Changes

Progeny is the ardent desire of every couple. The structure of the family involving the parents and children maintains a social identity. Every patent has a definite longing for the male and female children. Particularly at the moment of exploring the controls on population and binding socio economic conditions, the parents would definitely like to limit the number of their children and would expect to have choice of the sex of the child before his birth. Therefore, it may not be astonishing that the intellectual medicos of the society put some scientific efforts in this direction to fulfill the desires of the parents.  Such endeavors do not seem to  have arise only today. It definitely has a long trail of history backing it. The cultural and spiritual ideologies and performances of our society are quite evident for this notion. The ancient scriptures of the Veda also provide the historical support. Many rituals are advocated in the Veda are named as Pumsavan but is should not be considered that the efforts of intellectual and scientists are only towards the increment of the male individuals in the society. In the Veda has also been described the ritual called ‘Staishuya’ which causes the birth of a female child. However,  due to  certain social  belief it  seems  that  the  Pumsavana  procedure became  more popular than the straishaya procedure. Putresti Yajna is also described in Charaka Samhita. A methodology is also explained as  Pumsavana Vidhi or Samskara which includes administration of some drugs through the nose as well as the oral route for the pregnant lady.  Such method of transforming the sex of the foetus is still new for the present scientific world. Only a few researches were under taken for trial and no such methods are presently observed in practice.  Therefore,  the  Pumsavana  Samskara  not  only  provides  a  histological  basis  of  the medical science but also faces a challenge ahead.<ref name=":0">Amin, Hetal & Sharma, Rohit. (2016). PUMSAVANA SAMSKARA: MYTH OR SCIENCE?. World Journal of Pharmacological Research and Technology. 4. 209-212.</ref>

Progeny is the ardent desire of every couple. The structure of the family involving the parents and children maintains a social identity. Every patent has a definite longing for the male and female children. Particularly at the moment of exploring the controls on population and binding socio economic conditions, the parents would definitely like to limit the number of their children and would expect to have choice of the sex of the child before his birth. Therefore, it may not be astonishing that the intellectual medicos of the society put some scientific efforts in this direction to fulfill the desires of the parents.  Such endeavors do not seem to  have arise only today. It definitely has a long trail of history backing it. The cultural and spiritual ideologies and performances of our society are quite evident for this notion. The ancient scriptures of the Veda also provide the historical support. Many rituals are advocated in the Veda are named as Pumsavan but is should not be considered that the efforts of intellectual and scientists are only towards the increment of the male individuals in the society. In the Veda has also been described the ritual called ‘Staishuya’ which causes the birth of a female child. However,  due to  certain social  belief it  seems  that  the  Pumsavana  procedure became  more popular than the straishaya procedure. Putresti Yajna is also described in Charaka Samhita. A methodology is also explained as  Pumsavana Vidhi or Samskara which includes administration of some drugs through the nose as well as the oral route for the pregnant lady.  Such method of transforming the sex of the foetus is still new for the present scientific world. Only a few researches were under taken for trial and no such methods are presently observed in practice.  Therefore,  the  Pumsavana  Samskara  not  only  provides  a  histological  basis  of  the medical science but also faces a challenge ahead.<ref name=":0">Amin, Hetal & Sharma, Rohit. (2016). PUMSAVANA SAMSKARA: MYTH OR SCIENCE?. World Journal of Pharmacological Research and Technology. 4. 209-212.</ref>

== Pumsavana described in vedas and Ayurveda ==

== Pumsavana described in vedas and Ayurveda ==

Early references to rituals aimed at masculinising the foetus are found in the Atharva veda and Samaveda-Mantra-Brahmana.<ref>Rajbali Pandey - Hindu Samskaras – Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments</ref> Therefore, Ayurveda, which is considered to be the [[Upavedas (उपवेदाः)|upaveda]] of [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] also gives attention to pumsavana which is a procedure related to the process of reproduction.<ref name=":1" /> <ref name=":2" />   

Early references to rituals aimed at masculinizing the foetus are found in the Atharva veda and Samaveda-Mantra-Brahmana.<ref>Rajbali Pandey - Hindu Samskaras – Socio-religious study of the Hindu Sacraments</ref> Masculinizing the fetus is related to life of the developing baby. Thus Ayurveda which is called as the science of life and which is an [[Upavedas (उपवेदाः)|upaveda]] of [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] also gives definite attention to the topic of Pumsavana and deals with the technicalities involved in this samskara.<ref name=":1" /> <ref name=":2" />   

