Pumsavana: Ensuring the Well-being of the Unborn Child

Indian people always have the significant role of the rituals and traditions in their life. Also, the tradition practiced in our country has a base of science behind it. Following these rituals add a significant benefit into our life and help to make it better. When the practice comes to the pregnancy journey, Garbh sanskar is the most important step to follow since the Vedic period. There are 16 sanskars mentioned in the Vedas for the well-being of human life at each stage. Among this, Pumsavana is considered as the most important to follow for pregnant women. It will help the couple to raise a baby with good qualities and top-notch health. Let’s explore Pumsavana samskaras in detail. 

What is sanskaras? 

Samskaras have a crucial role to play in different stages in the life of an individual person. These are performed to cultivate and refine a person’s body, mind and spirit. According to Vedas, there are 16 main samskaras. Let’s have a quick overview for each of the samskaras beneficial to raise standards of human living. 

  • Garbhadhan

It is a ritual performed to undertake the birth of a healthy child. Couples together chant the verses before the process of conception to include divine blessings. 

  • Pumsavana 

Pumsavana is performed in the third or fourth month of pregnancy. The chanting of these verses will protect the child in the womb of the mother. Also, it is mainly done with the desire of the male child. Explore this particular samskaras in detail further in the blog. 

  • Simantonnayana

Husband parts the hair of the wife to protect the baby and mother from upcoming danger. This samskara is done in the seventh month of the pregnancy journey. 

  • Jatakarma 

It is known as the birth ceremony in which the lips of a baby are coated with ghee or honey. Further, the newborn is welcomed in the family seeking blessing and prosperity to lead a healthy life. 

  • Naamkaran 

It is known as a naming ceremony for the baby conducted 11 to 12 days after birth. While chanting these mantras, the elder member of the family whispers the name of the baby in its ears. 

  • Nishkramana

After the third or fourth month of birth, when the baby is taken out of home for the first time, this ritual is performed. 

  • Annaprashana 

Annaprashana marks the first time when the baby is fed with solid food with blessings of God. It is carried when the baby becomes about six months old. 

  • Chudakarana 

When the baby becomes about one to three years old the ceremony is conducted to make the first hair cut. It is called Chudakarana samskara. 

  • Karnavedha 

In traditional days, the ceremony was conducted for piercing the ears of both boy or girl children. 

  • Vidyarambha 

The first initiation of the formal education of the baby was marked with Vidyarmabha. It is done usually after five years of a baby's birth. 

  • Upanayana 

Upanayana samskaras means to wear a sacred thread and start spiritual life, formal education for children. 

  • Vidyarambha 

Following Vidyarambha, the first time learning of the Vedas, it is called as Vidyarambha. 

  • Keshena 

It is performed when the first shave of the beard of boys takes place. It typically marks the adulthood phase in the life of an individual. 

  • Samavartana 

It is performed when an individual completes formal education and returns back from gurukul. 

  • Vivaha 

It is a wedding ceremony which marks the beginning of the household life of an individual person. 

  • Antyeshti 

It is the last ritual performed after the death of a person. It ensures a smooth transition of the soul to the next stage. 

What is Pumsavana sanskar ? 

The Pumsavana defines the process for male procreation as an offspring in a pregnancy journey. Basically, it is the process which is done to achieve the progeny of pre decided gender before birth is known as Pumsavana sanskar. It is tagged as second among sixteen samskaras mentioned in vedas. The chanting of verses to achieve benefits of Pumsavana samskaras is done on specific fixed days from the lunar calendar. Pumsavana samskaras is preferably practiced after performing the conception. You need to continue the same for the next two months to get desired results. 

The Pumsavana samskaras is performed basically for couples with three main aims as follows: 

  • Ishtapatyagrahanam- it helps in the process of conception 
  • Garbh Dharana- The texts mentioned here are chanted to achieve a healthy conception 
  • Garbh Sitharaman- It is performed for about three months which aids in changing gender or leads to male progeny. 

Sow the plant named Shwetabrihati during the process of Pushyanakshatra. Uproot and squeeze it to take the juice. Ask the expected women to insert this juice in the right and left nostril to get son or daughter respectively. It is believed that inserting about four drops of this juice will lead to development of male child in the womb of the mother. 

The samskaras is widely accepted due to its significant benefits of including excellent qualities in the fetus. Simply chanting the verses of these samskaras will boost the confidence in the mother to deliver male child. Also, this process will make a stronger bond between couples who are bonded together with the same desire to have a male child.  

How to perform Pumsavan sanskar? 

On the day to perform Pumsavana samskar, the couples worship the Lord Ganesh after taking bath. They together wish god for good health and a great future for their baby. Many of the people even prefer to organize the yagna and chant the Gayatri mantra to squeeze more benefits for their little one. 

Mainly Kheer is offered in the Yagna. The expected mother consumes these kheer in the form of Prasad for her child. After completing the Yagna, the couple takes blessings from the elder member of the family. Depending upon their financial status, many of the people even prefer to perform Gaudan and Punya dan for betterment for their little one. The main criteria of this ritual is to perform Nasya Karma. 

