Changes

It is interesting to note that none of the ''vedic'' texts – Ayurvedic or otherwise – blamed the mother for complications and abnormalities in pregnancy. Instead, they seem to attribute those to God’s will and the karmic deeds of the children born with those defects. (16)

It is interesting to note that none of the ''vedic'' texts – Ayurvedic or otherwise – blamed the mother for complications and abnormalities in pregnancy. Instead, they seem to attribute those to God’s will and the karmic deeds of the children born with those defects. (16)

==== Dwireta (Hermaphroditism) (Verse 18) ====

==== '''Dwireta''' (Hermaphroditism) (Verse 18) ====

Manifestations of dwireta could be any of these:

Manifestations of ''dwireta'' could be any of these:

• Normal morphology like nose, eyes etc. of male and female, devoid of specific sexual organs such as vagina, penis etc. but having secondary characters of both the sexes, such as breast, moustaches etc. This is caused due to the combination of male and female seeds (sperm and ovum) in equal proportion, afflicted (upatapta) in the genetic code responsible for producing bīja (bīja-janaka-bījabhāga).

*Normal morphology like nose, eyes etc. of male and female, devoid of specific sexual organs such as vagina, penis etc. but having secondary characters of both the sexes, such as breast, moustaches etc. This is caused due to the combination of male and female seeds (sperm and ovum) in equal proportion, afflicted (''upatapta'') in the genetic code responsible for producing ''beeja'' (''beeja-janaka-beejabhaga'').

• Possessing appropriate sexual organs of a male or a female, but no secondary characters. In this case, kāla and karma are considered to be key factors. The sexual organs are present since the time of conception, hence they manifest, but the factors that are responsible for the development of breasts and moustaches (in females and males respectively) become weaker during puberty. The afflicted seeds dominate only secondary sex characters and do not allow them to manifest at all. These phenomena are entirely dependent on past deeds. When śhukra and śhonita combine in equal proportion, there is equal dominance of śhukra and ārtava causing genetic mutation (CK on CS.Sa.2/18, SS.Sa.3/5; AS.Sa.2/5; AH.Sa.1/5). It is referred as napumsaka in several vedic texts. In addition to this, Hārita accepted that if doshas, bala, prakriti and vikriti of a couple are present in equal proportions in the offspring, then a female hermaphrodite would take birth (HS.6th sthana.1/37-40). However, even in such cases, God’s will is said to be responsible (Shr.S.Pur.6/12).  

*Possessing appropriate sexual organs of a male or a female, but no secondary characters. In this case, ''kala'' and ''karma'' are considered to be key factors. The sexual organs are present since the time of conception, hence they manifest, but the factors that are responsible for the development of breasts and moustaches (in females and males respectively) become weaker during puberty. The afflicted seeds dominate only secondary sex characters and do not allow them to manifest at all. These phenomena are entirely dependent on past deeds. When ''shukra'' and ''shonita'' combine in equal proportion, there is equal dominance of ''shukra'' and ''artava'' causing genetic mutation (CK on CS.Sa.2/18, SS.Sa.3/5; AS.Sa.2/5; AH.Sa.1/5). It is referred as ''napunsaka'' in several vedic texts. In addition to this, Harita accepted that if ''doshas'', ''bala, prakriti'' and ''vikriti'' of a couple are present in equal proportions in the offspring, then a female hermaphrodite would take birth (HS.6th sthana.1/37-40). However, even in such cases, God’s will is said to be responsible (Shr.S.Pur.6/12).

==== Defects in conception due to non passage of shukra (Verse 19-20) ====

==== Defects in conception due to non passage of shukra (Verse 19-20) ====