a few homas and Brahmana bhojana has to be performed. It should be noted that only the salient ritualistic differences between Vedas and their shakas are discussed here.

In the [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] sutras we find that the magical rite using the curds has not been mentioned, but a few homas and [[Brahmana Dharma (ब्राह्मणधर्मः)|Brahmana]] bhojana has to be performed. It should be noted that only the salient ritualistic differences between Vedas and their shakas are discussed here.

=== Adhikara ===

=== अधिकारः ॥ Adhikara ===

The Puṁsāvana like coneption was to performed by the husband in first place and he was the natural performer. The Garbhadhana Saṁskāra was outsourced to either the brother in law or Sapiṅda or Sagotra person in the absence of the husband, a practice though put to rest in the later stages. But Puṁsāvana being less intimate rite, which did not involve the direct approach of the performer and the one being performed at, was allowed with certain set of instructions. Raghunathnanda also advices that this Saṁskāra could be performed by others in the absence of right person.

The Puṁsāvana like conception was to performed by the husband in first place and he was the natural performer. The Garbhadhana Saṁskāra was outsourced to either the brother in law or Sapiṅda or Sagotra person in the absence of the husband, a practice though put to rest in the later stages. But Puṁsāvana being less intimate rite, which did not involve the direct approach of the performer and the one being performed at, was allowed with certain set of instructions. Raghunathnanda also advices that this Saṁskāra could be performed by others in the absence of right person.<ref name=":5">Chahal, Mandeep (2020) Ph.D Thesis Titled: ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/309999 Samskaras in the Grihyasutras historical account of Jatakarma Upanyana Vivaha and Antyeshti.]'' (Chapter 2)</ref>

=== Is Pumsavana performed in every pregnancy? ===

=== Is Pumsavana performed in every pregnancy? ===

The Smrtis also discuss the question whether this samskara should be performed in every pregnancy or not According to Saunaka this rite should be repeated in every conception, because by touching and feeding, the foetus becomes purified ; moreover by the force of the mantras recited one obtains the "memory of the past lives. So, it is prescribed in every conception. In the Mitaksara on the Yajnavalkya, we find an eliminating tendency where Vijnanesvara says,  

The Smrtis also discuss the question whether this samskara should be performed in every pregnancy or not According to Saunaka this rite should be repeated in every conception, because by touching and feeding, the foetus becomes purified ; moreover by the force of the mantras recited one obtains the "memory of the past lives. So, it is prescribed in every conception. In the Mitaksara on the Yajnavalkya, we find an eliminating tendency where Vijnanesvara says, <blockquote>एते च पुंसवनसीमन्तोन्नयने क्षेत्रसंस्कारकर्मत्वात्सकृदेव कार्ये न प्रतिगर्भम् ।<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%96%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE) Yajnavalkya Smrti with Mitakshara Vyakhya]</ref></blockquote>These Pumsavana and Simantonnayana being, Ksetra Samskaras should be performed only once and not during every pregnancy.”<ref name=":12" />

 

एते च पुंसवनसीमन्तोन्नयने क्षेत्रसंस्कारकर्मत्वात्सकृदेव कार्ये न प्रतिगर्भम् ।<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%96%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE) Yajnavalkya Smrti with Mitakshara Vyakhya]</ref>

 

These Pumsavana and Simantonnayana being, Ksetra Samskaras should be performed only once and not during every pregnancy.”<ref name=":12" />

== Social Perspectives ==

== Social Perspectives ==