Vedic Society - Articles - Ayurveda - Garbhini Charyas (Regimens For Pregnant Lady)

9/5/2015
Vedic Society - Articles - Ayurveda - Garbhini Charyas ( Regimens For Pregnant Lady)
Garbhini Charyas (Regimens For Pregnant Lady)
by Vedic Society
What are the general rules a pregnant woman should follow?
Sushruta explains the following rules to be followed by the pregnant woman till the delivery.
Immediately on the ascertainment of her pregnancy the woman should avoid all kinds of
physical labour, sexual intercourse, fasting, day sleep, things that emaciate the body, late
nights, indulgence in grief and fright, journey by carriage or any kind of conveyance that
causes jerky movements.
Sneha karmas (Oliation internal and external), Rakta mokshana(bloodletting),
Vegadharana(controlling natural urges) are completely avoided.
From the first day of conception the lady should be joyful, wear clean and white garment.
Engage herself in peace giving activities.
Live in devotion to the gods, brahmins, elders and teachers.
She should not touch/ come in contact with unclean, deformed, maimed persons.
She should forego the use of fetid smelling things.
Avoid dreadful sights, painful or agitating sounds and use of dry, stale, dirty food as well as
that stored overnight.
Long and distant walks from home to resorts, cremation grounds, solitary retreats, chityas(a
haunted or deified tree) and sitting in the shadow of the tree should be absolutely forbidden.
Indulgence in anger, fright or other agitating emotions of the mind should be deemed as
injurious.
To carry heavy loads, to talk in a loud voice should be refrained from.
The practice of constant oil massage, udwarthanm (rubbing or cleaning the body with fragrant
unguents or powders), etc should be given up.
Exercises which cause fatigue are discontinued.
The couch and the bed of a pregnant woman should be low, soft, and guarded on all four sides
by a number of soft pillows or cushions.
Her food should be sweet, palatable (hridya), well cooked, prepared with appetizing drugs,
unctuous and drava (liquid consistency).
Charaka explains the garbhopaghatakara bhavas (factors that damage the fetus) as follows.
The fetus dies in the womb or expelled out prematurely or dries up if the woman sits on rough,
uneven or hard seat, suppresses urge of wind, urine, stools, undergoes strenuous exercises,
takes hot food and eats very little food.
The fetus may delivered untimely by injury, compression, frequent looking at ditches, wells,
waterfalls, traveling on a conveyance with excessive jerk, or hearing unpleasant words and
loud sounds.
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If she constantly lies down in supine position, the umbilical cord gets twisted around the neck
of the fetus.
The pregnant woman who sleeps in open place and moving out in night gives birth to an
insane.
If she indulges in quarrels and fights the progeny will be epileptic.
One indulged in sexual intercourse gives birth to an ill-physiqued, shameless progeny.
If she is always under grief, the child will be timid, underdeveloped or short lived.
One thinking ill of others gives birth to a harmful, envious and woman devoted child.
One who sleeps constantly will give birth to a drowsy, unwise child with a deficient digestive
power.
If pregnant woman takes wine constantly her child will be always thirsty, poor in memory and
unstable mind.
One who uses pork regularly during pregnancy will have an offspring with red eyes, obstructed
respiration and very rough body hair.
One who uses fish constantly during pregnancy will have a progeny with delayed closure of
eyes or stiff eyes.
One who uses sweet things constantly during pregnancy will give birth to an offspring suffering
from prameha (urinary disorders), dumbness and obesity.
If she uses sour things constantly during pregnancy, her offspring will suffer from internal
hemorrhage, skin diseases and eye diseases.
On using salt thing constantly the offspring will suffer from early wrinkles, premature graying of
hairs and baldness.
On using pungent things constantly the offspring will suffer from semen deficiency or infertility.
The pregnant lady who takes bitter things constantly will give birth to
shoshi(consumptive),weak and underdeveloped progeny.
The pregnant lady who uses astringent things constantly will give birth to a blackish progeny
who will also suffer from bloatedness of abdomen and udavartha (upward movement of wind in
the abdomen).
The offspring of a lady who used excess godha mamsa (Alligator) will suffer from sharkara and
ashmari. renal or (bladder stone)
Monthly regimens to be followed by pregnant lady (masanumasika charya)
First month:
She should drink Anupaskrta sheeta dugdha ( non processed cold milk ) in proper quantity.
She should eat saatmya bhojana, morning and evening. (Ch.Sh. 8)
She should take processed cold milk.
First 12days She should take Ksheerodhbhava sarpi( ghee extracted from milk) processed with
Shaliparni and Palasha, followed by cold water which is pre boiled and cooled in golden or silver
vessel.(anupana)
She should take liquid / semisolid saatmya food that has madhra rasa (sweet), sheeta
guna(cold in potency), in the morning and evening.
Should not take Abhyanga(smearing the body with unctuous substance) and
udwarthanam(rubbing the body with powders), and the doshakara bhavas( factors that
damage the fetus) upto 5th month.(A. S.Sh 3)
She should take Madhura(sweet), Sheetala(cold in potency), and Drava aahara (liquid food). (
Su. Sh. 10)
Second month:
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She should drink milk processed with madura aushadhas( sweet category drugs).(Vagbhatacharya
mentions the same.) Sushruta recommends madhura( sweet), sheetala(cold), drava(liquid) food, in
second month also.
Third month:
Charaka and vagbhata recommends processed milk along with madhu(honey) and sarpi(ghee).
