Changes

During mornings and evenings, she should eat a diet prepared with sali rice and/or barley mixed with curd, honey, ghee or with milk. Her room, bed, seat, drink, dress and ornaments etc. all should be of white color. In the evenings and mornings, she should look at a white majestic bull / stallion duly smeared with white sandal paste without fail. She should also be entertained with pleasant tales of her interest, acceptable to her mood. She should also look at men and women having good personality, speech, behaviour and manners, as well as visuals and objects that are white in color.

During mornings and evenings, she should eat a diet prepared with sali rice and/or barley mixed with curd, honey, ghee or with milk. Her room, bed, seat, drink, dress and ornaments etc. all should be of white color. In the evenings and mornings, she should look at a white majestic bull / stallion duly smeared with white sandal paste without fail. She should also be entertained with pleasant tales of her interest, acceptable to her mood. She should also look at men and women having good personality, speech, behaviour and manners, as well as visuals and objects that are white in color.

Her companions and husband should also entertain her with things, discussion topics, and activities that are pleasant to her, and not stressful. The couple, should, however avoid sexual contact during this period. Following this regimen for a week, on the eighth day she, along with her husband, after taking a head bath with pure (consecrated – abhimantritam) water, get prepared for coitus by adorning themselves with new white apparel, garlands and ornaments. [9]

Her companions and husband should also entertain her with things, discussion topics, and activities that are pleasant to her, and not stressful. The couple, should, however avoid sexual contact during this period. Following this regimen for a week, on the eighth day she, along with her husband, after taking a head bath with pure (consecrated – ''abhimantritam'') water, get prepared for coitus by adorning themselves with new white apparel, garlands and ornaments. [9]

तत ऋत्विक् प्रागुत्तरस्यां दिश्यगारस्य प्राग्प्रवणमुदक्प्रवणं वा प्रदेशमभिसमीक्ष्य, गोमयोदकाभ्यां स्थण्डिलमुपलिप्य, प्रोक्ष्यचोदकेन, वेदीमस्मिन् स्थापयेत्|  

तत ऋत्विक् प्रागुत्तरस्यां दिश्यगारस्य प्राग्प्रवणमुदक्प्रवणं वा प्रदेशमभिसमीक्ष्य, गोमयोदकाभ्यां स्थण्डिलमुपलिप्य, प्रोक्ष्यचोदकेन, वेदीमस्मिन् स्थापयेत्|  

ततो [१] ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाचयित्वाऽऽज्यशेषं [२] प्राश्नीयात् पूर्वं पुमान्, पश्चात् स्त्री; न चोच्छिष्टमवशेषयेत्|  

ततो [१] ब्राह्मणान् स्वस्ति वाचयित्वाऽऽज्यशेषं [२] प्राश्नीयात् पूर्वं पुमान्, पश्चात् स्त्री; न चोच्छिष्टमवशेषयेत्|  

ततस्तौ सह संवसेयातामष्टरात्रं, तथाविधपरिच्छदावेव च स्यातां [३] , तथेष्टपुत्रं जनयेताम्||११||  

ततस्तौ सह संवसेयातामष्टरात्रं, तथाविधपरिच्छदावेव च स्यातां [३] , तथेष्टपुत्रं जनयेताम्||११||  

tataḥ putrakāmā paścimatō'gniṁ dakṣiṇatō brāhmaṇamupaviśyānvālabhēta saha bhartrā yathēṣṭaṁputramāśāsānā|  

tataḥ putrakāmā paścimatō'gniṁ dakṣiṇatō brāhmaṇamupaviśyānvālabhēta saha bhartrā yathēṣṭaṁputramāśāsānā|  

tatastasyā āśāsānāyā r̥tvik prajāpatimabhinirdiśya yōnau tasyāḥ kāmaparipūraṇārthaṁ kāmyāmiṣṭiṁnirvartayēd ‘viṣṇuryōniṁ kalpayatu’ ityanayarcā|  

tatastasyā āśāsānāyā r̥tvik prajāpatimabhinirdiśya yōnau tasyāḥ kāmaparipūraṇārthaṁ kāmyāmiṣṭiṁnirvartayēd ‘viṣṇuryōniṁ kalpayatu’ ityanayarcā|  

Thereafter the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes.  

Thereafter the woman, desirous of progeny, should sit with her husband on the west side of the altar, while the priest should sit to the south, and together they should perform the holy oblation to fire expressing their longing for a progeny. Then, the priest, addressing the God of procreation (Prajapati) for the fulfilment of her desire in her womb, should perform the ‘boon bestowing rite’, by chanting the said hymn ‘May Visnu bless the womb and make it fertile’. Then, the priest should prepare a bolus of cooked rice in an earthen pot by mixing the oblation with ghee, offering it to the holy fire thrice according to the prescribed methods. He should then give the sanctified pot of water to the woman to be used for all her purposes.  

