This ceremony is performed in the second, third and the fourth month of pregnancy. The meaning and object of this ceremony is to "quicken a male child" in the woman. The Punsavana is performed on a day of male Nakshatra. During this ritual, a few drops of the juice of the Banyan stem are put into the right nostril of the pregnant lady to inhale it, with a prayer for the birth of a son or a worthy child. According to Susruta, the great Ayurvedic writer, the juice of the Banyan tree has all the properties of relieving trouble during pregnancy.
Sanctified thread is tied to the left wrist of the lady by way of protection.
The mantras, freely rendered, pray: ""May God Isana fulfil our wishes;
Dhata bless the world with children and wealth. May He bless this household
too with children. May the immortals live in this house. May Agni bless
me with sons. May Indra bless me with children. May I have handsome children."
[Note: The following explanations are from the writings of Swami Dayananda
Saraswati (The founder of The Arya Samaj). The translation is by Acharya
Vaidyanath Shastri].
Placing his hand on the womb of his pregnant wife the husband should
pronounce the following Mantra from the Yajurveda, the meaning of which
is given below:
"O soul in the womb! May you have the swiftness of nice-winged swift
bird, may there arise in your head the trio of action, contemplation and
learning. Gayatri be your eye. Brihat and Rathantara like your sides. Rtgveda
your soul, metres your limbs. The hymns of Yajuh are your name. The Vamadevya
is your body. The deeds worth doing and shunning are your hind part. The
yajnas are like your hooves, the feet. You are a noble soul, the master
of noble qualities. Acquire knowledge and attain to happiness in life and
beyond."
After this the pregnant lady should live in a disciplined way and lead
a life with proper (restricted) diet and confined movements. She should
eat a small quantity of the cocculus cordiclius (giloy) Brahmi herb, and
dry ginger (Soonth) with milk. She should avoid too much sleep, avoid too
much talking, avoid saltish food preparations, avoid sour, pungent, bitter
things and avoid purgatives like Termunallia Chebula (Haritaki). She should
avoid anger, aversion, greed etc and should always keep her mind joyful
and happy. She should lead a life of good conduct.
PUMSAVANA (rite for making a male child) (from Iskcon aproved samskara paddhatis)
Time:
In the case of first pregnancy this rite should be performed during
the third month of pregnancy, and may be performed later in other pregnancies
when the signs of pregnancy begin to show. In Manu it says that it
should be performed when the foetus begins to move in the womb. Some
commentators say this rite should be performed in the first pregnancy only
- and not during the following pregnancies. It should be performed when
the moon is in a male constellation.
Follow the suggestions on the Pumsavan-Times document, utilise
the Pushya nakshatra in the wife taking the Pumsavan medicine, etc.
Procedure:
The woman should fast, bathe and put on new cloth, look at the sun
and offer respects.
karambhasu sarvesu pujito yah suryarape
dhyeyah sada savitr mandala madhya varti
narayanah sarasijasana sannivistah
keyuravan kanaka kundalavan kiriti
hari hiranmaya vapur dhrta sankha cakrah
"Lord Narayana is seated on a lotus flower asana within the sun globe. He wears a crown, golden earrings and arm bands of silver on His golden body, and in His hands He holds a white conch shell and a Sudarsana disc weapon. Because of all this He is ever enchanting and captivating to the mind. One should always meditate on the supremely effulgent Lord within the sun globe in this way."
PUNYAVACANA / SWASTI VACHANA.(invoking auspiciousness)
Priest will say: om asya karmanah punyaham bhavanto bruvantu
Let there be good fortune in this ceremony we are about
to perform.
Three (or the rest) brahmanas should throw akshata or flower petals
from their right hands saying:
om punyaham om punyaham om punyaham
Priest says: om asya karmanah svasti bhavanto bruvantu ayusmate
svasti
Let there be all prosperity in this ceremony we are about
to perform.
Three (or the rest) brahmanas should throw akshata or flower petals
from their right hands saying:
om svasti om svasti om svasti
Priest says: om asya karmano rddhim bhavanto bruvantu
Let there be great praise in this ceremony we are about
to perform.