=== Atharva veda ===

=== Atharva veda And Grhyasutras ===

Under Pumsavana Samskara, Atharva Veda explains a ritual in which the help of the sticks of Shami tree and Ashwattha tree are to be used. It has been stated that a worship conducted by placing the sticks of Shami tree below the sticks of Ashwattha tree signifies the holy union of male and female which results the  male offspring.<ref name=":0" />  In a rite called Prajapatya, the husband prays for the wife, “Unto the womb, let the foetus come, a male one as an arrow to a quiver; let a hero be born unto thee here, a ten-months’ son. Give birth to a male, a son; after him let a male be born; mayest thou be mother of sons, of those born and whom thou shall bear etc. ” It appears that some sort of a medicinal herb was also given to the pregnant woman while this verse was chanted. “The plants of which heaven has been the father, earth the mother, ocean the root, let those herbs of the gods favour thee, in order to acquire a son. Subsequent references to the ritual, which came to be known as pumsavana are found in the Gruhya sutras. These text prescribe that the pumsavana ritual be conducted in the third or fourth month of pregnancy, on a day when the moon was on a male constellation, especially Pusya, to ensure the masculinization of the foetus.  

(TBE)Under Pumsavana Samskara, Atharva Veda explains a ritual in which the help of the sticks of Shami tree (Prosopis cineraria) and Ashwattha tree (Ficus religiosa or sacred fig) are to be used. It has been stated that a worship conducted by placing the sticks of Shami tree below the sticks of Ashwattha tree signifies the holy union of male and female which results the  male offspring.<ref name=":0" />  In a rite called '''Prajapatya''', the husband prays for the wife, “Unto the womb, let the foetus come, a male one as an arrow to a quiver; let a hero be born unto thee here, a ten-months’ son. Give birth to a male, a son; after him let a male be born; mayest thou be mother of sons, of those born and whom thou shall bear etc. ” It appears that some sort of a medicinal herb was also given to the pregnant woman while this verse was chanted. “The plants of which heaven has been the father, earth the mother, ocean the root, let those herbs of the gods favour thee, in order to acquire a son.

 

Subsequent references to the ritual, which came to be known as pumsavana are found in the Gruhya sutras. These text prescribe that the pumsavana ritual be conducted in the third or fourth month of pregnancy, on a day when the moon was on a male constellation, especially Pusya, to ensure the masculinization of the foetus.  

=== Ayurveda ===

=== Ayurveda ===

Ayurveda acharyas have put forth procedures like oral doses or nasal instillation of certain herbs or herbal mixtures to get desired gender of the baby in womb. These procedures are called as pumsavana samskara or pumsavaan vidhi. Specific time during pregnancy, time and day according to the constellation to perform this vidhi has also been advised. <ref name=":1">Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8) </ref> <ref name=":2">Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 3)</ref>  According to Ayurveda, the timing of the intercourse and the use of a special diet can not only influence the sex of the foetus but also change its sex in the early months of conception. In case of the Pumsavana Samskara procedure, various measures have been advised, but the action of these drugs and the procedures have not been mentioned anywhere. It can be considered that these drugs may act in changing the sex by their Achintya Shakti or the [[Prabhava (प्रभावः)|Prabhava]].

Ayurveda acharyas have expounded a detailed procedure of Pumsavana. Instillation of certain herbs or herbal mixtures via oral or nasal route to perform pumsavana has ben suggested. These procedures are called as pumsavana samskara or pumsavaan vidhi. Specific time during pregnancy, time and day in a month according to the constellation has also been advised to perform this vidhi. <ref name=":1">Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 8) </ref> <ref name=":2">Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 3)</ref>  Pumsavana is to be performed pnce the pregnancy is confirmed and thus samskara can be included under Garbha-samskaras or [[Suprajanana Samskara (सुप्रजनन संस्कारः)|Suprajanana Samskaras]]. Ayurveda scholars had identified that constitutional characteristics of male and female gamets (ovum and semen), day of sexual union, diet of male and female partners have considerable impact on the sex/gender of the fetus but at the same time certain procedures can also alter the sex/gender of the fetus if performed in a prescribed manner.  

Considering the woman as pregnant she should be administered pumsavana (measures which help procreate a male progeny) before the foetus is manifested.  

