Understanding Garbhadhan: The First Step in Hindu Sanskaras
In Hinduism, the sanskaras hold a sacred place and work as a milestone in framing the person’s life. But why is sanskaras so important in the life of a person? It is because sanskaras help in clearing of the sins from the mortal body as well as the immortal soul too. In Sanskrit language, Sanskar means to refine or make things perfect.
Vedas preach the sanskaras and let a person know the importance of Karmas in life. Practicing these can leave a good impression on the subconscious mind to build a good character, behavior and perception to see the world. Above this, the practice of sanskar is important to bring calmness, stability and inner peace in the soul. There are definitely some situations in life you might fail in deciding a particular path for life. In such situations, sanskaras are the one which provide the correct guidance to a person.
According to Vedic scriptures, there are 40 sanskaras. Among these 16 are the most pious ones for leading a spiritual and calm life. Have you ever thought why people celebrate the beginning of any auspicious activity in a sacred manner? Let’s explore its answer further in a blog post and gather much more information about sanskaras.
What is samskaras?
A farmer was working the field as he usually does on a daily basis. He was digging earth to sow the seeds. Suddenly he saw a greenish stone buried between sand. He thought about selling it to a jeweler. The jeweler understood the importance of stone and purchased it from a farmer for about a hundred rupees. Jeweler started to work on the stone. He cleaned dirt and then made it smooth from a rough surface. Further, he also polished the stone properly to give it a shine. Now, the greenish stone is perfectly suitable to set in ornament. He made emerald jewelry out of it. Therefore, he made a hundred rupees stone with shaping it perfectly worth a million. The similar process of refining and shaping the person is called sanskaras.
All of the great epics like Shrimad Bhagwat Gita or Upanishads help a person to learn sanskaras. The science behind these epics says that the preaching from such scriptures help a person to remove the impurity from mind and soul as well.
There are about 16 main sanskaras performed in the life of an individual person in the entire life cycle. These are as follows:
Among all the 16 sanskaras, let’s learn in detail about Garbhadhan which is the first step in Hindu rituals.
What is Garbhadhan?
Garbhadhan means to offer wealth in Garbh or the womb of the mother. In other words, Garbhadhan means to give the womb with sanskaras. It is followed after the couple gets united in the holy marriage bond. Hence, Garbhadhana is tagged as the first known rite for humans. This rite is performed before the mother gets conception.
In traditional days, the only meaning of the marriage was to carry forward the lineage. To perform this, it is important to clean the mind and soul of the newly married couple. Garbhadhana helps them to remove all negative thoughts coming in mind which might give problems during conception of baby. This sanskar helps in bringing harmony between two individuals who resolve to give love and respect to each other.
What is the purpose of Garbhadhana Sanskaras?
It is a natural phenomena which involves lust and physical attraction between two individuals which lead to consequences of intercourse. Intercourse ultimately creates similar offspring. This is the way the population in the world exists. But however, this is animal instincts. It means as a human we have to raise the level to not get included in the beast section. To gain this ascendance, it is important to get a base of instincts from the sanskaras. The sanskaras say that the physical contact between husband and wife should get performed with certain rules mentioned in Shastras. What might this benefit? If conception occurs according to these rules, then the baby gets raised with a spirit full of spirituality.
The Garbhadhana says that the physical contact between husband and wife is not only made to satisfy the animal needs but it is Yajna. Humans should get decked in a shower of powerful mantras written in vedas. The physical contact made after this gives rise to a baby which seems full of superior disposition.
The main aim for the Garbhadhana is to make god to shower blessings and participate in the act of procreation of a little human in the womb of mother. This act of procreation has proven divine origin as mentioned in scriptures. Lord Prajapati, the creator of the world, first established the seeds in the lower body part of women to start human development. A man should indeed follow the same path as our superior.
The married couple in scriptures is compared with earth and sky. The vedas thus show the union of husband and wife in accordance with the cosmic law. It is an inherent process and necessity to sustain life. However, if a person doesn’t follow or understand the importance of these sacredness then they are riding towards disaster.
What is the method of Garbhadhana?
The actual and proper method to follow Garbhadhana is mentioned in detail in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. According to this, Garbhadhana should be performed after the fourth night of completing the menstrual cycle. Also, she needs to take a bath while purifying herself wearing clean clothes. A man should think her wife wearing clothes as a Goddess Lakshmi. Next, go near her and offer pure sattvic food. After this, man has to recite the series of 9 specified mantras and invite the wife for conception.
