The Pumsavana (Quickening a Male Child)

The meaning of the term

After the conception was ascertained, the child in the womb was consecrated by the Samskara named Pumsavana. By Pumsavana was generally understood "that rite through which a male child was produced." Vedic hymns recited on this occasion mention Puman or Putra (a male) and favour the birth of a son. The word Pumsavana is rendered into English by "a rite quickening a male child."

The Vedic period

In the Atharvaveda and the Samveda – mantra – Brahmana we get prayers for male children. The husband prays by the wife, " Unto thy womb let a fetus come, a male one, as an arrow to a quiver; let A hero be born unto thee here, a ten-months son. Give birth to a male, a son; after him let a male be born; mayest thou be mother of sons, of those born and whom thou shall bear etc." We do not know what exact kind of rite was performed. But the above verses bear testimony to the fact that some kind of celebration was made with these prayers. The ceremony is called Prajapatya in these hymns, "I perform the Prajapatya (the ceremony of Prajapati) etc." Some sort of medicinal herb was also given to the pregnant woman with the verse, "The plants of which heaven has been the father, earth the mother, ocean the root, let those herbs of the gods favour thee, in order to acquire a son." Thus the main features of the later day Samskara are found in the Vedic period. But the rules regulating the various aspects of the Samskara cannot be traced in the Vedas.

The Sutra period

During the Grhyasutra period the Pumsavana Samskara was performed in the third or the fourthe month of pregnancy or even later, on the day when the moon was on a male constellation, on Tisya particularly. The pregnant woman was required to fast on that day. After bath she put on new clothes. Then in the night the sprout of the banyan tree were pounded and juice was inserted in to the right nostril of the woman with verses beginning with ‘Hirnyagarbha etc.,’ According to some Grhyasutras Kuaskantaka and Somalata were also to be pounded with the above. If the father desired that his son should be Viryavan or virile, he should place a dish of water on the lap of the mother and touching her stomach recited the verse "Suparnosi."

The Later Rules and Considerations

The Dharmasutras and Smritis do not add anything to the ritual proper. The Prayogas and the Paddhatis solely draw upon the Grhyasutras of the Vedic School they follow with the only addition of Matripuja and Abhudayika Sraddha.

The Proper Time

The Smritis deal with the proper time when the Samskara should be performed. According to Manu and Yajnavalkya it should be performed before the fetus begins to move in the womb. Sankha followed them. Brihaspati prescribes the time after the movement. Jatukarnya and Saunaka say that it should be performed in the third month of pregnancy after conception becomes manifest.

The time of performance ranged from the second to the eighth month of pregnancy. It was due to the fact that the symptoms of conception became visible in the case of different woman in different months. The Kulachara or family custom was also responsible for this variation. Brihaspati differntiates between these periods. "In the first pregnancy, the Samskara should be performed in the third month. In the case of women who have already given birth to children it should be performed in the fourth, sixth or even in the eighth month of pregnancy." In the first conception, the symptoms show themselves earlier than in the others. That is why later periods are prescribed in the second case.

Whether performed in every pregnancy

The Smritis also discuss the question whether this Samskara should be performed in every pregnancy or not. According to Saunaka this rite should be repeated in every conception, because by touching and feeding, the fetus becomes purified; moreover by the force of the verses recited in this Samskara, on obtains the memory of the past lives. So, it is prescribed in every conception. In the Mitaksrara on the Yajnavalkya, we find an eliminating tendency where Vijnanesvara says, "These Pumsavana and Simanta being Ksetra Samskara should be performed only once."

The Ritual and its Significance

The significance of the Samskara consisted in its main features. It should be performed when the moon was on a male constellation. This time was regarded as favourable for producing a male issue. Inserting the juice of the banyan tree was a device meant for preventing abortion and ensuring the birth of a male child. In the opinion of Susruta the banyan tree has got the properties of removing all kinds of troubles during pregnancy, e.g. excess of bile, burning etc. He says, "Having pounded with milk any of these herbs, Sulaksmana Batasunga, Sahadevi and Visvadeva, one should insert three or four drops of juice in the (right) nostril of the pregnant woman for the birth of a son. She should not spit the juice out." Insertion of medicine into nostrils is a common thing in the Hindu system of treatment, therefore, it is evident that the ritual prescribing it was undoubtedly founded on the medical experience of the people. Putting a dish of water on the lap was a symbolical performance. A pot full of water denoted life and spirit in the would be child. Touching the womb emphasized the necessity of taking every care by the expectant mother, so that the fetus should be healthy and strong in the womb emphasized the necessity of taking every care by the expectant mother, so that the fetus should be healthy and strong in the womb and abortion may not take place. The hymn "Suparna etc." or "of beautiful wings" expressed the wish that a handsome child should be born.