Sushruta recommends Shastika shaali(variety of rice grown in 60 days) with milk.
Fourth month:
Charaka says in the fourth month the pregnant lady should drink milk along with 1aksha i.e. 12gms of
butter.
Sushruta recommends her to drink milk with butter, eat hridya(desired) food along withjangala(wild)
meat, shashtika rice with curd.
Vagbhata advices to drink milk processed with sweet drugs along with one aksha quantity of butter.
Fifth month:
Charaka and Vagbhata say in fifth month the lady should take ghee extracted from milk.
Sushruta recommends shashtika rice with milk and ksheera sarpi( ghee extracted from milk).
Sixth month:
Charaka and Vagbhata recommends the ksheerasarpi(ghee extracted from milk) processed with drugs
of sweet category(madhura oushadha).
Sushruta advices that in 6th month she should take ghee processed with Gokshura in adequate
quantity or Yavagu (gruel) prepared with Gokshura .
7th month:
Charaka and Vagbhata advices to follow the regimen of 6th month in the 7th month also.
Sushruta recommends her to take a ghee processed with Prithakparni in 7th month.
8th month:
Charaka advices her to take a gruel(yavagu) mixed with ghee and milk in the 8th month. Acharya
Bhadrakapya fears that by drinking this yavagu(gruel) in 8th month the baby may suffer from
Paingalya(yellowish discoloration of the skin). But Acharay Aatreya says though the baby develops
paingalya , by drinking this yavagu in the 8th month the pregnant lady will give birth to a strong,
healthy, beautiful baby with a pleasant complexion, voice and built. Vagbhatas regimen for
the 8th month pregnant lady is similar to that of Charaka. Along with that he also prescribes
Asthapana vasti(un-unctuous enema) using Badara leaf decoction, palala(Seasame paste), milk,
curd, mastu, thaila, lavana, Madanaphala, ghee, madhu. This aasthapana vasti helps to clear the
stagnated impurities inside the intestine. After wards an anuvasana vasti(unctuousenema) should be
administered using madhukadi madhura oushadha siddha thaila(oil prepared with sweet category of
drugs) in order to make the wind to move in downward direction(anuloma) because the pregnant lady
whos wind movement is in downward direction will deliver the baby without any difficulties.
After the vasti the lady should take ksheerayavagu (gruel prepared with milk) mixed with meat soup
till delivery.
Sushruta also advices to give asthapana vasti to the pregnant lady in the 8th month in order to clear
the retained impurities and to direct the wind in the downward direction. The asthapana vasti is
administered using the mixture of badarodaka, bala, atibala, shatapushpa, palala, milk, curd, mastu,
thaila, lavana, madanaphala, honey, ghee. After administering asthapana vasti, anuvasana vasti
should be given using the oil prepared with sweet category of drugs and milk.
In the 8th month she should take unctuous gruels and meat soup of wild animals internally till the
delivery. It is believed that the body of a pregnant woman thus treated becomes unctuous, gains
strength and will have an uncomplicated delivery.
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9th month:
Charaka advices to administer anuvasana vasti in the 9th month. Oil prepared with madhura skandha
drugs is used for the unctuous enema. He also advices to do yoni pichu(keeping the cotton swab
dipped in oil in the vagina) with the same oil as it helps in oliating the garbha sthana(uterus and
garbha marga(vagilal canal).
Vagbhata recommends yoni pichu using the oil processed with sweet category drugs. According to
Sushruta the pregnant lady should enter the Sootikagara (a special house built with all facilities to
conduct the delivery and to nurse the child) in the 9th month after checking good time and start
living there.
Why should a pregnant lady follow these regimens?
Vagbhata and Charaka says the pregnant woman who follows above regimens will have a mridu(soft)
kukshi(abdomen), kati(hips), parshwa(waist), prista(back), skin and nails. Her bala(physical strength
as well as immunity) and complexion will also improve. Vayu will move in downward direction. Her
mala(stools), mootra(urine) and jarayu(amniotic membrane) will be expelled out through their
respective routes without complications. She will give birth to a icchita(desired), shresta(famous),
deerghayau(long life span), and nirogi (healthy) baby easily.
Hence the woman desiring excellent progeny should particularly refrain from unwholesome diet and
behavior.
What are the symptoms shown by the woman who is ready to deliver the baby and how is
delivery conducted in Ayurveda?
In modern texts the delivery process is explained in 3 stages. Similarly in ayurveda also the whole
process of delivery is explained in 3stages.
The pregnant lady should enter the well equipped sootikagara in the 9th month after checking good
time and wait for the symptoms of delivery.
1st stage: Premonitory symptoms of delivery
(Charaka)
Exhaustion of the body parts(Klamo gatranam), malaise on face, laxity in eyes, feeling of the
loosening of the bondage from the chest, downward movement of the womb, heaviness of the lower
parts of the body, Pricking pain in groins, perineum, waist, belly, sides and back, discharge from the
vagina, lack of desire for food. Then gradually the delivery pains and amniotic fluid leakage follows.
2nd stage of delivery:
When the delivery pain begins, the bed should be made on the ground and the lady should be made
to sit on the soft bed. Ladies with good qualities should attend her to educate and console her.
In spite of feeling the delivery pains , if she doesnt deliver the baby the following steps , by which
the fetus starts moving down are to be followed.