Three (or the rest) brahmanas should throw akshata or flower petals
from their right hands saying:
om rdhyatam om rdhyatam om rdhyatam
om svasti no govindah
svasti no acyutanantau
svasti no vasudevo visnur dadhatu
svasti no narayana naro vai
svasti na padmanabha purusottama dadhatu
svasti no visvakseno visvaresvarah
svasti no hrsikeso harir dadhatu
svasti no vainateyo harih
svasti no anjana suto hanur bhagavato dadhatu
svasti svasti sumangalaih keso mahan
sri krsna sac-cid ananda ganah sarvesvaresvaro dadhatu
On the last line, throw the remaining akshata or flower petals all around in a circular motion above the head, or throw over the right shoulder.
SHANTI PRAKARANAM.
Harih om
saha na vavatu / saha nau bhunaktu /
saha viryankaravavahai / tejasvi navadhitamastu /
mavidvi sa vahai /
om shanti shanti shantih.
from sweteshwar Upanishad.
SHANTI DANAM.
om dhyauh shanti
urvantariksham shanti
prithivis shanti
apaha shanti
vayuh shanti
tejah shanti
oshadhayah shanti
loka shanti
brahmana shanti
vaishnava shanti
shanti astu dhrtir astu, om shanti shanti shantih
harih om
jaya sri krsna caitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri advaita gadadhara
srivasadi gaura-bhakta vrnda
hare krsna hare krsna
krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
Then depending on the situation one can throw akshata, flowers or stand
in ashirvadams.
Mantra Pratiprokshana.
Perform acaman Om Keshavaya namah, Om Narayana namah, Om Madhavaya
namah;
GET EVERYONE TO RECITE WORD BY WORD:--
OM ....APAVITRO PAVITRO VA, SARVA VASTHAM GATO 'PI VA
YAH SMARET PUNDARIK AKSAM, SA BAHYA ABHYANTAR SUCIH.
SRI VISNU, SRI VISNU, SRI VISNU. And give summary of translation.
"Whether one is unpurified or purified, or been through all manner of walks in life, if one remembers the lotus eyed Lord one is automatically purified both within and without."
Perform acaman: Om Keshavaya namah, Om Narayana namah, Om Madhavaya
namah;
Or perform by Mantrika and mudra after touching water.
Om yam brahma vedanta............etc.
om tad visnoh paramam padam
sada pasyanti surayah
diviva caksur atatam
Om madhavo madhavo vaci
madhavo madhavo hrdi
smarantisadave sarve
sarva karashu madhavam
om krsno vai saccidananda ghanah
krsnah adi purusah krsnah purusottamah
krsnah ha u karmadi mulam
krsnah sa ha sarvaikaryah
krsnah kasam krt adisa mukha prabhu pujyah
krsno'nadis tasmin ajandantar bahye
yan mangalam tal labhate krti
jaya sri krsna caitanya
prabhu nityananda
sri advaita gadadhara
srivasadi gaura bhakta vrnda
hare krsna hare krsna
krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
The husband, having performed his morning duties (bathe, putting on
new cloth, Sandhya Vandana - the husband should worship Visnu and perform
vrddhe sraddha (see marriage preliminaries). He should then set up a yajna
- performing kusandika rites - calling the fire named "candra", and ending
with virupaksa japa.
Agni Avahana (calling the fire):
Formally invite Agni, the representative of Lord Vishnu to come.
om candra namagne ihagaccha
agne tvam candra namasi
Oh fire named candra, come here. Oh fire, you are called candra
SRI VISHNOS TEJA EVAYAM
"This fire is of the potency of Lord Vishnu."
The priest should call the particular fire for the particular ceremony, (in the case of the wedding it is called yojaka, in general, basic yajnas it is Vidhuh). Whilst performing avahan, sthapan, abguntha, dig bandana, dhenu, matsya, and cakra mudras call Yojaka Agni to come.
