GARBHADHANAM

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 sinf

SB 4.14.42, purport
It is to be concluded that while conceiving a child one’s mind must be very sober and devotional. For this
purpose the garbhadhana samskara is recommended in the Vedic scriptures.

SB
Date:
After the marriage the newly wedded couple should observe brahmacarya for three days, sleeping on the
earth. On the fourth day, the couple go to the husband’s house and caturthi homa is performed. After this,
during the day time, the preliminaries f or the first garbhadhana samskara may be performed, taking into
consideration the suitable and forbidden times. It may also be performed after six or twelve nights, or after
one year. The rules for time and the samskara should be observed thereaf ter whenever the desire for
sex and children arises. To say the least, each sex act must be carefully planned in advance, by use of
intelligence, using the scriptural injunctions, and not determined by lust alone.
...Before engaging in sexual intercourse, both the husband and the wife must consider their mental
condition, the particular time, the husband’s direction and obedience to the demigods.
SB 3.14.38, purport 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 reduces his life span by having
sexual relations during the day. One who performs during the night is considered to be brahmacari (ie he
maitains his strength).
pranam va ete skandanti ye diva ratya samyujyante
brahmacaryam eva tad ya ratrau ratya samyujyante
Prasnopanisad 1.13

According to Asvalayana Smrti from the end of the evening sandhya up until midnight is allowed:
upeyan madhyaratrante
Exception to this is when the wife is extremely lusty. To prevent her from going elsewhere for satisfaction
the husband should concede to her demands, though not according the scriptural recommendations of
proper time.
Forbidden Days:
Numbering the nights from the start of the menses of the woman, then at least the first four nights are
forbidden for sexual activity. Kalaprakasika, states that the first day is fatal for the husband,the second
day is fatal forthe wife, thethird day causes abortion and the fourth day impairs the power of the father
and produces a short lived son bereft of good habits.
Srila Prabhupad gives a slightly longer period.
The recommended period is six days after the mensturation period.
letter from Srila Prabhupada,
Shama dasi, Jan.18, 1969

The eleventh and thirteenth nights are also forbidden, as the offspring produced are of bad quality. The
remaining ten days are permitted, and the later nights are favored. Even numbered nights favor male
children, and uneven numbers favor female children. Sexual union after the sixteenth night is also
forbidden. In the sequence below the starred days starting from 1 (beginning of menses) are forbidden for
sexual intercourse.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2223
**** * * * * * * * * *

24 25 26 27
* * * *

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 con dition, and the days when 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 the ir 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
Semen is meant to be discharged when one has a home, a wife and the intention to beget children,
otherwise there is no injunction for discharging semen.

SB 4.8.1 purport
Contraception Forbidden:
According to the Vedic scriptures the contraceptive method should be restraint in sex life. It is not that one
should indulge in unrestricted sex life and avoid children by using some method to check pregnancy. If a
man is is in good consciousness, he consults with his religious wife, and as a result of this consultation
with intelligence, one advances in his ability to estimate the value of life.
SB 4.27.6 purport
Sex Once a Month:
Amongst the permissable days during one month for sexual union, only one day can be chosen for the
act. If the couple are desirous of having children, the husband is encouraged to approach his wife once
every month, provided the times are auspicious, until preganancy occurs. Then he should stop.
According to religious injunctions a man is restricted to enjoy sex only once in a month, after the
menstrual period of the wife, and if the wife is pregnant, he is not allowed sex life at all. That is the law for
human beings.
Sb. 4.27. 5 purport
Illicit sex:
If the husband and wife do not follow the above rules, then, even though married their relations are
considered illicit.
These laws and srciptures are meant for human beings. As such if one violates these laws, he becomes
sinful. The conclusion is that unrestricted sense enjoyment means sinful activities. Illict sex is sex that
violates the laws given in the scriptu res. When one violates the laws of the scrptures, or the Vedas, he
commits sinful activities. One who is engaged in sinful activities cannot change his consciousness. Our
real function is to change our consciousness from kasmala , sinful consciousn ess, to Krsna, the supreme
pure.
SB 4.27.5 purport
Partner:
The husband must satisfy himself only with his wife, with no one else or by any other means. The
husband who thinks of anyone other than his wife reduces his life span and receives birth in a body
without bones, trapped in the womb and bitten by inse cts.
Place:
The husband should approach his wife in his own house, in a clean room, on a clean, wide, unbroken
bed; not in a temple, a guru or teacher’s or vaisnava’s house, not under a holy tree, not at a tirtha, a
gosala, a crematorium, in the forest, or in the water.
Condition of Body and Mind:
The husband should be free from the influence of intoxicants, should be bathed, nicely scented,
garlanded, healthy, free from anxieties, and both affectionate or considerate, and passionate.
The wife should be bathed, free from anger, in good spirits, in good health, neither underfed or overfed
and desirous of her husband. She should have no longing for, sexual relation with anyone else. She
should not be pregnant, nor should she have recently borne a child.
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 sixtee n 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 add ition, 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 g una. 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 irrelig ious 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
*************************************************************
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