She should be asked to get up and take one pestle and pound the grains in the mortar slowly,
in between she should take deep breathings and move around. But Lord Atreya disagrees with
this. He says that severe exercise is always contraindicated for the pregnant woman
particularly at the time of delivery because at this time all her dhatus and doshas are in mobile
state, vayu(wind) impelled by the exercise with the pestle will kill both mother and fetus.
Hence holding of the pestle is discarded only deep breathing and walking are performed.
The powder of ela kusta, langali, vacha, chitraka, chirabilwa and chavya should be smelt by
the woman frequently. Or the smoke of the bhoorja patra or shimshapa sara may be inhaled.
In between the waist, flanks, back and legs should be massaged with the luke warm oil.
When it is felt that the fetus leaving the cardiac region is entering the pelvic region , is being fixed
above the urinary bladder, the delivery pains are getting intensified and the foetus is moving
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downwards then at this stage she should be made to lie down on a cot and advised to strain.
One lady should chant kshitijalam--------- kartikeeyabhirakshatu in her ear. Another lady should
advise the woman not to strain in the absence of pains because her efforts goes in vain and her
progeny may be deformed or may be afflicted with dyspnoea, cough, phthisis(shosha) and spleen
disorders. So should follow the instructions of attending ladies. Initially when the pains are mild she
should strain mildly, and gradually with stronger effort .The attending ladies should keep encouraging
her saying, just delivered a worthy son. Thus she is filled with joy.
3rd stage of delivery:
Immediately after the child birth one should look for placenta(apara). In case if it has not
expelled out , one of the attending ladies should press the area above the navel region with
her right hand , hold her on the back with left hand and shake her body strongly. The pelvic
region of the delivered woman should be rubbed with the attending ladys heel. Her buttocks
should be pressed strongly.
The delivered ladys throat and palate should be touched with the tip of her hair.
The vaginal area should be fumigated with the leaves of bhoorja, kaachamani and slough of the
serpent.
The paste of kusta, taaleesapatra is given to drink with one of the liquids like balwaja yusha or
maireya or suramanda or kulattha yusha or decoction of mandookaparni and pippali.
The paste of sookshmaela, devadaru, kushta, naagara, vidanga, pippali, agaru, chavya,
chitraka, upakunchika or the tip of the right ear of the living untamed bull, pounded on a
grinding stone should be kept soaked in one of the liquids like balwaja yusha, maireya,
suramanda, kulattha yusha, decoction of mandookaparni and pippali. For one muhurtha
duration. Then filtered and administered to the delivered woman.
A cotton swab soaked in the oil prepared with shatapushpa, kusta, madanaphala and hingu are
placed in her vagina.
An anuvasana vasti(oil enema) should be given with same oil.
An aasthapana vasti should be administered using the paste of madanaphala, jeemoota,
ikshwaku, dhamargava, kutaja, kritavedhana, hastipippali, along with one of the liquids like
balwja yusha or suramanda or maireya or kulattha yusha or decoction of mandookaparni and
pippali. This non-unctuous enema makes the body expel the adhered placenta along with
flatus, urine and stool.
Aacharya Vagbhata:
1st stage of delivery: (aasanna prasava lakshanas)
The premonitory symptoms of the delivery are same as explained by Charaka.
Klamogatranam( exhaustion of the body parts)
Nirmukta bandhane ivaksheeni ( feeling if loosening of eyes)
Nisteevika(excess salivation)
Mootra pureesha bahulyam(increased urge to pass urine and stools)
Shithila kukshita( loosened feeling in the abdomen)
Adhogurutwa(heaviness in the lower parts of the body)
Anannabhilasha( no desire for the food)
Vedana in hridaya, kati, basti, vamkshana(pain in the cardiac, hip, pelvic, groins) area.
Toda, bheda, shoola, sphurana in yoni region(pricking, cutting twitching type of pain in the
vaginal area)
2nd stage of delivery:
When the head of the fetus starts showing in the vaginal opening,
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A fruit having male name is to he given in her hand to hold during the delivery. Yavagu(gruel)
with plenty of ghee should be given to drink.
She is made to lie down on her back , both the legs folded in the knee joint (lithotamy
position), covered with a clean cloth except in the abdominal area. Then ashankhaniya(non
suspicious), priyadarshana(pleasant and loving_, parinata vayasa(expert and elderly),
prajanana kushala(expert in conducting delivery), pragalbha(honest), kritha nakha(with trimmed
finger nails) ladies should attend her to give her the courage and to console her.
The powder of any one of the kushta, langali, ela, vacha, chavya, chitraka, chirabilwa should
be smelt by her every now and then.
Or she is made to inhale the smoke of any one of the drugs like bhoorja patra, shimshapa, and
sarjarasa.
Waist, back, hip, thigh region of the woman should be gently massaged with lukewarm oil.
With all these procedures the foetus starts moving down further and will show symptoms such as the
foetus completely enters the abdominal area and leaves the cardiac region, it will get fixed near the
basti shira( above the bladder) and the intensity of the pains will gradually increase.
If with these procedures the fetal head does not descend then the lady should strain strongly,walk
around in the sootikagara and take deep breathings or yawning frequently. Then follow these
procedures. When the fetal head starts showing in the vaginal orifice the lady is made to lie down on
the cot . One attending lady should gently massage the vaginal orifice in anuloma gati(downward
direction). Should press the buttock area with her feet. Another attending lady should instruct her to
strain strongly when the pain appears and tell her happily that she will deliver a baby boy. The
3rd lady should chant the garbha prasava mantra in the womans ear.
