some thing intresting

[Guest guest]

Chapter VII

Pre-Natal Ceremonies

Before the actual birth of a child, three important ceremonies are enjoined

to be performed. They are nuptials (Nisheka), consummation (Garbhadana) and

Pumsavana (change of sex).

 

Nisheka is used to denote the first sexual contact, while Garbhadana has

reference to the subsequent defloratiohs. Almost ail the ancient works on

Muhurtha start from Namakarana - the name-giving ceremony after the birth of

a child-but we start from consummation, as it is actually the beginning of

the pre-natal existence of the child. Sexual union, pregnancy and

reproduction of human species are the essentials on which the world exists.

Sexual union should never be based upon simple sense gratification. There is

sacredness about sexual functions, and when moral and spiritual

considerations are not respected and brought into play; the result will be

most unsatisfactory and alt sorts of undesirable progeny would be the

products of promiscuous cohabitation. According to Prof. B. Suryanarayan Rao

men and women are bundles of electricity. When they are brought together

sexually a series of electrical currents would be released which may react

on them favourably or adversely depending upon the harmonious or discordant

nature of the vibrations released. Therefore the first sexual act should not

be treated lightly and should be done only when planetary combinations are

favourably disposed. Books on ancient Sexology and Astrology reveal that to

indulge in coitus during the first four days of menses will lead to serious

evil effects as the whole physiological and nervous system of the woman

would be in a state of tension owing to the almost continuous discharge of

blood. So the first four days of menses should be avoided. Copulation on the

5th day tends to give rise to a daughter. In general, sexual union on odd

days indicates birth of female children while on even days. the birth of

male children is indicated. In the first instance, sexual union is highly

recommended on the 6th day of the menses as it is supposed to ensure not

only happiness to the couple but also the birth of a dutiful and intelligent

son.

 

The constellations Sravana, Rohini, Anuradha, Swati, Revati, Moola, Uttara,

Uttarashadha, Uttarabhadra. Satabhisha are highly favourable for nuptials.

Pushyami, Dhanishta. Mrigasira, Aswini, Chitta. Punarvasu are ordinary. The

rest of constellations are to be rejected.

 

Monday, Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are auspicious days while Saturday,

Tuesday and Sunday should not be considered at all.

 

All lunar days-except the 4th, 8th, 9th, 14th, Full Moon and New Moon are

good. The favourable signs are Taurus to Libra and Pisces. The birth star

(Janma Nakshatra), the 10th star (Anu Janma) and the 19th star (Thri Janma)

should be avoided.

 

At the time of nuptials, the 8th house should be occupied by no planet.

Subject to this proviso, even Sagittarius and Aquarius may be selected as

auspicious.

 

Pumsavana. - This means change of sex. The Hindus had long ago known the

processes whereby the sex of the foetus could be changed by performing

certain remedies and by administering certain medicines when sex

differentiation is about to set in. The possibility of change of sex long

known to the Hindus was being ridiculed by Western scientists. But during

the last 3 or 4 decades, the opinion of the scientists underwent a gradual

change and most of them now admit such a possibility. For the information of

the reader, t may just make a few observations of modern medical men on this

all-important question.

 

Professor Thury first started a theory about the possibility of changing the

sex of the foetus in the womb. This was taken up by Professor Unterberger.

Bernard Macfadden has reached certain conclusions regarding the

predetermination of the sex with a success claimed in 90 per cent of cases

experimented. According to the theory of Thury "the biogenetic condition,

prevailing in the female organism in the beginning of the interval between

two menstrual periods is favourable to girls. Towards the end of this

interval, shortly before the new period, it is favourable to boys. In

between, the chances are even". It is possible that the chemistry of the

mother undergoes natural changes at certain times which correspond to the

condition of alkalinity on acidity created artificially by Unterberger with

the aid of bicarbonate or lactic acid.

 

There are, according to Davenport, probably four hundred theories of sex

determination promulgated during the last two or three hundred years. One

theory generally accepted by biologists maintains that sex is determined by

the so-called X chromosomes, in the female there are two of these

chromosomes. In the male there is only one. Professor BIchm suggested that

the male chromosomes move more quickly in alkaline solution than the

chromosomes which carry the feminine principle. A teaspoonful of bicarbonate

of soda or one spoonful of lactic acid may thus determine the sex of the

child. Generally 105 boys are born for every 100 girls. The mortality among

the boys is somewhat greater. It has been found that after great and

destructive wars, where men are killed on a large scale, the number of male

births increases. Nature thus restores the balance of sexes. We have known

parents, some of them longing for girls while others want boys for keeping

up their family traditions and for continuance of their lines. This will be

so specially in cases of inheritance and succession to thrones and large

landed and financial estates. Many wars and bloodshed were the results of

kings and queens having no sons to succeed them. In almost all the countries

the dynasties were kept up through sons. Matriarchy forms an exception.

