Garbhadhana
Encyclopedia
Garbhadhana (literally: placing the seed in the womb) is the first of the 16 saṃskāra
s (sacrament
s) practiced by the Hindu
s.
verses consisting similes of natural creation and invocations to gods for helping his wife in conception. Then embracing began with verses consisting metaphors of joint actions of male and female forces and the husband rubbed his own body with verses expressing his fertilizing capacity. After embracing, conception proper took place with prayers to Pushan
. The husband then touched the chest of his wife, reclining over her right shoulder with the verse, "O, you, whose hair is well parted. Your heart which lives in heaven, in the moon, that I know, may it know me. May we see a hundred autumns."
Samskara
Samskara may refer to:* Saṃskāra, Hindu rites* Saṃskāra , in Buddhism, mental and volitional formations* Samskara , a technique in ayurvedic medicine...
s (sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
s) practiced by the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s.
Ceremony
According to the Grhya Sutras, at the beginning of the performance of this saṃskāra, the wife was decently decorated and the husband recited VedicVedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
verses consisting similes of natural creation and invocations to gods for helping his wife in conception. Then embracing began with verses consisting metaphors of joint actions of male and female forces and the husband rubbed his own body with verses expressing his fertilizing capacity. After embracing, conception proper took place with prayers to Pushan
Pushan
Pushan is a Vedic solar deity and one of the Adityas. He is the god of meeting. Pushan was responsible for marriages, journeys, roads, and the feeding of cattle. He was a psychopomp, conducting souls to the other world. He protected travelers from bandits and wild beasts, and protected men from...
. The husband then touched the chest of his wife, reclining over her right shoulder with the verse, "O, you, whose hair is well parted. Your heart which lives in heaven, in the moon, that I know, may it know me. May we see a hundred autumns."