Place the wood around and on the fire. The fire must be seen to be engulfing the wood before worship of the fire is conducted, or offerings are made. Sprinkle the now swelling fire with grita (ghee) to delight Agni, and chant Om Tat Sat
Brahma Yajnam: (first verse of each of the four Vedas)
RK VEDA -- HARI OM
AGNI MILE PUROHITAM
YAJNASYA DEVAM RITVIJAM
HOTARAN RATNADATAMAN HARIH OM
"I invoke Agni as the domestic priest, God of sacrifice, ministrant,
invoker, best bestower of all treasures." (Rk Veda invocation)
YAJUR VEDA -- HARI OM
ISE TWORJE
TWA VAYA VASTAM
PAYA VASTA DEVO VAH SAVITA
PAPAYATU
SRESTHATAMAYA KARMANE
HARIH OM
"For food are thee, for strength thee, ye are the winds, let the God
Savitar (the fire of the Sun) impel you to the most excellent offerings."
(Vajasaneyi samhita opening verse)
SAMA VEDA -- HARI OM
OM AGNAI AYAHI VOI TOI AYAA
TOIAYA GRINANHO VYADATOIAYA TOIYA
NI HO HA TA SA SAI BAA HO VA HI SHI
HARIH OM
"Oh Agni, come to the banquet, after being extolled, come to
the gift of offerings, sit down invoker of Vishnu, take your seat on this
standila hearth." (Gramageyagana 'Ganapat' 1-1-3., Rk 6-16-10.)
ARTHAVA VEDA -- HARI OM
SANNO DEVI RABHISTASYA
APO BHAVANTU PITAYE
SAYOR ABHIS SRAVANTU NAH HARIH OM
He should seat his wife to his own right side and the west side of the first upon a kusa asana. They should both face east. Silently he should place ghee - soaked wool of one pradesa in length into the fire.
VYASTA SAMASTA MAHAVYAHUTE HOMA:
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
PUMSAVANAM HOMA:
The husband, standing behind his wife, should touch her right shoulder,
then her navel, repeating the following mantra three times:
om pumamsau mahavisnu vasudevau
pumamsau acyutanantau ubhau
puman govinda ca visnu ca
puman garbhabas tavodare
"The Supreme Lord, the Supreme male - Mahavisnu, Vasudeva, Acyuta, Ananta, Govinda, and Visnu, and the male child that should be now residing in your womb."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
(the husband recites the verse, and does the action, the priest can offer the ahutis if the husband wishes, or he can do).
Then recite aloud:
"O wife ! as the wind moves, on the sides, as the rivers so move your
embryo in and come out from the womb as being ten months old."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"O ten month old soul in the womb ! as the wind freely moves, as the forest freely flourishes, and as the ocean moves without obstruction, so you take birth out of the womb with cover of embryo."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"O lady ! may your vigorous embryo like an arrow in its quiver go to the womb and becoming ten months old may your strong child take birth smoothly and normally. Whatever is uttered here let that be true."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"O Lord of Universe ! may the soul, to be called Kumar (young boy) in time, sleeping in the womb of the mother for ten months come out of the womb of the mother living alive and unmortified."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"May the embryo of ten months move and grow with his cover. As the wind moves without any obstruction and so this ten months old embryo take birth with secundine (the first developed coat or integument of an ovule - that which remains in the womb to be expelled after the child-birth - secondine/secundus - afterbirth). Agni, the fire-god, first amongst all the physical elements by the grace of God come to her protection and save the offspring of this lady from holding immature death. Varuna the vital air may come to its co-ordination in this matter and this lady may not ever wail for the grief of her child. whatever is said here let that be true!!!"
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
Then touching the heart of his good lady wife, the husband says:
"O well dressed lady ! Whatsoever embryo is present in the interior
of your child protecting heart I feel myself the knower of it. I pray that
Lord Krishna may not take this child prematurely from us."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"O lady of fortune ! the embryo that you have in your womb is the custodian of good knowledge and actions, your womb having such as embryo inside is free from all darkness, ignorance and misfortune, may I, the husband and father, receive that embryo whose limbs are free from all kinds of infirmities.....! Whatever has been said herein let it be true."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
Then placing the medicines for her to inhale through her right nostril,
say:
"The two vital airs called Prana and Apana are full of masculine power,
the two electric potencies or powers are also endowed with masculine power,
the fire is full of masculine power and the wind is also united with masculine
power - may the embryo in your womb be male endowed with masculine strength."