The woman should strain slowly with less pressure in the beginning of the 2nd stage. When the fetal
head starts showing she should strain with complete pressure till the baby comes out.
What should be done in the obstructed labour?
Fumigate the vaginal area with the slough of black serpent and madanaphala.
Tie the root of hiranya pushpa on the hands and legs.
The beads made up of the roots of suvarchala or vishlya(langali)are worn on neck and hands.
3rd stage:
In most of the normal cases the placenta is expelled out on its own. If it is not expelled on its own
then Vagbhatachrya explains to follow these steps.
The area above the navel region is pressed with right hand and hold the back with left hand
and shake her body strongly.
Press the pelvic area with the heel of the foot and press the buttocks strongly.
Touch the throat and palate with the tip of the hair
Fumigate the vagina with the leaves of bhoorja, kachmani and slough of black serpent. Or
fumigate with bhoorja patra and guggulu.
Apply the ghee prepared with shaalimoola and fumigate the vaginal area with katkla, alabu,
jalini, nimba and slough of black serpent.
If all of the above procedures fail then apply ghee on the clean hand with nails already trimmed
is inserted into the vagina along with the path of the umbilical cord and remove the placenta.
Aacharya Sushruta:
Acharya Sushrutha also instructs that in the 9th month the pregnant woman should enter the
sootikagara after checking good time etc.
1st stage:
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Pain in kati(hips) and prishta(back).

Feeling of urge to pass stools and urine.
Mucus discharge from the vagina.
2nd stage:
These symptoms indicate that the lady is ready to deliver the baby. Immediately her body
should be anointed with oil and washed with warm water and a fruit having of masculine name
is given in her hand. Then plenty of yavagu(gruel) should be given to her with ghee.
She should lie down on a soft and spacious bed in supine position.
Parinata vayasaha(old), prajanana kushala(expert in conducting the delivery), karthita
nakhaha(with trimmed nails) ladies should attend her.
One lady should gently massage her vagina in anuloma gati(downward direction), and instruct
her to strain when she feels the pain. When there is mild pain in pelvis, supra pubic area she
should strain lightly. When the fetal head starts showing in the vaginal orifice, she should strain
strongly till the baby comes out. If she strains in the absence of pains she will deliver a
mooka(dumb), badhira(deaf), kubja(short), vyastha hanu(dislocated jaw),
moordhabhighata(head injury), kasa(cough), shwasa(breathing difficulties), shoshi(imaciated)
and vikata(changed in appearance or ugly) baby.
In case of abnormal presentations, it should be corrected to a normal one.
In case of obstruction to the foetus in vagina then fumigate the vagina with the slough of
black serpent or pindeetaka(madanaphala).
The roots of langali or suvarchala, or vishalya should be tied around the neck, waist and legs.
Sootika paricharya(postnatal care):
Acharya Charaka:
Once the placenta is expelled out , when the mother feels hungry one of the fats like ghee, oil,
vasa( muscle fat), majja(bone marrow fat)should be mixed with panchacola powder given to
her according to the suitability and digestive capacity. After she has taken the ghee and oil
and wrapped round with a big clean cloth bandage so that vayu(wind) may not find any space
to produce a disorder.
After the fat is digested, she should drink yavagu(gruel) prepared with pippali etc, and added
with unctuous substance.
She should take hot water shower both the times before the intake of fat and gruel
This procedure should be followed for 5 or 7 days and later on nourishing food should be given
to her.
Acharya Vagbhat:
Sootika should be anointed with bala thila soon after delivery. When she feels the hunger, one
of the 4 fats, which will be digested in whole day should be mixed with panchcola powder or
the powder of ajamoda, upakunchika, chaya, chitraka, vyosha, saidhava is given to her after
considering her saatmya.
If the lady is not suitable for snehapana( oral intake of unctuous substance), then the fat
should be processed with wind alleviating drugs or hraswa panchamoolas and administered to
her.
Immediately after the snehapana her abdomen is applied with ghee and oil or any
yamaka(combination of two fats) and wrapped tight with a long and strong cloth, so that the
wind does not get any space to cause a disorder.
Once the ghee is completely digested a watery yavagu prepared with panchakola powder or
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ajamoda, etc powder is given to her along with vidaryadi gana decoction and milk in adequate
quantity.
Before drinking the fat and the yavagu she should have a warm water shower.
These procedures should be followed for 3or 5or 7days, followed by yava, kola, kulattha
yusha(soup) and light food for next 12 days.
Later on considering her digestive capacity nourishing foods like jangala mamsa rasa(meat soup
of wild animal), etc are given to her.
She should always drink boiled and cooled water.
Now onwards she can undergo abhynga(full body oil application), udwarthana(rubbing the body
with powders), parisheka(pouring warm liquids on the body), avagaha(tub bath) and she can
take foods prepared with jeevaneeya(life promoting), brihmaniya(nourishing), madhura(sweet),
vatahara(wind alleviating), hridya(good for heart) drugs internally.
These food habits will nourish the lady who has become weak due to pregnancy, delivery, etcand will
give her a good health.
These regimens are to be followed for one and a half month or 45 days. For these 45 days the
delivered woman is called sootika. After 45 days she can get back to her normal food habits. Some
acharyas mention that these regimens are to be followed till she gets her menstruation.
Acharya Sushruta:
The body of the delivered lady is anointed with Bala thaila and treated with vatahara(wind
alleviating) decoction internally and externally.
