Garbhadhana Samskara (Impregnation Rites)
Prem Namaste, Vanakum, Hare Krsna, Jai Sri Krsna, Jai Sri Ram
All glories to our eternal Parents Shri Shri Radha
Krsna.
All glories to the most merciful Shri Shri Lakshmi Nrsimhadeva.
All
glories to Srila Prabhupada, and the other wonderful and inspiring gurus.
All
glories to the wonderful servants of the Supreme Lord.
A few weeks back we emailed an article on Samskaras (Purificatory Rites) and in the next few weeks we shall be emailing information according to sastras (scriptures) on how to conceive a child the correct and bonafide way… Unfortunately when a wedding (Vivah/Bhuvah) Samskara is performed many Priests don’t explain to the couple and the guests how important these Samskaras are. Many couples after the wedding is completed start as soon as possible to have children. Of course that’s natural… when I perform a wedding I go to great lengths to explain how important it is when a couple is about to conceive what prayers/pujas to perform… There are 16 (solah) Samskaras (Purificatory Rites) that’s one performs in one lifetime… but as time marches on in Kali Yuga some have become obsolete. Srila Prabhupada mentions that 10 Samskaras (Purificatory Rites) are compulsory…. And in these articles that we are presenting to you in the next few weeks we will be elaborating on them in much more detail… Jai Shri Radha Krsna…
But before we start to explain the Garbhadhana Samskara (Impregnation Rites) lets see what Lord Vishnu says to Shri Garudji in the Garuda Purana on CONCEPTION… Its rather interesting to say the least on what Lord Vishnu has to say…
Verse 7 “ The first four days of menstrual flow of blood shall be avoided when the sin of a Brahmin’s slaughter resides in her.”
Verse 8 “ Lord Brahma had removed this sin from Lord Indra and apportioned a fourth in women.”
Due to space in this article for the full unedited, uncut version on this story on how Lord Indra caused this great sin please do click on this URL link… Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 9 verses 4-10. http://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/canto6/chapter9.html
Verses 9-10 “A woman becomes pure on the fourth day. After seven days, she becomes pure enough to take part in the worship of the ancestors and deities. If conception takes place within seven days the progeny is impure.”
Verse 11 “Whatever be the thoughts of the parents during the intercourse, like that is the progeny. There is no doubt of this.”
Verse 12 “if the sexual intercourse takes place on even nights, boys are conceived and if on odd nights girls are conceived. Hence it is better to have sexual intercourse on even nights, leaving the first seven days after menstrual discharge.” (Also check Manu smrti 45-48)
Verses 13-14 “the sixteen days from the appearance of blood are the days of heat in a general way. If conception takes place after the intercourse on the 14th night, the son born will be virtuous and endowed with good qualities and good fortune.”
Verses 15-16 “ Conception, usually, takes place within eight days. On the 5th day the woman is given sweet dishes, which is a good tonic for the embryo. Astringent and pungent things should not be taken at all.”
Verse 17 “ A man depositing his semen in her vagina is actually sowing a seed. For the proper growth of the child she should avoid excessive sunshine. Cooling articles should be resorted to.
Verses 18-19 “On the night auspiciously selected for the intercourse, the pair should chew betel leaves and apply scents and sandal paste over their bodies. The idea and thoughts that hover in the mind of the man at the time of intercourse have a lasting influence in moulding the character of the child conceived.”
Verse 20 “The semen mixing with the blood/ovum causes the foetus”
Verse 22 “If blood/ovum is predominant at intercourse, the child will be a girl. If semen is predominant, the child will be a boy.
Verse 23 “ If the semen and blood/ovum are of equal potency, the child will be a eunuch.”
Verses 62-69 “In the womb he eats and drinks whatever is eaten and drunk by the mother. Thereby he receives nourishment and develops in from. In the womb he recollects the past events and happenings of worldly affairs. Tormented from all sides he feels depressed. “As soon as I leave the womb I shall be very cautious. I shall never repeat mistakes. I shall so act that I may not be born again.” The living being thinks thus and further recollects events of hundreds of past births – events that accrued to him from causes known and unknown. Then at the scheduled time the living beings emerges from the embryo with the head downward in the ninth or tenth month. While leaving the womb he suffers and faints. When he comes out of the womb he cries in anguish. Then with the touch of air he obtains a little relief and comes to consciousness. Then the hypnotizing power of Vishnu overpowers him. Deluded he loses power of discernment.”
The first prayers before even one thinks of copulating are called the Garbhadhana Samskara (Impregnation Rites). Its explanation and procedure are given below.
Garbhadhana Samskara means the impregnation purificatory rite. This Samskara sanctifies the creative act. Here the couple prays from the core of their heart that a religious child may be conceived. The husband chants sacred mantras during the rites so that good impressions are imprinted in the brain of the embryo.
To a couple who is endowed with intellect and right understanding the sexual union is not for the sake of mere enjoyment and gratification but rather for procreation of religious children. They utilize the divine, creative and vital energy for the formation of a human body. Both husband and wife should be cheerful and pious when they have intercourse. If their minds are disturbed or agitated, or if there is anger or hatred, they should avoid the sacred act. For example during the intercourse if they continuously have images and thoughts of a pious and virtuous person, they will have a pious and virtuous child or if they have impure and demonic images and thoughts, then they will attract an impure and demonic child into the womb. No parent likes to bring into the world a child of demonic qualities.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.12.13, purport it’s stated, “Unless such purificatory process are performed, there is no possibility of good population.” So here we see the main reason for the degradation of society and morality.
As stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam this ceremony is very important for generating a good and pious population. The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberation from bondage. Such protection begins from the very day of begetting a child by the purificatory process of Garbhadhana Samskara, the beginning of a pure life.
There are various procedures which a husband and wife need to undertake in order to conceive a healthy child, but in this day and age, it’s recommended that householders should chant japa, read scriptures and fasting should be observed and prayers should be offered unto the Supreme Lord in order to get His blessings to obtain a pious soul in the family. In this Samskara there is no havan to be performed rather the husband chants certain mantras on his wife, then copulation takes place, which is generally at night.
In the evening the husband with his wife next to him should offer scented water (like rose water) to a picture of Radha-Krsna or Sita-Raam in a spoon 5 times with the following 5 mantras {offer to Their right hand}. In other words every time you chant the mantra offer the water and this is done 5 times. Each time after you offer the water dispose of the water in another small container.
Touching her navel he should chant:
References: - Sat Kriya Sara Dipika and Srimad Bhagavat Maha Purana.
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