Make a cake or Halva of crushed shelled Pistachio nuts, offer
it in oblation to the fire. Then the pregnant woman should inhale the aroma
that wafts from the freshly cooked cake or halva. She can then mix some
with water to a paste and throw over the threshold of the house.
Take the two mashas (handfuls) of cow curd of the first procreation
and two mashas of crushed roasted barley and mixing them should put into
the hand of the wife and should ask her "What do you drink???" (three times)
The wife should reply three times pronouncing "Pu msavanam" (Pum Savanam)
and should eat that mixture. this process needs to be repeated for three
days (being careful to avoid the Rahu kala, and Yama ghantam for each day).
Afterwards the husband should crush solanum (kanatakaashi) plant of white
flower in water and sieve the liquid and drop it into the right nostril
of his wife and say the following:
"This herbicaious plant is a safeguard against diseases, this overpowers
them and is the product of the water which are the causes of it. By the
effect of this powerful herb I like, a son, have got the name and power
of my father and in the similar way the child preparing to take birth may
grasp my name and splendour."
Others say that the fresh buds from the Fig tree (which is related
to the banyan) is a substitute for this, and can be used instead where
kanatakaashi is not available, mixed with a little cow milk curd (yoghurt).
You may also have a swab with Musk oil on it, as musk is a primarily masculine fragrance (rochan - musk being the essential oil that attracts female deer to the male for mating) Saffron may also be used in the similar way, as saffron (the stamen from the flower are also a male/masculine fragrance), for the mother to smell.
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"The fire that we offer oblations into, and that of digestion is with manly power. Indra, the deva who oversees electric power also possesses the manly vigour; Brihaspati, the priest of the devas, and the Sun are all the embodiment of manly vigour, may you get the male child, O pious lady and may by God's grace may the progeny succeeding him also be manly and vigorous. whatever we have uttered herein let that be true."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
Then placing his hand on the stomach of his pregnant wife the husband
should say:
"O soul in the womb of my wife, Krishna's devotee ! may you have the
swiftness of a nice-winged swift bird, may there arise in your head the
trio of action, contemplation and learning. Gayatri be your eye, Brihat
and Rathantara like your sides, Rg-Veda your very being, and its metres
your limbs. The hymns of the Yajur-Veda are your name, and the satisfying
Vama-Devya be your body. The deeds worth-doing and shunning be your hind
part, the Yajnas are like your feet. You are a noble soul, and master of
noble qualities. Aquire knowledge from saints like Narad while in the womb,
and attain to happiness in this life and beyond."
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
"Having offered the oblations with these above cited mantrikas and also the oblations with the afore mentioned mantras for peace and tranquillity let us behold a wondrous son in time!!! Let that which we have uttered here be realised by all to be the truth!!!!"
He should then perform vyasta samasta mahavyahrte homa:
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
He should then throw ghee soaked wood one pradesa length into the fire silently.
The Pumsavana Medicine to be drunk by the woman is as follows:-
" Masculine substances are to be taken under the nakshatra of
Pushya, or the likeness of man. Take very small portions of gold, silver
or iron, made red hot in the fire and then dipped into a measure of curds,
or milk, or water, this should be swallowed without leaving any remnant
either in the cup or in the mouth. Also under the same nakshatra of Pushyami
the woman may be made to inhale the hot vapours of a cake (pistha or pisthaka
- pistachio), that is being baked 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 wool apply to her
right nostril."
Otherwise simply:
Make a cake or Halva of crushed shelled Pistachio nuts, offer
it in oblation to the fire. Then the pregnant woman should inhale the aroma
that wafts from the freshly cooked cake or halva. She can then mix some
with water to a paste and throw over the threshold of the house.
There is another Pumsavan Medicine that can be taken also utilising the Pushya nakshatra, in the morning.
Take two mashas (handfuls) of cow curd of the first procreation and
two mashas of crushed roasted barley and mixing them should put into the
hand of the wife and should ask her "What do you drink???" (three times)
The wife should reply three times pronouncing "Pu msavanam" (Pum Savanam)
and should eat that mixture. this process needs to be repeated for three
days (being careful to avoid the Rahu kala, and Yama ghantam for each day).