If the impurities are there in the body , then Gudodaka(jaggery water) with panchakola powder
is given to her till the impurities are expelled out of the body. i.e. 2 to 3 days.
When the discharge becomes normal a gruel prepared with vidarigandhadi gana decoction,
milk or fat for 3 days.
After 5 to 6 days she can take shashtika rice prepared with yava kola kulatthadecoction and
jangala mamsa rasa, according to her digestive capacity.
These regimens are to be followed for 45days or one and a half month, after which she can get
back to her normal food habits.
Some acharyas advise to follow these regimens till she gets menstruation.
New born care( sadya prasoota shishu upachara):
Acharya Charak:
While the steps are being taken to expel the placenta one group of the attending ladies should
perform following actions in respect of the new born child.
A sound should be produced by striking or rubbing two stones together near the base of the
neonates ear.
Sprinkle cold or hot water on the face of the newborn. Thus the child recovers the vital breath
which was stopped due to the distress so far.
If the child is not showing any movements he should be fanned with a winnowing
basket(shoorpa) till he recovers.
Once he recovers breath and becomes normal, a warm water bath is given.
His palate, lips, tongue, throat should be cleaned with a cotton swab which is wrapped around
the tip of the clean finger.
After cleaning the oral cavity, a cotton swab dipped in fatty substance is kept over the
anterior fontanel.
Then induce vomiting by rubbing the mixture of saindhva lavana and ghee on the tongue.
After following above initial regimens to the child the umbilical cord should be cut.
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Fix a point on the umbilical cord 8 angulas away from newborns umbilicus.
Both sides of the point should be held tight and cut with a sharp, half edged golden/silver/
steel instrument.
The end of the attached portion should be tied with a thread and tied loosely to the neck of
the newborn.
If the umbilicus suppurates, then the oil prepared with lodhra, madhuka, priyangu, devadaru
and haridra kalka should be applied and the fine powder of same drugs should be sprinkled on
the umbilicus.
After the cord cutting mixture of honey and ghee in unequal proportion which is processed with
mantras is rubbed on newborns tongue or is made to lick .
Similarly after chanting mantras the newborn is made to suck the right breast of the mother.
A pot filled with water is kept on the head side of the newborn after chanting mantras.
General measures to protect mother and newborn:
The maternity home should be surrounded by branches of aadaani, khadira, karkandhu, peelu,
parushaka trees.
The seeds of sarshpa(mustard), atasi, tandula, kanakanika are scattered all over the maternity
home.
The oblation of offering of rice to the fire should be performed twice a day till the namakarana
samskara(naming ceremony) of the child.
At the door of maternity home a wooden pestle is kept obliquely.
The drugs like vacha, kushta, kshemaka, hingu, sarshapa, atasi, lashuna, kanakanika are well
tied in a cloth bag and tied at the front door. The same should be worn by the mother and the
newborn in the neck and also put in the cooking vessels, water jars, cot, and both the panels
of the door. These drugs help in repelling evil spirits.
There should be a fire burning constantly with kanakanika, or tinduka wood within the
maternity home.
The attending women and friends should keep up the whole night near the mother and new
born for 10 or 12 nights.
Moreover gifts, auspicious rites, blessings, praises, songs, playing musical instruments should
be performed continuously in the maternity home.
The maternity home should be amply provided with food and drinks and be full of affectionate
and happy people.
The brahmanas proficient in the Atharvaveda too should continuously offer propitiatory
oblations to the fire twice a day for the well being of the child as well as the mother.
On the 10th day the mother along with the baby should take a shower with water processed
with aromatic drugs, white mustard and lodhra.
Wear light, undamaged, clean cloth and auspicious, desirable, light and splendid ornaments.
Should touch auspicious objects, worship the appropriate deity and receive blessings from
brahmanas wearing white cloth and have no deformity.
Wrap the baby in a clean and undamaged cloth and held facing east or north direction. Then
the father of the child should say that the child is offering salutations to the deity and
brahmanas. Having said so, the child should be given two names, one based on the nakshatra
at the time of the birth and other popular name for the day to day use. The popular name
should begin with ghosha(consonant) alphabets and end with antastha(semi-vowels) or ushma.
There should not be a letter with vriddhi(diphthong), it should be similar to that in preceding
generations and should not be newly established. The constellatory name is similar to the deity
of the constellation and should consist two or four letters.
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After the namakarana the child is examined for the knowledge of the span of his life.
Nursery for the child:
It should be well planned by the architect.
It should be spacious, beautiful, well ventilated, free from darkness and excess wind, strong,
inaccessible for various animals, rats, and insects.
It should have a distinct places for water, pounding, urinal, lavatory, bathroom and kitchen.
It should be comfortable in the particular season, equipped with cot, chairs and beddings
according to the season.
Protective measures, offerings, auspicious rites, oblations and expiatory rites should be
performed well there.
It should be full of clean and elderly people, physician and affectionate people.
The beddings, chairs and coverings for the child should be soft, light, clean and perfumed.
Soiled cloths should be discarded. If there are no additional ones the same may be used after
they are washed, dried and well fumigated.
For fumigation of clothings, cots, beddings and coverings the drugs like yava, sarshapa, atasi,
hingu, guggulu, vacha, choraka, vayastha, golomi, jataila, palamkasha, ashokarohini and slough
of serpent mixed with ghee are used.
