Pumsavana – Choice of child

Ayurvedic technique of genetic engineering to ensure healthy progeny and to determine the sex of the child is Pumsavana or Garbhopachara (Susruta Samhita Shareera 2/31). Pumsavana is one of the Shodasha Karmas (Sixteen rituals) practiced in various stages of life in ancient India. Ayurveda uses many Gender selection drugs such as – Putramjeevi, Vatankura (Ficus Benghalensis), Apamarga, Sahachara, sahadeva, viswadeva, swetabrhati, etc.

To determine the use pattern of sex selection drugs (SSDs) or in rural North India an integrated qualitative and quantitative study was conducted. The Ayurvedic procedure described to change the sex of the foetus at 2 months of gestation is as follows “milk boiled with the paste of herbs like “Apamarga” (Achyranthus aspara), “Shahachara” (Berleria prionitis), Jeevaka, “Rishabhaka”, all of them together or any one, two or three of them as per requirement should be given to the pregnant woman for the desired effect. This should be done only during astrological constellation of “Pushya nakshatram”, or under the timing of this particular star that occurs every 27 days. These methods, if adopted, in association with the excellence of locality and time invariably produce the desired effect. Government of Gujarat State, India, banned the manufacture and sale of an Ayurvedic drug called Select which was claimed to produce male fetus if a pregnant woman took it for 45 days after her last menstrual period. Shivalingi (Bryonia Laciniosa) and Majuphal (Gtuercus infectoria) are much practiced for Pumsavana in North India. Use rate was significantly higher in women who did not have any son. The samples were analyzed in a laboratory found to be positive for anabolic steroids. Since testosterone or progesterone is the most probable agents that can effect the sex of a fetus in favor of males, rest of the samples were tested for testosterone and progesterone by TLC. A total of 22 key informants were interviewed during the study period. Out of 50 subjects, 48 (96%) reported giving birth to male babies after taking SSDs. Failure in two cases was attributed to consumption of SSD after 3rd month of gestation. All the male children were reportedly normal. [S Bandyopadhyay, AJ Singh, Sex Selection Through Traditional Drugs in Rural North India, Indian Journal of Community Medicine, Vol. 32, No. 1 (2007-01 – 2007-03)]

Pumsavana Karma is a special procedure adopted between 8-11 weeks of pregnancy for achieving progeny of desired sex. Pumsavana aims to stabilize pregnancy and have a baby of one’s choice. It is called as “Sau badalne ki dawai” (‘medicines for bringing about a change in the female reproductive system so that the women start bearing male children). Treatment consists of instilling above said herbal juice portion in the right nostril for begetting a son and into the left nostril to have a daughter. Pumsavana karma should be done after conception but before conspicuousness of organs or up to two months.

1.First recipe said by Susruta is – grind vatankura (leaf-buds) in cow’s milk and have 4 drops in right nostrils for male child and in the left for female child on Pushya Star day by a male. The drug should not be spitted out.

2.Second recipe is – inhaling the steam of rice being cooked during pusya nakshtra.

3.Third recipe is to take one leaf of palasa orally with milk.

4.Fourth recipe is – Oral use of root of putramanjari and visnukranta and seeds of iswaralingi for eight days during pregnancy never results in birth of a girl or always a son is born.
5.Fifth recipe is – Take two healthy leaf-buds (shrunga) of a banyan tree grown in a good place, two seeds of dhania masa (kidney bean) and sarsapa (yellow mustard) pasted with curd and dropped in either of the nostrils of choice during pusya nakshtra.

Precautions:

* Susruta states that, the conjugation on even days (4-6-8-10-12) gives rise a male baby and on the odd days (5-7-9-11) to a female baby. [the day count is from the day of menstruation]
* The husband is also asked to have a rejuvenate food or medication to make the testosterone rich and a qualitative and quantitatively fit semen to generate. The Black gram, beans, etc. is good to vitalize.

* To get the choice of child – have the medication immediately after conception conformation till to third month on Pushyami star day, according to the procedure. Do not attempt before, as there may be a chance of altering your hormone states.

* After consumption of medicine must lie down in left lateral position for 30 minutes.

* It is better to chant or hear “Gayatri mantra” on the day of medication and even after.

* Consume as much as milk and Payasa (milk porridge) and calcium rich foods in the regular food.

* Consult your Ayurveda Physician – time to time for the advise.

Discussion on Pumsavana:

PMR from Nazarath pet, Chennai: Article on Pumsavana karma in technoayurveda is wrong in the site, especially 5th point, find out and make it correct. Please don’t give such type of wrong information to the public, thanking you sir.
Technoayurveda: I am very happy about your concerns. The 5th recipe is found correct and practiced by many doctors and it is from the classical text books. I have given as authentic information with citations where ever possible. Please do not claim with out any data with you. If you have any data regarding non support of the claim please send us – so the data is brought forward for the intelligent patients.