Afterwards the husband should crush solanum (kanatakaashi) plant of white
flower in water and sieve the liquid and drop it into the right nostril
of his wife and say the following:
"This herbicaious plant is a safeguard against diseases, this overpowers them and is the product of the water which are the causes of it. By the effect of this powerful herb I like, a son, have got the name and power of my father and in the similar way the child preparing to take birth may grasp my name and splendour."
Others say that the fresh buds from the Fig tree (which is related to the banyan) is a substitute for this, and can be used instead where kanatakaashi is not available, mixed with a little cow milk curd (yoghurt).
You may also have a swab with Musk oil on it, as musk is a primarily masculine fragrance (rochan - musk being the essential oil that attracts female deer to the male for mating) Saffron may also be used in the similar way, as saffron (the stamen from the flower are also a male/masculine fragrance), for the mother to smell.
He should then perform udicya karma, vaisnava homa etc.
PARISHESHANAM:
om ananta anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Ananta."
The priest should pour water on the west side from south to north with his kusha grass kurcha, saying:
om acyuta anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Acyuta."
Again he should pour on the north side from west to east with his kurcha, saying:
om sarasvaty anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Sarasvati."
Then drawing a circle around the standila in the air above it recite
Visnu shukta in either Sama veda or Yajur veda.
om idam vishnuh vicakrame
tredha nidadhe padam
samudham asya pamsule
"Vishnu has stridden here. He has placed three pure steps on
this earth."
PURUSHA SHUKTA HOMA - KRISHNA YAJURVEDA.
Harih OM
Sahasra sirsha purusha sahasraksha sahasrapat
sa bhumim vishvato vritvatyatishthad dashangulam
"A thousand heads hath the Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet.
Though He pervades the universe on all sides, yet He occupies a space ten
fingers wide (the heart).
Purusha evedam sarvam yadbhutam yachcha bhavyam.
Utamritatvasyeshano yadannenatirohati
"This Purusha is all that yet hath been and all that is to be. Though
Lord of immortality yet through matter He evolves that the jivas may get
their karmaphala, the fruits of actions.
Etavanasya mahimato jyayamscha purushah
Pado 'sya vishvabhutani tripadasya mritam divi
"All this proclaims His greatness, but greater than this is the Purusha.
All creatures are one-fourth of Him, three-fourths are eternality in the
transcendental realm.
Tripadurdhva udait Purusha pado'sye habhavat punah.
Tato vishva vyakramat sashana nashane abhi
"With three fourths the Purusha went up; one-fourth of Him again was
here. Thence He strode out to every side over what eats not and what eats.
Tasmad viratajayata virajo adhipurusha;
sajato atya richyata pashchad bhumim atho purah
"From Him Viraja was born; again a Purusha from Viraja was born. As
soon as He was born He spread, eastward and westward o'er the earth.
Yat purushena havisha deva yajnam atanvata
Vasanto asyashid ajyam grishma idhmah sharad havih
"When Gods prepared the sacrifice with the Purusha as their offering,
its oil was spring, the holy gift was autumn, summer was the wood.
Tam yajnam barhishi praukshan purusham jatam agratah
Tena deva ayajanta sadhya rishayah cha ye
"They balmed as victim on the grass the Purusha born in the earliest
time. With Him the deities and all Sadhyas and Rishis sacrificed.
Tasmad yajnat sarva hutah sambhritam prishadahyam
Pashun tams chakre vayavyan aranyan gramyash cha ye
"From that great general sacrifice the dripping fat was gathered up.
He formed the creatures of the air, and animals both wild and tame.
Tasmad yajnat sarva huta richah samani jajnire
Chhandamsi jajnire tasmad yajus tasmad ajayata
"From that great general sacrifice Richas and Sama hymns were born;
Therefrom were spells and charms produced; the Yajus had its birth from
it.
Tasmad ashva ajayanta, ye ke cha ubhayadatah
Gavo ha jajnire tasmat, tasmat jatah ajavayah
"From it horses were born, from it all cattle with two rows of teeth;
From it were generated kine, from it the goat and sheep were born.