On the completion of the rite, she should, placing her right foot first, walk around the fire keeping to her right and accompanied by her husband. Then, after taking the the blessing of the brahmanas, the couple should consume the remains of the sacrificial ghee - first the husband and then the wife - taking care not to leave any leftovers. On completion of this ritual, they shall cohabit for a period of eight nights, wearing the dress etc., as prescribed earlier. In this manner they will be able to beget a progeny, as desired. [11]

On the completion of the rite, she should, placing her right foot first, walk around the fire keeping to her right and accompanied by her husband. Then, after taking the the blessing of the brahmanas, the couple should consume the remains of the sacrificial ghee - first the husband and then the wife - taking care not to leave any leftovers. On completion of this ritual, they shall cohabit for a period of eight nights, wearing the dress etc., as prescribed earlier. In this manner they will be able to beget a progeny, as desired. [11]

shUdrA tu namaskArameva kuryAt (devAgnidvijagurutapasvisiddhebhyaH [4] )||13||

shUdrA tu namaskArameva kuryAt (devAgnidvijagurutapasvisiddhebhyaH [4] )||13||

Those belonging to shudra lineage, the mere act of salutation/pray (to the God, holy fire, brahmanas, teachers/elders/preceptors, and saints and seers) should suffice. [13]

Those belonging to shudra lineage, the mere act of salutation/pray (to the God, holy fire, ''brahmanas'', teachers/elders/preceptors, and saints and seers) should suffice. [13]

या या च यथाविधं पुत्रमाशासीत तस्यास्तस्यास्तां तां पुत्राशिषमनुनिशम्य तांस्ताञ्जनपदान्मनसाऽनुपरिक्रामयेत्|  

या या च यथाविधं पुत्रमाशासीत तस्यास्तस्यास्तां तां पुत्राशिषमनुनिशम्य तांस्ताञ्जनपदान्मनसाऽनुपरिक्रामयेत्|  

ityetat sarvaM putrAshiShAM samRuddhikaraM karma vyAkhyAtaM bhavati||14||  

ityetat sarvaM putrAshiShAM samRuddhikaraM karma vyAkhyAtaM bhavati||14||  

By knowing about the kind of child she desires, the woman should be advised to mentally travel to such places where people having similar dispositions live. Also, she should be advised to take diet, assume behaviour, and engage in activities, attire, and social/cultural behooving such places and people.  

By knowing about the kind of child she desires, the woman should be advised to mentally travel to such places where people having similar dispositions live. Also, she should be advised to take diet, assume behavior, and engage in activities, attire, and social/cultural behooving such places and people.  

 

Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained. [14]

Thus, the section detailing rituals that couples desirous of a healthy progeny – of the attributes of their liking – has been explained. [14]

api tu tejodhAturapyudakAntarikShadhAtuprAyo~avadAtavarNakaro bhavati, pRuthivIvAyudhAtuprAyaHkRuShNavarNakaraH, samasarvadhAtuprAyaH shyAmavarNakaraH||15||  

api tu tejodhAturapyudakAntarikShadhAtuprAyo~avadAtavarNakaro bhavati, pRuthivIvAyudhAtuprAyaHkRuShNavarNakaraH, samasarvadhAtuprAyaH shyAmavarNakaraH||15||  

Apart from the procedures mentioned above, mahabhutas also contribute in colour and complexion of skin. It is important to note that the teja (aura) associated with ap and akasha mahabuta are responsible for fair complexion, prithvi and vayu are responsible for black, and an equilibrium of all the five mahabhutas result in shyamavarna i.e. sky-like bluish complexion. [15]

Apart from the procedures mentioned above, ''mahabhutas'' also contribute in colour and complexion of skin. It is important to note that the ''teja'' (aura) associated with ''apa'' and ''akasha mahabuta'' are responsible for fair complexion, ''prithvi'' and ''vayu'' are responsible for black, and an equilibrium of all the five ''mahabhutas'' result in ''shyamavarna'' i.e. sky-like bluish complexion. [15]

सत्त्ववैशेष्यकराणि पुनस्तेषां तेषां प्राणिनां मातापितृसत्त्वान्यन्तर्वत्न्याः श्रुतयश्चाभीक्ष्णं स्वोचितं च कर्मसत्त्वविशेषाभ्यासश्चेति||१६||  

सत्त्ववैशेष्यकराणि पुनस्तेषां तेषां प्राणिनां मातापितृसत्त्वान्यन्तर्वत्न्याः श्रुतयश्चाभीक्ष्णं स्वोचितं च कर्मसत्त्वविशेषाभ्यासश्चेति||१६||