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PUMSUVANAM
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This ceremony is performed in the fourth month of pregnancy. The meaning and object of this ceremony is to "quicken a male child" in the woman.. During this ritual, a few drops of the juice of the Banyan stem are put into the right nostril of the pregnant lady to inhale it, with a prayer for the birth of a son or a worthy child. According to Sage "Susruta", the great Ayurvedic writer, the juice of the Banyan tree has all the properties of relieving trouble during pregnancy.Sanctified thread is tied to the left wrist of the lady by way of protection. The mantras, freely rendered, pray: ""May God Isana fulfil our wishes; Dhata bless the world with children and wealth. May He bless this household too with children. May the immortals live in this house. May Agni bless me with sons. May Indra bless me with children. May I have handsome children."
It is in this period that the fetal brain begins to develop. It is important to provide a healthy environment to the unborn child, through the mother. Her positive thoughts, emotions and habits are all considered beneficial to the child.
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SEEMANTA
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This samskara is performed during the period between the fifth and the eighth months of pregnancy. This samskara is mainly for Garbha samrakshna ( protections of the child in the womb). In this samkara, after specific preliminary poojas, ahutis (offerings to agni) are given mainly to Dhata, Agni and indra and also to other devatas. Porcupine quill and darbha together used to make the division of heir of the lady with mantras for the pregnancy to be fruitful; the child will be endowed with sharp and penetrating intellect (like the sharp quill of the porcupine). The child will be beautiful like the full-moon. The gist of the Mantra is: "I beseech the goddess Raka. May she make this ceremony blameless. May my son be endowed with sharp intellect."
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