Changes

A woman desirous of having a male child with large limbs, fair complexion, with eyes like those of a lion (full of vigor), pure, and with good mental disposition should, after her menstrual period, first take a purificatory bath, then be given a light porridge of well cleaned white barley grains duly sweetened by adding honey and ghee, diluted in the milk of a white cow having a white calf, in a utensil made of silver or bronze, regularly in the morning and evening for a week.

A woman desirous of having a male child with large limbs, fair complexion, with eyes like those of a lion (full of vigor), pure, and with good mental disposition should, after her menstrual period, first take a purificatory bath, then be given a light porridge of well cleaned white barley grains duly sweetened by adding honey and ghee, diluted in the milk of a white cow having a white calf, in a utensil made of silver or bronze, regularly in the morning and evening for a week.

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 colour.

 

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]

At the end of one week, a priest should select a place on the north side of the house, having a downward slope towards the east or the north. The selected place/ground should be duly smeared with cowdung and water. After sprinkling the place with water, he should prepare and fix the altar.

At the end of one week, a priest should select a place on the north side of the house, having a downward slope towards the east or the north. The selected place/ground should be duly smeared with cowdung and water. After sprinkling the place with water, he should prepare and fix the altar.

On the west of the altar, the priest should take his seat on an undamaged cotton cushion or on the skin of a white bull, if he is officiating on behalf of a brahmana patron, on the skin of a tiger or bull if kshatriya, and on the skin of a deer or a ram, in case of a vaisya.  

 

Thus seated, he should kindle the scared fire with the twigs of palasha (Butea monosperma Kuntze), ingudi (Balanites aegyptica Delile), udumbara (Ficus racemosa Linn) or madhuka (Madhuka indica J.F.Gmel), spread the kusha (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf.) grass around, and fix the enclosure of fire with big stalks of palasha (Butea monospermakuntze) on all four sides, and then spread the altar with parched/roasted paddy and white coloured flowers having sweet fragrance. Then, he should preparea water pot, clean and sanctified by mantras, make available adequate amount of ghee for offerings, and place auspicious objects (such as bulls or stallions) of said qualities and colours etc. in and around the place of offering as mentioned earlier. [10]

On the west of the altar, the priest should take his seat on an undamaged cotton cushion or on the skin of a white bull, if he is officiating on behalf of a ''brahmana'' patron, on the skin of a tiger or bull if ''kshatriya'', and on the skin of a deer or a ram, in case of a ''vaisya''.  

 

Thus seated, he should kindle the scared fire with the twigs of ''palasha'' (Butea monosperma Kuntze), ''ingudi'' (Balanites aegyptica Delile), ''udumbara'' (Ficus racemosa Linn) or ''madhuka'' (Madhuka indica J.F.Gmel), spread the ''kusha'' (Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf.) grass around, and fix the enclosure of fire with big stalks of ''palasha'' (Butea monospermakuntze) on all four sides, and then spread the altar with parched/roasted paddy and white coloured flowers having sweet fragrance. Then, he should prepare a water pot, clean and sanctified by mantras, make available adequate amount of ghee for offerings, and place auspicious objects (such as bulls or stallions) of said qualities and colors, etc. in and around the place of offering as mentioned earlier. [10]

ततः पुत्रकामा पश्चिमतोऽग्निं दक्षिणतो ब्राह्मणमुपविश्यान्वालभेत सह भर्त्रा यथेष्टं पुत्रमाशासाना| ततस्तस्या आशासानाया ऋत्विक् प्रजापतिमभिनिर्दिश्य योनौ तस्याः कामपरिपूरणार्थं काम्यामिष्टिं निर्वर्तयेद् ‘विष्णुर्योनिंकल्पयतु’ इत्यनयर्चा|  

ततः पुत्रकामा पश्चिमतोऽग्निं दक्षिणतो ब्राह्मणमुपविश्यान्वालभेत सह भर्त्रा यथेष्टं पुत्रमाशासाना| ततस्तस्या आशासानाया ऋत्विक् प्रजापतिमभिनिर्दिश्य योनौ तस्याः कामपरिपूरणार्थं काम्यामिष्टिं निर्वर्तयेद् ‘विष्णुर्योनिंकल्पयतु’ इत्यनयर्चा|