 

It was found out by experiment that a high acid secretion was frequently

responsible for sterility in the female. When douche were applied in the

form of sodium bicarbonate, where there were no. pathological changes in

either husband or wife the results were most gratifying. The pregnancy

developed after the next period and in every case the child was a boy.

Professor Unterberger observes "that the most important thing appears to be

the fact that the characteristics of the female organs exercise a great

influence on the determination of the sex which strange to say has been

ignored heretofore". Professor Nicolai Konstantinovitch of Moscow discovered

an electric treatment which separates and segregates the male and female

spermatozoa. It is said that children of either sex may be obtained by using

chromosomes of the opposite sex in artificial impregnation. Natural

spermatozoa are deposited in the curved end of the tube filled with a

physiological solution. A slight electrical current draws the male and

female cells opposite ends of the tubes. The male spermatozoa are drawn to

the anodes or the side wh-,re the current enters the tube, and the female

sperms to the cathodes, where the current leaves. Macfadden says "conception

time with reference to the menstrual cycle normally runs its course in

twenty-eight days and so corresponds in length to the lunar month".

 

Here is a feminine physiological habit which in some ways at present clearly

understood closely corresponds to the movements of the Moon. The theory is,

that if fertilised when first discharged from the ovary the ovum is female

in tendency while later as the ovum ages it becomes male, so that

fertilisation between the 3rd and the 5th days after menstruation is liable

to produce a girl, between the 5th and 8th days, a boy or a girl, and

between the 8th and 12th days a boy. We have evidence that certain

physiological habits curiously correspond to the lunar dai!y cycles even as

the habit of the menstruation, a sex function corresponds to the lunar

monthly cycle.

 

It has been suggested by the mighty Darwin that since life apparently

originated on the beaches of primordial sea where it was alternately covered

and uncovered by the lides, through countless ages, certain life rhythms and

physiological habits were formed in all living creatures to correspond with

those tidal rhythms, which irr-their turn were regulated by the Sun and the

Moon. The primitive cell, which was the cradle of the life-force, at that

time went through alternating period of activity and quiescence. The

scientific name for these two physiological phases is Katabolism and

Anabolism. Physiologically Anabolism and Katabolism correspond to maleness

and femaleness. These facts lead to some interesting conclusions about sex

as possibly determined not merely by the time of the lunar month, but by the

time of the lunar day at which conception takes place. Here all the greatest

scientists on matters of conception and sex formation are agreed on the

physiological effects of cycles of lunar days and lunar months.

 

We shall now quote from our astrological literature, what they have

unanimously said about the appearances of menses, how the foetus develops in

the womb, in what month the sex is formed, how the sex of the unborn child

in the womb can be known and by what methods the sex of the child may be

changed as per desire of the parents.

 

Occassionally one reads in papers about the reversal or change of sex to a

certain degree even in adults. This phenomenon has been actually witnessed

by Prof. B. Suryanarain Rao and of late it is becoming common. In the

history of science the ancient Hindus occupy a foremost place because

thousands of years ago. they had anticipated and in fact achieved what to

the moderns appear as marvels of biology. Of course, it is a fashion with

those who have received the European system of education of laugh at things

they cannot-explain with the aid of their own pet theories.

 

Charaka, the great Hindu physician, has dwelt at length with the question of

change of sex. The ancients had not only studied the theory but they have

given us practical rules whereby the sex of the unborn child in the womb may

be known in advance and changed, if so desired. Ceremonies are actually laid

down in theVedas for performance by the father and the mother with a view to

give the child in the womb the sex that is desired. These rites are called

pwnsavana. The etymology of the word is: pung (male) syate (is produced)

anena (by this); in other words the male-producing rite. These rites are

performed even unto this day by every orthodox Hindu. Pumsavana is performed

just after the expiration of three months from date of conception.

 

Before giving further details about Pumsavana Jet us bring to the attention

of the readers an interesting phenomenon which recently happened in Europe.