Nasya Karma 

Some of the medicines preferred from the doctor’s prescription are firstly mixed with milk. After this, four drops of this mixture is advised to add on the right nostril of the expectant mother. Here, mainly the medicine named Lakshmana or Vatshrung is used as medicine. This might sound weird to some people who don't possess the entire reason behind performing this ritual. 

The nose is directly connected with the brain in the human body. Therefore, the medicine entered through the nostril reaches the brain which directly stimulates the motherly hormones in the body of the expectant mother. This process will make the baby healthier and strong. 

It is advised to all couples to perform Pumsavana to get the child of their preferred gender. Also, the samskaras and mantras shape the positive quality of the baby. 

What is the correct time to perform Pumsavana sanskar? 

Pumsavana lies second among sixteen samskaras. It is performed after completing first samskar i.e. Garbhadhan which means conception ceremony. It is advised to schedule the Pumsavana samskara at the last phase of the first trimester. Basically it is performed on the first Pushya Nakshatra once after women start the journey of pregnancy. This is the correct time to perform Pumsavana sanskar which will benefit the baby and get the parents child of desired gender. 

What is the purpose of performing Pumsavana sanskar? 

It is a myth among the people that a couple who desires to have male child should only perform Pumsavana sanskar. But this is not the real face of this sanskar. The scriptures have never mentioned to discriminate between boy or girl or preferred any one. Pumsavana sanskar is performed for both male and female children alike. Yes, it definitely makes a couple confident to have male child. But in contemporary times, this sanskar is also performed to pray for the wellness, brilliance and health of the baby. 

There are generally two elements found among humans i.e. masculine and feminine energy. Chanting of Pumsavana samskar increases the masculine energy for the couple. But it is definitely beneficial to the fetus regardless of the gender to increase brilliance. 

Science behind Pumsavana sanskar

This ritual follows the process in which medicine is inserted into the nostril of an expectant mother for betterment of her baby. In recent times, the rituals have increased importance before the polluted air. This polluted air can lead the mother to develop several types of respiratory diseases like allergies, chronic cough, rhinitis, congestion problems and more. Further, in the chronic stage, the situation becomes even worse to develop COPD, asthma, bronchitis and more. 

In such situations, administration of herbal medicine into the nostril can directly prevent the entry of hazardous particles from air. This will ultimately increase the immunity of the mother to protect herself and child too.  

There are six arterial branches which are proven ways to reach the brain. This ritual allows the family members and partner to create, cherish and shape the good impression of their baby. Entering this medicine in the nostril can lead to positive thinking and attitude for the mother during her pregnancy journey. All of this will ultimately benefit the baby in womb to ensure the proper physical and mental growth. 

Benefits of Pumsavana sanskar

Pumsavana sanskar can give several benefits to babies in both spiritual as well as physical wellness. Let's explore these benefit quickly: 

  • Spiritual protection 

Chanting of the verses of Pumsavana samskar enters the blessing of the god for proper health and well being of the baby as well as mother. 

  • Healthy journey of pregnancy 

The ritual having a particular process as well as prayers ensures the smooth pregnancy journey for the mother. Also, it tends to develop a positive attitude for the mother which benefits the baby in getting a healthy atmosphere and proper growth. 

  • Positive mental health 

The ceremony of Pumsavana sanskar is mainly performed with the aim to provide a peaceful and positive state of mind to mother. This thought process will ultimately benefit the baby. 

  • Cultural and familial bonding 

The ceremony brings the family, relatives and partner together fostering a sense of emotional support for the expectant mother. 

  • Herbal remedies 

Mother is offered with specific herbal remedies which have proven beneficial to increase the immune system. Also, there are proven many other medical benefits for both mother and fetal development. 

  • Spiritual growth 

Pumsavana sanskar provides a chance for the spiritual growth of the family. Also, it gives adherence to perform the cultural practices with a belief in god reinforcing the religious values in family. 

Conclusion 

Pumsavana sanskar is known for its holistic approach to parental care. Further, it increases the physical, mental and spiritual state of mother and child. Pumsavana sanskar involves the process of administration of herbal medicines in the nostrils of an expectant mother. It will make the baby brilliant, strong and healthy to lead a happy life further. There are many benefits to performing Pumsavana sanskar. To gain maximum benefits out of this, you need to perform it at the correct time and with a belief in heart. This ritual might sound traditional but it also has proven scientific benefits. Therefore, every couple should perform this ritual for getting a genius baby. 

FAQs

     1. When should we do Pumsavana sanskar? 

After the end of the second month of pregnancy, it is preferable to perform the Pumsavana sanskar. The best advised time is on first Pushya Nakshatra after getting aware of pregnancy. 

     2. What are the benefits of Pumsavana sanskar?

It brings the family and partner to seek emotional support for the expectant mother. Further, this ritual increases the immunity of the mother benefiting the baby. Also, it is proven to develop a happy, healthy and positive environment around the mother. 

     3. Why is Pumsavana done? 

Pumsavan sanskar is done to ensure a proper and healthy development of the baby inside the womb. 

    4. Can Pumsavana samskar help the couple to get male child? 

Yes, according to Pumsavana sanskar, the expectant mother should insert the four drops of herbal remedies in right nostril for getting male child. 

    5. Should couples expecting female children perform Pumsavana samskar? 

Yes, definitely Pumsavana sanskar is done to get a healthy, brilliant baby regardless of gender discrimination or preferences.