Yat Purusham yadaduh katidha vyakalpayan
Mukham kim asya kau bahu ka uru pada uchyete
"When they divided Purusha how many portions did they make? What do
they call His mouth, His arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?"
Brahmano'sya mukham asid, bahu Rajanyah kritah
Uru tad asya yad Vaishyah, padbhyam Shudro ajayata
"The Brahmana was His mouth, of both arms was the Rajanya made. His
thighs became the Vaishya, from His feet the Shudra was produced.
Chandraama manaso jatash chakshoh Suryo ajayata
Mukhad Indrash chagnis cha, Pranad Vayur ajayata
"The moon was gendered from His mind, from His eye the sun had birth;
Indra and Agni from His mouth were born and Vayu from his breath.
Nabhya asid antariksam shirshno Dyauh samavartata
Padbhyam Bhumir disha shrotrat tathalokan akalpayan
"Forth from His navel came mid-air; the sky was fashioned from His
head; Earth from His feet and from His ear the regions. Thus they
formed the worlds.
Saptasyasan paridhayas trih sapta samidhah kritah
Deva yad yajnam tanvana abadhnan Purusham pashum
"Seven fencing sticks had He, thrice seven layers of fuel were prepared;
When the gods offering sacrifice, bound, as their victim, Purusha.
Yajena yajnam ayajanta devas tani dharmani prathamany asan
Te ha nakam mahimanah sachanta yatra purve sadhyah santi devah
"Gods sacrificing, sacrificed the victim. These were the earliest holy
ordinances. The mighty ones attained the height of heaven, there where
the Sadhyas, gods of old, are dwelling.
MAHAVYAHUTI
om bhur svaha idam visnave idam na mama
om bhuvah svaha idam acyutaya idam na mama
om sva svaha idam narayanaya idam na mama
om bhur bhuvah sva svaha idam anantaya idam na mama
PARISESHANA ........VISHNU SHUKTA:
om ananta anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Ananta."
The priest should pour water on the west side from south to north with his kusha grass kurcha, saying:
om acyuta anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Acyuta."
Again he should pour on the north side from west to east with his kurcha, saying:
om sarasvaty anumanyasva "Please allow this rite, Sarasvati."
Then drawing a circle around the standila in the air above it recite
Visnu shukta in either Sama veda or yajur veda.
om idam vishnuh vicakrame
tredha nidadhe padam
samudham asya pamsule
"Vishnu has stridden here. He has placed three pure steps on
this earth."
etcetc...........
DISTRIBUTION OF PRASADAMS.
Notes:
According to some texts the juice from crushed banyan leaf sprout should
be poured into her right nostril to give her strength at this time.(Ashvalayana
Grihyasutra) - or other powerful male orientated herbs like Cocculus Cordicolius
(Paraskara Grihayasutra) Or Ficus Religiosa found mounting or climbing
on the tree of Mimosa Suma (this is called Ashvattha and is a powerful
tonic to assure a male child) Or looking at our footnote one can do likewise
with this medicine at this time - if you haven't done before.
During the time of pregnancy :
She should avoid having sex, the evils of anger, aversion, and stress,
and should avoid sleeping in the daytime, staying awake at night, exerting
herself physically, riding in vehicles, taking purgatives, experiencing
any types of mental strain, and eating spicy, salty and sour or heavy foods,
or pungent foods like chillies, etc. She should also avoid the association
of other men, and women of loose morals, politicians and the envious.
She should eat ghee, milk, sweet, Somalata, i.e., Gudichi herbs, rice,
sweet curd, wheat, Urad, Mung, etc., grains, the vegetables giving strength.
In these vegetables she should mix the spices according to the season and
eat them, i.e. In summer season she should eat cold white Feronia Elephantum,
etc., and in cold season saffron, musk, etc. Always she should depend on
good healthy diets and avoid "junk foods". The pregnant woman should particularly
use dry ginger root in hot milk so that the child be intelligent, healthy
and endowed with good qualities, actions and nature.(Sanskar Vidhi, pages
70-71.) She should also begin a regime of reading to the child in the womb
if she hasn't already begun, for now the child can assimilate and take
on the properties of what association he contacts.