Andreas Sparre, a Danish painter, married at the age of 20, a student artist

studying in a like academy as his in Paris. They had a "happy life for some

time. A few years later Andreas Sparre happened to dress up in fun as a

woman. The clothes suited him and he looked like a girl. One of his friends

called him Lili and he liked this name. Soon afterwards Andreas began to

feel that Lili was after all a real individual - a separate personality,

existing within himself. Gradually, this second personality pushed to the

background, his maleness. Andreas experienced bleeding from the mouth and

nose and this was regarded as a form of menstruation. Of course there was a

psychological change too that he was becoming moreand more feminine. With

the passing of time a conviction grew in his mind that though male in his

outward form, internally he possessed the female sexual organs. Physicians

and surgeons whom he consulted could not offer any explanation for his dual

personality. At last he consulted a German specialist who declared after a

careful examination that Andreas possessed female sexual organs within

himself. After this he was operated upon by Prof Gebherd and after the

operation the attending nurses remarked to Andreas that his voice had

completely changed and that it was a shrill woman's voice. Then cigarettes

and cigars nauseated him and even his handwriting turned feminine. In this

first operation the malesex glands were completely removed and Andreas

Sparre was no longer a man. After the second operation Crete, the wife of

Andreas, wrote as follows in her diary: -

 

"Not until a few hours later did I tearn what had happened inside-a human

being who was born a man, who was my husband, my friend, my comrade had now

become a woman, a complete woman."

 

"But the thought which haunts me is that though Andreas may now be

extinguished, and though Liti may have risen like a phoenix from the ashes,

yet m the world outside Andreas is still living in the eyes of the law, and

I am his wife. Who is capable of grasping this horror, this fantastic idea,

this unique happening."

 

What are we to think of this strange and tragic case of Andhreas Sparre - a

case unique m medical history. The case of Obalamma becoming Obalachari

(vide Female Horoscopy by Prof. B. Suryanarain Rao) is also equally

interesting.

 

Though medically it is impossible to distinguish sex in the embryo,

astrologically it is possible to know beforehand - based on the conception

Lagna-whether the child would be male or female. Doctors also opine that

even in the most normal and unambiguous individual the rudiments of the

organs of the other sex are present throughout life. Pumsavana means not

only rites but also administering of certain medicines. Who knows, the

proper performance of Pumsavana may enable us to change sexes of even

adults, because the medicines accompanied by mantras may act on the

glandular secretions and change the very nature of such secretion. The cases

of Andreas and Obalamma suggest that change of sex is possible and that

ancient Hindus when they talked of this phenomenon were not merely guessing

but were treading on solid and scientific ground*.

 

A persual of the various texts in Sanskrit bearing on astrology and medicine

reveals that Pumsavana is closely connected with the planetary influences on

embroynic development. All the phases of the union of the virile

spermatozoan with the mature ovum called impregnation, the fixation of the

impregnated ovum, called conception, and the development of the foetus are

governed by the Moon and other planets.

 

No birth takes place by. chance. In most cases, impregnation follows very

shortly after coitus and it is the time of coitus that is generally taken

according to Hindu Astrology for the Nisheka or conception horoscope. The

period of gestation is the time which elapses between the conception and

partruition. during which the child first as embryo, then as foetus is

developing in the womb. Beginning with the third week, the head bend in the

embryo is quite marked which gradually increases as development goes on, and

at the end of the third week the heart and all the organs have been laid

down and limbs begin to make their appearance as small buds, not unlike

those of the frog, and the embryo closely resembles any other mammalian

embryo at a corresponding stage. The chief changes in the first month

(governed of course by Venus) are the formation of the face and external

ear, and the development of the limbs' The eyes, nasal pits, maxillary

processes, ears and nose are now visible.

 

In the second month of pregnancy-ruled by Mars - the plasm is enveloped by

the amnion. Mars brings the development of the membranes and strong

expansion of them. The brain begins to develop, the head becomes

considerably larger and the human characters are ell established. The embryo

may now be spoken of as the foetus, which has passed its quadruped stage.

 

Now we come to the third month influenced largely by Jupiter - the month in

which Pumsavana has to be performed if one desires to have a son born to

him. It is in the third month the differentiation of sex is brought about,

as also the development of the genitals. Jupiter a masculine planet,

presides over this month. Thus it will be seen that in the selection of the

time for performing Pumsavana the ancients had in view very scientific

reasons. As difference of sex occurs in the third month, the medicines and

mantras administered under the influence of certain constellations would

certainly be capable enough to change the sex to the desire of. the

individual concerned. Without caring to bestow serious thought on such

questions, the moderner is apt to dismiss the whole thing as the product of

superstition.