*************************************************************

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
If there is not an installed deity in the house which is offered daily worship, then before the arghya is
offered, a deity should be temporarily called either into a murti, picture or pot according to puja vidhi and
worshipped accordingly. Nandisr addha, including worship of visvaksena and the 16 matrgana, may also
be performed before the worship of visnu.

VISNU PUJA AND SATTVIKA VRDDHI SRADDHA

One should start by performing acamana, svasta vacana, sankalpa, guru visnu puja.
om svasti no govindah svasti no’ cyutanantau
svasti no vasudevo visnur dadhatu
svasti no narayano naro vai
svasti nah padmanabhah purusottamo dadhatu
svasti no visvakseno visvesvarah
svasti no hrsikeso harir dadhatu
svasti no vainateyo harih
svasti no’njanasuto hanur bhagavato dadhatu
svasti svasti sumangalikeso
mahan sri krsna saccid ananda ghanah
sarvesvaresvaro dadhatu

......mase
......rtau
......pakse
......tithau
......naksatra samyutayam
........rasi stithe bhaskaresri krsna prityartham

garbhadana samskarartham
sri visnu puja purvaka arghya danam
aham karisye
One should establish a ghata if there is no salagrama or deity in the house, and invoke visnu.
One should worship guru and then visnu with sixteen upacaras.
One may then worship as follows.
Panca Bhagavata Puja:
ete gandha puspe ..........
om visvaksenaya namah
om sanakaya namah
om sanatanaya namah
om sanandaya namah
om sanat kumaraya namah

Nava Yogendra Puja:

om kavaye namah
om havaye namah
om antariksaya namah
om prabuddhaya namah
om pippalayanaya namah
om avirhotraya namah
om drumilaya namah
om camasaya namah
om karabhojanaya namah

Maha Bhagavata Puja:

om brahmane namah
om sukadevaya namah
om sadasivaya namah
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

Visnu Sakti Puja:

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

Then, in a conch or earthen vessel five times with the following mantras, he should offer arghya to visnu
five times, using the following mantras.
(Arghya consists of pancamrta, pancagavya, water, milk, haritaki, gandha, betels, flowers, candana,
tumeric, kumkuma, durba grass, tulasi, amlaki, scents and other auspicious items. It may be offered over
the Lord’s head or to his hand.)
om jagannatha mahabaho
sarvopadrava nasana
nava puspotsave me’rghyam
grhana jagadisvara

etat arghyam om sri visnave namah (or mula mantra)

om narayana hare rama
govinda garuda dhvaja
navapuspotsve me’rghyam
grhana paramesvara

etat arghyam om sri visnave namah (or mula mantra)

om dinabandho krpa sindho
paramananda madhava
navapuspotsave me’rghyam
grhana madhusudana

etat arghyam om sri visnave namah (or mula mantra)

om visvatman visvabandho
visvesa visvalocana
navapuspotsave me’rghyam grhana syamasundara

etat arghyam om sri visnave namah (or mula mantra)

om cidananda hrsikesa
bhaktavasya janardana
navapuspotsave me’rghyam
grhana kamalapate
etat arghyam om sri visnave namah (or mula mantra)
(Oh supreme Lord, at this festive occasion with fresh flowers please accept the arghya offered by me.)
The husband facing east , should situate himself behind his seated wife. With his right hand reaching over
her right shoulder he should touch her yoni saying:
om visnuh yonim kalpayatu
acyuto rupani pimsatu
asincatu harih garbham
jagadiso dadhatu te
May visnu prepare the yoni; may acyuta fashion the forms; may hari carry out the fertilization; may
jagadisa present the child to you.
om garbham dhehi garbhosasayin garbham te naranarayanau
adhattam puskara srajau
Garbhodasayi visnu please bestow the child; nara narayana, bedecked with lotus garlands, please give
her the child.
Touching her navel he should say:
om dirghayusam krsna bhaktam
putram janaya suvrate

Oh virtuous wife, bear a long-living son, a devotee of Krsna.

Then they should unite.
Bathing After the Act:
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.