Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates ‘Rites Related to Birth (d): Garbhadrimhana’ of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
2. Rites Related to Birth (d): Garbhadṛṃhaṇa
A pregnant woman had to undergo another rite called Garbhadṛṃhaṇa [garbha-dṛṃhaṇa], the rite for securing the foetus against abortion. The rite should be performed by girding the woman with a bow-string having three knots[1] and then, the woman should be fed up with earthen lumps[2] or black pebbles are to be scattered over her bed.[3]
While performing this rite, as prescribed by Kauśika,[4] the Atharvavedic mantra, ṛdhaṅmantraḥ…, etc. (5.1.1), the hymns, yatheyaṃ pṛthivī…, etc. (6.17), and acyutā…, etc., were to be applied. The hymn, acyutā…, etc., is still untraced as pointed out by Bloomfield.[5] According to the Atharvavedaprayogabhānu,[6] the bow-string, consecrated with the hymn, acyutā…, etc., should be tied to the waist of the woman.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
loṣṭānanvṛcaṃ prāśayati / Kauśika-sūtra, 35.14
[4]:
Ibid., 35.12
[5]:
Vide, Bloomfield, M. (ed.), Op.cit., p.95, fn.11