# Considering the woman as pregnant she should be administered pumsavana before the foetus is manifested. The embryo when formed does not have a definite gender. It is called as a mass of cells without a specific gender. The action of Pumsavana is to be done immediately after signs of pregnancy viz., nausea, abdominal pain, appetite changes are noticed. It means immediately on confirmation of pregnancy pumsavana can be performed as early as 2 or 3 months.

 

After taking two undamaged leaf-buds from the easterly and northerly branches of a banyan tree grown in a common place and putting them in curd along with two excellent black gram or white mustard seeds, it should be given to the woman to drink in pusya star.  

After taking two undamaged leaf-buds from the easterly and northerly branches of a banyan tree grown in a common place and putting them in curd along with two excellent black gram or white mustard seeds, it should be given to the woman to drink in pusya star.  

Similarly, the paste of jivaka, rsabhaka, apamarga and saireyaka– collectively or individually as required, added with milk; or putting a kudyakitaka (a type of insect) or matsayka (a small fish) in a handful of water should be given to drink in pusya star.  

Similarly, the paste of jivaka, rsabhaka, apamarga and saireyaka– collectively or individually as required, added with milk; or putting a kudyakitaka (a type of insect) or matsayka (a small fish) in a handful of water should be given to drink in pusya star. Four drugs viz. Lakshmana (Pomoea sepiaria Roxb.) Vatangura (Cicus bengalensis( Linn.) Sahadeva or Vishvadeva (Vernonia cinerea Less.) are administered as (nasal insufflations) after crushing with milk. Three to four drops of the medicine is instilled in either of the nostril of the lady who is desirous of begetting a healthy progeny. <ref>Shailaja U et. al. Principles and practice of Pumsavana Karma. Joinsysmed 2016, vol 4(3), pp 161-164</ref>

 

 

 

 

Small and fire-colored man-shaped pieces of gold, silver or iron put in curd, milk or handful of water should be taken wholly in pusya star.  

In case of the Pumsavana Samskara procedure, various measures have been advised, but the action of these drugs and the procedures have not been mentioned anywhere. It can be considered that these drugs may act in changing the sex by their Achintya Shakti or the [[Prabhava (प्रभावः)|Prabhava]].

== Necessity of Pumsavana Karma and its scientific explanation: ==

== Necessity of Pumsavana Karma and its scientific explanation: ==

The  methodology  of  Pumsavana Karma  does  not  limit  to  more  scientific  explanation  or ritualistic performance. At the hour of population explosion, there is definitely a need to have the control over the population in a planned manner by which the ration between the populations be maintained. This is very much necessary to guard the social status and behaviors. Though many of the parents desire to limit their number of children but, however it becomes difficult for them due to the lack of facilities which either determined the sex in  before hand or  due to lack of known scientific  basis to  obtain a child of  desired  sex. However,  the  recent  development  in medical science has discovered a procedure by which the sex of the child in the womb can be determined which is well known as amniocenteses. This is resulted, however, in as bad practice of killing in numerical female foetus. Therefore, the safest measurement still remains negatively at large. On other hand, the science has absolutely no record of any of the in vitro method which can change the sex of the foetus as desired. Therefore, a methodology like Pumsavana Samskara is a needed entity for the present society. By proper understanding of the scientific background and  its  known  implications  will  definitely  receive  rousing  welcome  from  the  educated individuals.<ref name=":0" />

The  methodology  of  Pumsavana Karma  does  not  limit  to  more  scientific  explanation  or ritualistic performance. At the hour of population explosion, there is definitely a need to have the control over the population in a planned manner by which the ration between the populations be maintained. This is very much necessary to guard the social status and behaviors. Though many of the parents desire to limit their number of children but, however it becomes difficult for them due to the lack of facilities which either determined the sex in  before hand or  due to lack of known scientific  basis to  obtain a child of  desired  sex. However,  the  recent  development  in medical science has discovered a procedure by which the sex of the child in the womb can be determined which is well known as amniocenteses. This is resulted, however, in as bad practice of killing in numerical female foetus. Therefore, the safest measurement still remains negatively at large. On other hand, the science has absolutely no record of any of the in vitro method which can change the sex of the foetus as desired. Therefore, a methodology like Pumsavana Samskara is a needed entity for the present society. By proper understanding of the scientific background and  its  known  implications  will  definitely  receive  rousing  welcome  from  the  educated individuals.<ref name=":0" />