The idea of Garbhadhan or Garbh Dharan Samskara is to produce and procure healthy fetus with the help of healthy sperms, healthy menstrual phase, healthy reproductive organs and a healthy uterus which are the most important physical conditions for the husband and wife planning to conceive. The ritual done during the Vedic Conception Ceremony and the mantras chanted also has a significant effect on the mental and spiritual conditions of the couple which holds equal importance in the conception process. These physical, mental and spiritual conditions are then inherited by the fetus which, born as human, carries them and evolves within them throughout its life. Defects or obscurity in any of these conditions may result in babies born with congenital deformities, improper mental conditions or any other physical, mental or vital (character) deformities which will become an obstruction in the social and spiritual growth (or any growth) of the child throughout their life.
There are two schools of thought regarding the Garbhadhan or Garbh Dharan ceremony in the Vedas.
- Purification of the mother – to make her eligible to conceive the baby through the spiritual cleansing of the womb known as क्षेत्र संस्कार – Kshetra Samskara. There is no need to repeat the Kshetra Samskara for every conception.
- Purification of the seed.To make the father’s semen healthy, known as बीज संस्कार – Beeja Samskara. The Beeja Samskara has to be performed for each child during the period of conception.
Popularly, the latter is accepted even though the ritual itself is performed once only for the first child.
Also read about all the sixteen Samskara.
What is Garbhadhanam?
The word garbha has two contextual meanings:
- the womb of the mother, and
- the embryo or fetus.
Here we take the second meaning, the jeeva and the term Ādhānam (आधानम्) meaning the transfer or placement of the jeeva in the womb of the mother. In Sanskrit it is said as…
गर्भस्त शिशोः आधानम् इति गर्भाधानम् ।
garbhasta shishoh ādhānam iti garbhādhānam
Another shloka goes as…
गर्भं सन्धार्यते येन तत् गर्भाधानम् ।
garbham sandhāryate yen tat garbhādhānam
The jiva is not created afresh; it already exists in the father, and is only transferred to the mother. The jiva (जीवः) is anādi (अनादि = without beginning) – never created and when present in the father, it is called retah (रेतः or पुरुष बीजम्) and acts as the bearer of life when interacted with a healthy kshetra (क्षेत्र).
From where did the father get this jiva?
It is an elaborate process in which the jiva is believed to go through five stages before coming to a life form, the last stage being the mothers womb. According to Mundaka Upanishad (II.i.6)
तस्मात् अग्निः समिधो यस्य सुर्यः
सोमात्पर्जन्य ओषधयः पृथिव्याम् ।
पुमान् रेतः सिन्चति योषितायां
बह्वीः प्रजाः पुरुषात् संप्रसूताः ॥
Meaning: From Him emerges the fire (i.e. heaven) of which the fuel is the Sun. From the moon emerge clouds, and (from clouds) the herbs on the earth. A man sheds the semen into the woman. From the Purusha have originated many creatures.
As per the Mundaka Upanishad, there are five stages of jiva, before it enters into the fetus.
The five stages are:
1. After leaving previous birth, the jiva enters into the pitru loka (or द्यु लोकः)
2. From there enters the clouds – पर्जन्यः
3. From clouds, enters the plants – ओषधयः
4. From plants, enters the father – रेतः
5. From the father, enters the mothers womb. – गर्भः
The transfer of jiva from one stage to the other is considered as a yajna. In other words, the jiva comes to this world as a result of five yajnas. In each of these yajnas, the jiva is offered as the oblation. Thus, the conception is considered as the greatest yajna on earth, which brings a human form into existence.
This can be conceptualised from various angles:
- The birth of the child protects one’s family lineage which is equivalent to human progression and evolution – kula-parampara.
- From ritualistic angle, any person is born with three debts – 1) to the devas (Deva-Runam देव ऋणम्), 2) to the Rishis (Rishi-Runam ऋषि ऋणम्), and 3) to the ancestors (Pitru- Runam पितृ ऋणम्). Among these, the third debt is removed by getting an offspring. So the son is called Runa-mocakah ऋण मोचकः (the remover of debt) who can perform shraddha etc. rituals. It is believed that, even if the father has committed some sins and has to go to put-naraka (पुत् नरक), he will be saved by the performance of shraddhas. So most of the time some rituals in shraddha are done as precautionary measure by the son to help his father from facing the put naraka. The name putra: for the son came from the statement: पुन्नामनः नर्कात त्रयायते इति पुत्रः।
- Getting a child is indirectly perpetuating oneself or at least the genes or the next stage of genetic evolution. The child is born with one’s own physical, mental, vital configuration and in a way is a reflection of the parents. A woman is said to be the reflection of the modern state of the nature (प्रकृति) and as Aitereya Upanishad says, the father is reborn as his own child by assimilating progressive properties from the mother.