Chant various mantras with successive actions to embrace her. Before you both indulge in the actual process it is important to chant the mantras aloud while touching her various body parts. According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad man has to spell words like he is sky and wife is earth. Union of them will deposit the seed to get a baby. Also make wishes as follows:
- let Lord Vishnu make her womb capable to hold the baby
- Lord Surya will help to shape the baby in proper way
- Pray Lord Prajapati to sprinkle seeds
- May the Lord of fate make a beautiful life for the fetus.
What is the timing to perform Garbhadhana sanskaras?
Garbhadhana sanskar means to place one’s seed inside the wife to wish a offspring. The obvious time to perform this samskar is when the wife is physically and mentally prepared to conceive a baby. This period is recognized as Ritu-kala or in other words a period of fertility for couples. The ideal time for conception is marked from the fourth to sixteenth date from the beginning of the menstrual cycle. To understand this better, read this example like a woman started her menstrual cycle on 1st of July. Following this, the ideal time for conception is between 4th of July to 16th of July. But yes, there are certain restrictions applicable as follows:
- According to the Prashant Upanishad, the intercourse between married couples should only take place at night time and not during the day. If any couple indulges in this feeling it can lead to making “Prayaschitta”.
- Yajnavalakya says that couples should avoid any sort of physical contact on nights of festivals or days of fasting.
- Restrictions for intercourse also lie on some lunar days. It includes eight and fourteenth of the lunar month. Similarly it is applicable on no moon and full moon days.
- The eleventh and thirteenth night for conception is not regarded as good in Garbhadhana sanskar. It means the 11th and 13th of July as the above mentioned example.
It is mandatory to approach the wife during her ritu kala. It is mentioned in scriptures as man needs to have faithful feelings for his wife. Also, you need to approach her only at her willingness, which means ritu kala period. A man who doesn’t approach the woman even in ritu kala state is proven guilty for sin for abortion.
Benefits of Garbhadhana sanskaras
Garbhadhana sanskar is tagged as the first ritual to follow among 16 traditional sanskaras. A married couple performs this practice to ensure a healthy conception to get a baby having qualities of virtuous, top notch health and intelligence. Check out the benefits of the Garbhadhana sanskar as follows:
1. Physical health
Rituals and practices involved in Garbhadhana sanskaras help the parents in getting a healthy conception. Also, it promotes a better physical and mental health of parents to raise a baby.
2. Spiritual preparation
The couple develops spiritual values with performing Garbhadhana sanskar. Also, it helps parents to remain emotionally and mentally in a good state to welcome a new life in the family.
3. Positive environment
The ceremony helps the parents in creating a peaceful and positive environment. Such a happy and positive environment is proven beneficial for successful conception and pregnancy.
4. Hereditary influences
It is believed to pass on enhanced hereditary influences on the baby with chanting Garbhadhana mantras during pregnancy. This will help to develop a pure soul of a baby full of spiritual values.
5. Mental and emotional well-being
Practicing Garbhadhana Sanskar promotes a healthy and strong relationship between couples. It is done with reducing the stress level, anxiety and contributing to the mental and emotional state of parents.
6. Cultural and traditional values
This practice reinforces traditional and cultural values in the modern lifestyle of people. All of these are very important in managing social customs and the continuation of family.
The benefits mentioned above help in the contribution of holistic well-being for parents as well as future children. Also, these practices are important to understand alignment between traditional, and Ayurveda of modern science.
Conclusion
In this modern and fast paced world, it is important to raise the child with positivity and spiritual values. All of these are performed to shape the character of the baby in an appropriate way. Garbhadhana sanskar add benefits for parents to make a healthy conception. It is a traditional method but anyone who follows it sees the amazing results in the form of a healthy baby. But to get best results, you need to undertake proper methods and chanting of mantras aloud with belief. Don’t forget to consider the rules when you plan to conceive. Following all of these you will definitely find good results.
FAQs
1. What is Garbhadhana sanskaras? It is basically a ceremony performed for the married couples who are intended to have a baby. It is the best method for parents to make a healthy process of conception.
2. Which couple should perform Garbhadhana sanskar?
It is a practice proven ideal for all the couples. But still, it is very mandatory for the couples facing problems of infertility. Such situations are definitely cured if conception occurs following Garbhadhana Sanskar practices.
3. What is called Garbhadhan Vidhi?
It is a ritual followed before pregnancy in time of conception for couples who are planning for a child. Garbhadhan Vidhi is also considered as preconception care for couples.
4. How to perform the Garbhadhana?
It is a ceremony which couples are advised to perform for conception. The process includes recitation of Garbhadhana mantras, offering prayer to god to conceive in a healthy way.
5. Which days are good to perform Garbhadhana?
According to Garbhadhana, Thursday is proven ideal if you intend for male child whereas Monday and Friday are beneficial for female child conception.