Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Importance of Garbhadhana
Samskara:
If one is not purified by the process of the seed giving
ceremony, or garbhadhana samskara he is immediately
classified amongst the sudras because only the sudras do
not undergo this purificatory process.
Krsna book, IIp.236
The pious seminal succession in the twice born families
of the brahmanas and ksatriyas especially, as well as in
the families of vaisyas also, must be kept very pure by
the observation of the purificatory process (samksaras)
beginning with garbhadhana samskara, which is
observed before conceiving a child. Unless this
purificatory process is strictly observed, especially by the
brahmanas, the family descendents become impure, and
gradually sinful activities become visible in the family.
SB 4.14.42, purport
Date:
12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
2223 * * * *
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Forbidden Hours:
The union of man and wife should take place neither
during the day nor during the sandhyas (daybreak and
twilight). Daytime is of course the time when man
should carry out his duties: waking bathing, meditating,
worshipping the Supreme Lord, studying scripture,
chanting japa, serving the deity, carrying out household
duties, welcoming guests etc. Sandhyas should only be
utilized for chanting gayatri mantra and meditating on
the Lord. As well, Prasnopanisad says that a man
24 25 26 27
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The remaining ten days (5-10, 12, 14-16) are suitable
provided they do not fall on those lunar tithis which are
forbidden.)
Forbidden Lunar Tithis:
Sexual union must also be avoided on days of vrata and
fasting, such as ekadasi, and on the parva days (full
moon, dark moon, astami and caturdasi tithis, as well as
sankranti, when the sun passes into a new zodiac sign)
when the body is in weak condition, and the days when
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the moon passes throught the same naksatra as at ones
birth.
Forbidden Week days:
Saturday, Tuesday and Sunday should be avoided being
ruled by malefic planets,saturn, Mars and Sun.
Forbidden Naksatra: contact should be avoided when the
moon is in the following constellations: bharani, krttika,
ardra, aslesa, magha, purvaphalguni, visakha, jyestha,
purvasada, purvabhadra
Rising Sign or Ascendent: best signs are taurus, gemini,
cancer leo, virgo, libra and pisces according to Kala
Prakasika.
Proper Planetary Combinations:
]In addition to the above strictures the man and woman
who desire proper, harmonious, sexual relations between
themselves, and desire healthy, intelligent, spiritual
children, should with knowledge choose an auspicious
day, hour and moment for their union. Malefic planets
(saturn, mars, sun) should not afflict the ascendent,
kendras, or trikona, by occupation or aspect, and
benefics, particularly jupiter should be strongly situated
in rasi and navamsa charts. Kala Prakasika says it is
better if the ascendent and eighth house are free of
planets. If the above are considered when choosing a
proper time pleasant union and good offspring are
assured.
Other Forbidden Times:
As soon as the wife is pregnant, no more sex life until
the child is born and is grown up at least for six months.
After that one may have sex life on the same principle. If
one does not want more than one or two children, he
should voluntarily stop sex life. One should not use any
contraceptive method and at the same time indulge in
sex life. That is very much sinful.
letter from Srila Prabhupada,
San Fransisco, Sept 20, 1968
Permission of Guru:
Grhasthas should indulge in sex life only in accordance
with the order of the guru.
SB7.12.11, purport
Age:
Susruta, the famous ayurvedic writer says that woman
matures when she is sixteen and a man when he is
twenty five. Sexual union when either partner is not
mature will lead to unhealthy children. He recommends
that the woman should be at least sixteen and the man at
least twenty five, but prefers that they should be older in
order to bear good children.
The above strictures, which limit sexual intercourse to
once a month, and only on certain days when the woman
is fertile and the man and woman are in proper physical
condition, are the condition for sex according to nature's
laws. However, in addition, and just as important , is
the the rite of purification which accompanies the act. If
this is not performed, then even restricted sex activity is
in vain, for the consciousness of the man and woman
will be motivated solely by raja and tama guna. This
will only lead to greater addiction for sex and children
with no spiritual assets.
At minimum the following procedure must be done if the
sex act of husband and wife is to be called garbhadhana
samskara. If it is not, the act is not befitting a civilized
human being. It is kama which is dharma aviruddha:
lust according to irreligious principles, ie demoniac.
According to Vedic culture, sex is enjoyed under Vedic
instructions. Thus the Vedas give direction to civilized
human beings to enable them to satisfy their propensities
for sense gratification.
SB 4.25.39 purport
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Ceremony as Directed by Srila Prabhupad:
Our grhasthas should simply chant 50 rounds before
conceiving a child.
letter from Tamal Krishna to
Madhusudana May 19, 1976
on behalf
of Srila Prabhupada
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Vaidic Procedure:
In the evening (or some auspicious moment of the day),
in a clean room, the husband should offer worship
salagrama or the deity of the house
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om garudaya namah
om naradaya namah
om kapilaya namah
om balaye namah
om bhismaya namah
om prahladaya namah
om hanumate namah
om ambarisaya namah
om janakaya namah
om yama bhagavataya namah
om svayambhuvaya namah
om uddhavaya namah
om vyasaya namah
om paurnamasyai namah
om laksmyai
om antarangayai
om yamunayai
om gopyai
om vrndavatyai
om gayatryai
om tulasyai
om sarasvatyai
om prthvyai
om gave
om yasodayai
om devahutyai
om devakyai
om rohinyai
omsitayai
om draupayai
omkuntyai
omrukminyai
om satyabhamayai
om jambavatyai
om nagnajitayai
om laksanayai
om kalindyai
om bhadrayai
om mitravindayai
om cidananda hrsikesa
bhaktavasya janardana
navapuspotsave me'rghyam
grhana kamalapate
garbham te
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As one has to take bath after using the toilet, so one has
to wash himself with water after sexual intercourse,
especially when at a forbidden time.
SB 3.14.38, purport
As with every vedic ritual, gifts should be distributed at
the conclusion of the ceremony.
Garbhadhana Samskara
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