Amulets made of the tip of the right horn of an alive rhinoceros or deer or wild bull should be
worn by the child. The herbs like indri, jeevaka, rishbhaka or whatever indicated by the
brahmanas conversant in Atharvaveda may also be used for wearing.
Toys for the child should be of various shapes, sound producing, beautiful, not heavy, without
sharp edges, big (so that can not enter into the mouth) and should not be terrifying.
Behaviour of other people with the child:
The child should not be frightened. Hence when the cries or does not eat or is attracted to
some other things, one should not try to subside him by frightening by calling the names of
rakshasas, pishachas, putanas, etc.
If the child falls sick, then the physician should start the treatment after examining cautiously
the constitution, etiology, premonitory symptoms, symptoms and therapeutic suitability. The
drugs selected should be sweet, mild, light, fragrant, cold in nature. Because the children are
suited to such measures and they get cured from the same.
In case of healthy baby, he should be maintained on the code of conduct for healthy and using
the things contrary to the place, time and his self constitution.
The unwholesome habits should be gradually changed to the wholesome ones and thus all
unwholesome should be avoided. Thus he attains the excellence of strength, complexion,
physique and lifespan.
In this way the child should be looked after till he is an adult and gets the skills to acquire
virtue and means of sustenance.
Acharya Vagbhata:
As soon as the child is born, the child is born the oral cavity is cleaned with saindhava lavana
and ghee.
His body should be applied with bala thaila.
A sound should be produced by striking two stones together near the base of the new borns
ear.
If the child does not show any movement, he should be fanned with a winnowing basket, till he
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recovers and chant mantras in his right ear.

Once the child regains breath and becomes normal or looks healthy, his umbilical cord should be
cut by tying it in two points with a silk thread 4 angulas away from newborns umbilicus. The
cord is cut with a sharp edged instrument. The stump is tied loosely to the neck of the
newborn.
The umbilicus is anointed with Kushta thaila.
Then a warm water shower is given using water processed with any one of the drugs like
ksheerivriksha or sarva gandha dravyas or red hot gold or silver or kapittha patra.
The newborns tongue, throat and lips should be cleaned gently with the tip of tarjani(fore
finger) wrapped with cotton.
One harenu matra of paste of indri, brahmi, shankhapushpi, vacha, honey and ghee is taken on
a golden spoon or aswattha leaf , chanted with mantras by touching it with the tip of kusha is
given to the new born. This helps to improve the medha(intelligence), aayu(life span),
bala(strength) of the new born.
Similarly the powder of brahmi, bala, ananta, shatavari can also be given to the new born.
Then the newborn is made to vomit by giving saindhvalavana and ghee. This emesis helps to
clear the chest, throat and it makes the childs body lighter and improves the appetite.
Then jatakarma should be done according to the praajapatya vidhi.
Achaya vagbhata says that the breast milk secretion starts on 3rd or 4th day of the delivery.
So what should be given to the newborn for those 3 days? He says On the first day ananta
mixed with honey and ghee after purifying with mantras. On the 2nd and 3rdday lakshmana
processed with honey and ghee is given. On 4th day ghee should be given two times and the
breast feeding should be started. The quantity of the ghee on 4th day should be equal lent to
the quantity that can be held in childs own palm(panitala).
Every day a cotton swab dipped in oil should be kept in the ear passage and on the
shringataka region.
The child should be made to sleep on a soft cloth bed with head pointing east or north
direction. A pot filled with water and cleansed with mantras is placed on the head side.
Similarly two more pots should be placed on both sides of the entrance door.
The branches of aadari, vidari, badari, khadira, nimba, peelu, parushaka are used for fanning
child. Branches of the same drugs should be placed on all four sides of the maternity home.
The seeds like sarshapa, atasi, kanakanika are scattered inside as well as out side of the
maternity home.
The oblation should be done in the morning and evening.
Maternity home should be fumigated using guggulwdi dhoopa explained in vranatreatment.
The brahmanas who are proficient in atharvaveda should chant maayuri, mahamaayuri, aaryaa,
ratnaketu, dhaarini in the morning and evening.
The drugs like hingu, vacha, turushkara, rakshoghna(mustard) are well tied in a cloth bag and
tied on the front door. The same should worn by the newborn and mother in the neck.
Similarly mantras like aaryaa, parna shabari, aarya aparaajita are written on the bhoorja patra
with gorochana, tied in a piece of cloth and worn by newborn child and mother. The same
should be tied on the sides of the cot.
At the entrance door of the maternity home , a pestle should be kept obliquely.
A holy fire should be lit using tinduka woods and mustard, kandaka(rice) should be offered to
this fire in the morning and evening.
Friendly and pleasant ladies should stay inside the maternity home.
On the sixth night, a special care should be taken to protect the newborn child by doing
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bali(religious offering) and homa(oblations to god by putting ghee into the fire). All friends and
relatives should keep up on this night.
On the 10th or 12th day depending on their kula, gotra, aachara, etc the father should do the
namakarana samskara.
Naming ceremony can be done on 10th,12th or 100th day or after one year. On the day
of naming ceremony , a paste of manahshila, haratala, gorochana, agaru, chandana should be
applied on childs body.
The rules for selection of the name is similar to Acharya Charakas explanations.
After the naming ceremony the child should be examined for the knowledge of the span of life.
Nursery:
It should be well planed by an architect , completely equipped, clean, well ventilated and
lighted. Elderly ladies and a physician should be there inside the nursery. It should be free from
insects, rodents, etc.