 

We shall now give a few hints from the famous Charaka Samhita and it is for

readers to make use of such hints to their own advantage.

 

Charaka says: "Instructions will be laid down about those Vedic rites by

which the sex of the child (in the womb) before its manifestation may be

changed. Verily of rites duly performed and characterised by propriety of

time and place, the capacity to produce desirable fruits is ordained.

Observing that a woman has concieved, Pumsavana should be administered to

her before the manifestation of the sex of the child in the womb.

 

"Obtaming two unbroken buds from two twigs procured from the eastern and

northern aides of a banian (Picus indica, Linn.) growing in a cowpen, as

also a single grain of paddy and a single seed of Masha Phaseolus radiatus

Roxb.) both well developed, or two seeds of white mustard, and throwing them

into a quantity of curds, the woman (that has conceived) should be made to

drink it under the constellation of Pushya." Another Pumsavanam medicine is

the following: -

 

The kalka or paste of (a) jeevaka(*1) (b) rfshabhaka(*2) © Apamarga(*3) or

(d) Sahachara(*4) or of each if desirable - should be boiled with milk and

given to the woman to drink.

 

 

----------

----

 

1. Jeeaka is no longer identifiable or procurable. Hindu doctors find

substitute in Guduchi or Tinospora cordifolia. Miqs.

 

2. This is also not identifiable. The substitute to Vanggatochana or bamboo

manoa.

 

3. Achyaranihes, Linn.

 

4. Barlenia cristala, Linn.

 

 

----------

----

 

"Or, the likeness of a man. or very small proportions, made of gold, or

silver or iron, made red-hot in fife and then dipped into a measure of

curds, or milk, or water, should be swallowed without leaving any remnant,

under the influence of the constellation Pushyami. Under the same nakshatra

of Pushymi, the woman may be made to inhale the hot vapour of a cake {pishta

or pishtaka} that is being baked (on the fire) and then dissolving that cake

in a measure of water, the mixture should be cast over the threshold of the

door. This water the woman should then, using a stick of cotton, apply to

her Tight nostril."

 

If the above remedies are administered under the favourable and auspicious

influences of constellation, the sex in the womb of the woman is supposed to

change. The subject is vast and we shall again recur to this on a subsequent

occasion. Who has studied and who has tested all these methods? Why label

them as useless and unscientific when you do not know that they are.

 

The ceremony of Pumsavanam should be celebrated in the 3rd month when signs

of pregnancy are evident. All lunar days except the 4th, 6th, 8th. 9th,

12th. 14th. Full Moon and New Moon days are good.

 

All signs except Gemini, Cancer and Virgo are auspicious. Virgo should be

avoided as it is specially adverse.

 

Monday. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are beneficial. The 8th house from

the ascendant should be vacant. The Moon's presence in Lagna or the 12th and

the ascendant being aspected by Venus brings on prosperity. Beneficsshould

be disposed in quadrants or trines.

 

There is another ceremony named Seemantha immediately foltowtng Pumsavansm.

being performed in the 5th or 7th month of pregnancy. This is ortfatned only

in regard to first conceptions. If the time-schedule cannot be kept up. It

should not be abandoned, but the function must be performed at least before

delivery. This is the view of sage Sankha.

 

For Seemantha, Rohini, Mrigasira, Punarvasu, Pushyami, Uttara, Uttarashadha,

Hasta, Sravana and Revati are auspicious. Some are of the opinion that under

unavoidable circumstances, even Aswini, Anuradna and Moola maybe deemed

auspicious. The 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 14th (unar days and New Moon day must be

avoided. When the Moon is dignified Full Moon day is hot condemned. Sunday.

Tuesday and Saturday should be avoided. The rest of the weekdays are good.

All signs except Leo and Scorpio are auspicious. The 8th house from the

ascendant must be free. Generally speaking, the 3rd, 8th, 7th, 10th and 22nd

constellations should be avoided. The Moon should not be in the 8th house.

So far as this particular ceremony is concerned, the month ranks first in

importance. Hence, even if Jupiter and Venus are combust, such a

circumstance may be ignored.