Vedic thought about the Time of conception:
The scriptures prescribe the time of conception based on various considerations.
- Physical health of the parents: For example, if the parents are not healthy at the time of conception, the child will be affected hence conception must not be tried.
- The mental condition of the parents will influence the child. If the parents are focused on artha, kama (material or sensual pleasure) only, the child also will be artha, kama oriented. The scriptures prescribe marriage for begetting dharma-praja (righteous offspring) only.
- The astrological time – position of planets, stars etc – is considered very important. Conception during the day- time is never prescribed.
- Several interesting details are given regarding the time/day of conception. For example, certain ideal time is prescribed, called Rutu-kalam (ऋतु कालम्). The proper time for conception is given as, from the fourth to the sixteenth night after the monthly course of the wife, one should try for conception. The majority of the Grihya Sutras consider the fourth night ceremoniously pure for conception.
- For getting children of certain types and qualities, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad gives several processes: (Ch. 6, Sec 4: 14-17)
स य इच्छेतपुत्रो मे शुक्लो जायेत,
वेदमनुब्रुवीत, सर्वमायुरियादिति,
क्षीरौदनं पाचित्वा सर्पिष्मन्तमश्नीयाताम्
ईश्वरौ जनयितवै ।
sa ya icchetputro me śuklo jāyeta,
vedamanubruvīta, sarvamāyuriyāditi,
kśīraudanaṃ pācayitvā sarpiṣmantamaśnīyātām;
īśvarau janayitavai
Meaning: He who wishes a son of fair complexion, to be versed in one veda having the full span of life, should eat rice cooked in milk mixed with ghee, along with his wife. Then they would be able to give birth to such a son.
अथ य इच्छेत्पुत्रो मे कपिलः पिङ्गलो जायेत,
द्वौ वेदावनुब्रुवीत, सर्वमायुरियादिति,
दध्योदनं पाचयित्वा सर्पिष्मन्तमश्नीयाताम्;
ईश्वरौ जनयितवै ।
atha ya icchetputro me kapilaḥ piṅgalo jāyeta,
dvau vedāvanubruvīta, sarvamāyuriyāditi,
dadhyodanaṃ pācayitvā sarpiṣmantamaśnīyātām;
īśvarau janayitavai
Meaning: He who wishes that his son should be born tawny or brown, study two Vedas and attain a full term of life, should have rice cooked in curd, and he and his wife should eat it with clarified butter. Then they would be able to produce such a son.
अथ य इच्छेत्पुत्रो मे श्यामो लोहिताक्शो जायेत,
त्रीन्वेदाननुब्रुवीत, सर्वमायुरियादिति,
उदौदनं पाचयित्वा सर्पिष्मन्तमश्नीयाताम्;
ईश्वरौ जनयितवै ।
atha ya icchetputro me śyāmo lohitākśo jāyeta,
trīnvedānanubruvīta, sarvamāyuriyāditi,
udaudanaṃ pācayitvā sarpiṣmantamaśnīyātām;
īśvarau janayitavai
Meaning: He who wishes that his son should be born dark with red eyes, study three Vedas and attain a full term of life, should have rice cooked in water, and he and his wife should eat it with clarified butter. Then they would be able to produce such a son.
अथ य इच्छेद्दुहिता मे पण्डिता जायेत,
सर्वमायुरियादिति, तिलौदनं पाचयित्वा
सर्पिष्मन्तमश्नीयाताम्; ईश्वरौ जनयितवै ।
atha ya icchedduhitā me paṇḍitā jāyeta,
sarvamāyuriyāditi, tilaudanaṃ pācayitvā
sarpiṣmantamaśnīyātām; īśvarau janayitavai
Meaning: He who wishes that a daughter should be born to him who would be a scholar and attain a full term of life, should have rice cooked with sesamum, and he and his wife should eat it with clarified butter. Then they would be able to produce such a daughter.
अथ य इच्छेत्पुत्रो मे पण्डितो विगीतः समितिंगमः शुश्रूषितां वाचं भाषिता जायेत,
सर्वान्वेदाननुब्रुवीत, सर्वमायुरियादिति,
मांसौदनं पाचयित्वा सर्पिष्मन्तमश्नीयाताम्;
ईश्वरौ जनयितवै—अउक्शेण वार्षभेण वा ।
atha ya icchetputro me paṇḍito vigītaḥ samitiṃgamaḥ śuśrūṣitāṃ vācaṃ bhāṣitā jāyeta,
sarvānvedānanubruvīta, sarvamāyuriyāditi,
māṃsaudanaṃ pācayitvā sarpiṣmantamaśnīyātām;
īśvarau janayitavai—aukśeṇa vārṣabheṇa vā
Meaning: He who wishes that a son should be born to him who would be a reputed scholar, frequenting the assemblies and speaking delightful words, would study all the Vedas and attain a full term of life, should have rice cooked with the meat of a vigorous bull or one more advanced in years, and he and his wife should eat it with clarified butter. Then they would be able to produce such a son.