Nursery should have distinct places for bathing, etc.
The mattress, bed covering, etc of the child should be soft, washed and dried fumigated with
the rakshoghna dravyas ( drugs that protect from the evil spirits).
The cloths and beddings should be fumigated with vacha, ghee, kushta, shreevestaka,
sarshapa.
One should not suddenly wake up the sleeping baby.
Soon after waking up one should not lift him high, by doing so he will be frightened and his
urine and stools will be obstructed.
The paste of honey, amalaki, vyosha, brihatimoola, saindhava lavana should be applied into the
oral cavity to reduce the salivation of the child.
Amulets made of tip of right horn of the alive rhinoceroses, deer or wild bull to be worn by the
child. The herbs like indri, jeevaka, rishbhaka can also be used for wearing in the hands, head
and neck. These things will improve the aayu(life span), medhaa(intelligence), smriti(memory)
and swsthya(health) of the child. It also protects the child from raakshasas(evil spirits).
In the 4th month the child should be brought out of the maternity home. The child should be
well dressed and should do namaskar(showing respect by bowing down) to the devatas(gods)
before going out. The child should follow agni and skandha.
In the fifth month the child should be made to sit on the floor which is smeared with
gomaya(cow dung) and offered oblations.
While sitting the childs back should be supported and the back, hips should be gently
massaged.
In the 6th month Annaprashana samskara should be done. As the quantity solid food intake
increases the breast feeding should be reduced gradually.
In 6th, 7th or 8th month ear piercing should be done.
Up to one year the child should not be taken for outing in hot or bright sun. Any kind of shining
objects, lightning and fire should not be shown to the child.
When the teething process starts, gradually the breastfeeding should be weaned off. Weaning
off should be tried with sneha(love) and prema(affection), when these does not work out,
pastes should applied on the nipples which looks like a wound .
Once the weaning process is started the milk processed with laghu panchamoola should be
given to the child. Light and nourishing foods should be started gradually.
When the breastfeeding is completely stopped the child should be given a modaka(laddoo)
prepared with priyalamajja, madhuka, madhu, laaja, sitopala.
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Saktu(the fried barley flour) of baala bilwa, ela, sharkara, laja also can be used. This
preparation acts as agnideepaka.
A tarpana of dhaataki pushpa, sharkara, laaja is used as sangrahi
After weaning if the childs appetite increases abnormally, treatments of atyagni roga or
paarigarbhika roga are done.
Then aacharya explains the quality of the care taker of the child.
If the child does not listen to his elders or throws tantrums, the child should not be scared by
parents.
One should protect the child from jumping from heights and from the cloths falling on the face.
The place where the child plays should be free from metal pieces, stones, weapons, mud dust,
etc. The play area should be sprinkled with water processed with vidanga or maricha or nimba.
The toys should make pleasant noise, should have pictures/ drawings on them, They should not
be scary ones, should be huge, should not have sharp edges, should have the shapes of cow,
horse, etc, animals or fruits.
When the child attains the appropriate age to pursue the education , he should be taught
dharma(customary observances of a caste, etc), vinaya(discipline), etc which helps him to
control his horse like indriyas(sense organs) during his yauvanavastha(young age).
Abhyanga(oil application on the body), udwarthana( rubbing the body with powders) and
snana(shower) are done everyday.
Oil for Abhyanga is prepared using sahadeva, shaliparni, harenu, shwetakamala, chandana,
brihati phala, tarkari, sarshapa, kushta, saindhava, ashwagandha, eranda, tila, apaamarga
tandula, aatmagupta phala and goats milk. This oil helps to keep away all evil spirits and it is
balya(that which improves the strength).
Powder for udwarthana:- The powder of same drugs are used along with 3 parts of
chikkisa(fried yava choorna), curd and honey.
Powder of moorva moola, rajani dwaya, yava or kulattha powder or ashwagandha powder can
also be used for udvarthana.
Water for bath:- The water for bath should be processed with sarvaoushdhi (eladi gana) paste.
Seasonwise care for the child:
In cold season (sheetakala) and Vasanta ritu the water for bathing should be processed with
aaragwadhadi gana drugs. The ghee processed with vatsakadi gana drugs should be used
internally for the child.
In greeshma ritu due to wind, hot sun(aatapa), sweat the child will attain klama(tiredness). So
the milk processed with jeevaneeya gana drugs is to be given to the child in the morning. Or
Saktu(fried barley flour) with adequate quantity of ghee and sita(candy sugar) can be given to
the child.
If the child has the habit to drink more water then the ghee should not be given.
If the plain ghee is saatmya for the child, the ghee should be processed with kakoli, shrkara,
meda, vamshalochana, yastimadhu and jeevaka.
A lepa(application of the paste) of kutannata or any cooling herb is applied on the childs
forehead.
Ghee processed with vidaryadi gana decoction, raasna, sarala, varshbhu, hingu, saindhava,
devadaru can also used for internal use.
In sharad ritu ghee extracted from milk and processed with prapaundareeka, madhuka,
soopyaparni, duralabha, priyalamajja, kakoli, vidari, katphala, amruta, draksha, ajashringi,
dugdhika, ksheerashukla, ashwagandha, shringi, madhooka kusuma, meda, rishabhaka, jeevaka
is used internally.
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Brahmi gritha or saraswata gritha also can be used.

General care:
Powders of vacha, little swarna bhasma mixed with honey and ghee is made to lick by the child
till he becomes one year old to develop his medha(intelligence), vani(speech) and
agni(digestive fire).