Ritualistic approach for Conception
The couple must consult a good astrologer and scholar who understands the concept of Garbhadhana Samskara to fix a date for the process. Here we are giving a general overview for understanding of the process.
Conception Preparation:
The Garbhaadhaan Sanskar acknowledges the role of both heredity and environment in the creation of a human being. Since conception has to do with the sperm and the ova, the first step is a process of strengthening and purification. This means no intercourse or wasting semen for at least 40 days minimum. The male partner needs to build virility and vitality. In addition, the purification also calls for a pure sattvic diet and a relaxed, happy, spiritual lifestyle. In the modern context, the couple must avoid drinking and excessive late-night partying during this time.
Steps to follow on the date decided for conception:
- The couple must remain fresh and happy on the fixed date.
- At noon the couple must perform Ganesh Pooja to invoke Ganesh, the Vighnaharta i.e. the god who removes all the obstacles.
- Before evening, the woman should take a bath, wear new or fresh clothes, ornaments and garlands of fresh flowers.
- She should perform pooja facing the east direction while her husband chants the prescribed mantra. Other women who have children should offer her wheat, oats etc.
- In the 2nd part of the night the couple should enter the pre decided room for the conception purpose.
- The the couple must perform Upastha Sparsh Kriya
- Have the intercourse.
- Once done, the wife sits up and the husband performs the final mantra requesting the lords to protect the womb and help the conception happen.
The couple must note that certain dates of the month were prohibited for conception.
उभयॊर्हृदय संसर्गेप्सु श्त्रिरात्रावरं ब्रह्मचर्यं चरित्वा स्थालीपाकग्ग्ं श्रपइत्वाग्नॆ रुपसमानाद्याज्यभागान्तॆ अन्वारब्धायां ।
Meaning: The eighth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth and the thirtieth, and all the Parwanas were specially avoided. The twice-born house holder observing the above rule was regarded to be ever a Brahmachari.
Dos for Vedic Conception Ceremony:
Following table will give you the days, times and other dos and don’ts while deciding the date of conception.
| Nakshatra | Tara | Vara | Tithi |
| Fixed Nakshatras like Uttara-phalguni, Uttara-shada, Uttara-bhadrapada and Rohini | Sampath & Kshema | Friday | 1 |
| Mrigašira | Sadhana | Thursday | 3 |
| Hasta | Mitra | Wednesday and Monday is medium or good in shukla paksha. | 5 |
| Anũradha | Parama mitra | 7 | |
| Šravana | 10 | ||
| Šravishata | 12 | ||
| Šatabhisha | 13 | ||
| Rōhini | |||
| swati |
Astrology Consideration:
The couple should consult a decent astrologer for this process to avoid any miscalculation.
Lagna:
Conception lagna should have benefics in kendra and trikonas and malefics in upachaya houses. Lagna should be aspected by Male planets Sun, Mars and Jupiter. Moon should be in an odd navamsha.
Chandra bala must also be seen for both male and female.
Don’ts for Vedic Conception Ceremony:
| Nakshatra to avoid | Tithis to avoid |
| All aggressive nakshatras and teekshna nakshatras are to be avoided. They are | Rikta tithis must be avoided |
| Poorva-phalguni | 4 |
| Poorva-shadha | 6 |
| Poorva-bhadrapada | 8 |
| Bharni | 9 |
| Magha | 11 |
| Moola | 14 |
| Jyestha | |
| Ardra | |
| Ashlesha | |
| Kritika | |
| Revati |
More things to avoid
- Avoid vyatipata yoga, Vaidhriti and the first half of parigha yoga.
- Avoid Bhadra and Malefic days, tithi, nakshatra and lagna gandaantas.
- Ending 1 ghati (24 minutes) of poorna tithi (panchami/Dashami/Pournima/Amavasya) and starting 1 ghati (24 minutes) of nanda (Pratipat/shasthi/ekadashi) should be avoided.
- Lagna and Rashi gandaantas should be avoided.
- Solar and Lunar eclipse days should be avoided.
- Jamna and Vadha tara of both husband and wife should be avoided.