Powders of hareetaki, pippali, kushta, haridra, sariva, vacha, mamsi, kaidarya in equal
proportions are mixed with equal quantity of brahmi choorna. This mixture of powders should be
given to the child with ghee up to one year.
Powder of above said drugs are mixed with the powder of any one of the drugs like doorva,
moorva, brahma suvarchala, lakshmana, shwetakantakari, avyanda, shweta sarshapa,
sahasraveerya, phalini, brihatipakwa phala, rohisha in equal quantity and used for children as
well as adults.
One should protect the child from eating mud. Mud eating leads to paandu, shopha, shwasa,
kasa, atisara, krimi, vamana, moorcha, agnimaandya, stanya dwesha, angaruk and bhrama.
The brush should not be used to child till his gums become strong(sthira).
Aacharya Sushruta:
As soon as the child comes out the jarayu(amniotic membrane) sticking to the face and oral
cavity is removed and the oral cavity is cleaned with saindhava lavana and ghee.
A cotton swab dipped in ghee is kept over the brahma randhra/ anterior fontanel.
Then the umbilical cord should be cut 8angulas away from the umbilicus after tying it with a
thread. The stump should be tied to the neck of the newborn.
After cutting the umbilical cord the childs face should be sprinkled with cold water. Once the
child looks comfortable jaatakarma should be done.
The mixture of honey, ghee and ananta choorna(gold powder) should be taken in the tip of the
anamika(ring finger) and rubbed on the newborns tongue.
Full body abhyanga should be done with bala thaila and washed with warm water processed
with one of the drugs like Ksheerivriksha, Sarvagandhodaka(eladi gana or chaturjataka),
kapittha pattra or water dipped with hot silver or gold foil.
According to aacharya sushruta also describes that the breast milk secretion starts on the 4th
day. So he advices to give a mixture honey, ghee and ananta powder after chanting mantras,
three times a day on the first day. On 2nd and 3rd day ghee processed with lakshmana. On the
4th day a mixture of honey and ghee should be given in swapaanitala matra and the breast
feeding should be started.
The child should be wrapped with silk cloth and made to sleep on a soft bed covered with silk
cloth.
The child should be fanned with peelu, badari, nimba, parushaka branches.
A cotton swab soaked in oil is kept on the childs forehead.
Fumigation should be done with rakshoghna dhoopa.
The drugs of rakshoghna dhoopa should be tied on hands, legs, neck and head of the newborn.
Tila, atasi, sarshapa should be scattered inside the maternity home.
A sacred fire should be lit inside the maternity home.
The regimens explained in vranitipasaneeya chapter should be followed.
On the 10th day the newborns parents should name the child according to the nakshtra.
How to behave with child?
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The child should be lifted or handled gently as not to cause any discomfort.
The child should not be scolded nor suddenly roused up from sleep, as it might get frightened.
The baby should not be suddenly drawn up or suddenly laid down. This may result in the
derangement of bodily wind.
The child should not be made to sit for long time as it might cause kaubjya(short stature).
The child should be fondled and amused with toys and play things. A child unruffled by these
methods becomes healthy, cheerful, intelligent as he grows older.
The infant should be guarded against exposure to the rain, sun, bright light, lightning,
grhachayas and dusta grahas. He should not be taken under the trees/ creepers, into empty
houses, nimna sthanas like cave, well, etc.
The child should not be left alone in an unclean, unholy place nor under the sky(lonely or open
place), uneven places. He should not be exposed to heat, cold, storm, rain, dust, smoke and
water.
In the absence of mothers milk, cows milk or goats milk should be given to the child in the
proper quantity.
In the 6th month the child should be fed with light and wholesome food.
The child should protected from evil spirits by keeping him inside the house and by doing the
religious rites.
The education of the child should be commenced at a suitable age and with suitable subjects
according to his social varna(caste) or order he belongs to.
On attaining 25th year he should marry a girl of 12 years.
Drugs to improve the immunity:
The growth, memory, strength, intellect of the child can be improved by using the following medicinal
mixtures.
Swarna powder, kushta, vacha, honey, ghee.
Mastyakshaka, shankhapushpi, swarna bhasma, honey, ghee.
Arkapushpi, vacha, swaena powder, honey and ghee.
Swarna powder, kaidarya, shweta doorva, honey and ghee.
Caesarian section in Ayurveda:
In Sushruta chikista sthana 15th chapter he explains about extraction of garbha shalya(dead foetus)
with surgical intervention or decapitation of the foetus.
The live fetus should be delivered with various manipulations.
While explaining the causes for Moodha garbha in Nidana sthana 8th chapter there is a verse saying
that if the mother is dead and the foetus is alive then the foetus should be delivered by doing udara
vipaatana ( opening the abdomen by putting an incision). But there no description about the udara
vipatana on living mother by aacharyas like Sushruta, Vagbhata and Charaka.
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Vedic Society - Articles - Ayurveda - Garbhini Charyas (Regimens For Pregnant Lady)

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Vedic Society - Articles - Ayurveda - Garbhini Charyas (Regimens For Pregnant Lady)

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9/5/2015

Garbhini Charyas (Regimens For Pregnant Lady)

What are the general rules a pregnant woman should follow?

Pain in kati(hips) and prishta(back).

recovers and chant mantras in his right ear.

Brahmi gritha or saraswata gritha also can be used.

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