Essay name: Glories of India (Culture and Civilization)
Author: Prasanna Kumar Acharya
This book, “Glories of India on Indian Culture and Civilization”, emphasizes the importance of recognizing distinct cultural traits across different societies. The historical narrative of Indian civilization highlights advancements in agriculture, medicine, science, and arts, tracing back to ancient times. The author argues for the need to understand the past to meaningfully engage with the present and future.
Page 48 of: Glories of India (Culture and Civilization)
48 (of 510)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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FAMILY LIFE OF SACRAMENTS AND SACRIFICES 19
A brief elucidation of the ceremonies is necessary
in order to understand the value of these sacraments so
far as they concern the personal good, social discipline,
economic fairness, national stability, and moral and
spiritual outlook. In order to avoid repetition, which
occurs in all the texts, duties of the student life and of
householder's life will be discussed separately under the
category of four asramas (stages) Liz., Brahmacharya,
Garhasthya, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa. And as the
details of the marriage have already been referred to
above the sacraments commencing with the conception
of the child (garbh¯ah na) and its prenatal and post natal
care ending at the initiation (upanayana) need an eluci-
dation here. Garbh dhira is impregnation (Manu, II, 16,
26, 142). The essential rites performed in this connec-
tion clearly show that normally the sexual connection
between the husband and wife does not take place
immediately following the marriage ceremony. "It is
the duty of the bridegroom if he wants to cohabit his
wife for a child to perform a sacrifice." This is the post-
nuptial sacrifice known as Kushaṇḍiki to be performed
according to rule on the fourth day after the puberty
preceding the conception and is, therefore, called the
fourth day function (chaturthi-karaṇa)'. This sacrifice
concludes with a prayer by the husband: dhātā garbham
dadhitu te (may the creator enable you to conceive),
desiring "a good progeny in general", a son and a learned
daughter as one of the
of the
texts,
texts,
expressly mentions
(Brihad Upanishad 6, 4, 17).
The next rite consists in the removal of the
udumbara staff from the puptial bed, which is placed
between the husband and wife in order to prevent
physical contact until they decide to cohabit. Before
the actual action takes place a further rite is observed.
That includes sprinkling of the juice of some plant
(adhyanda) or grass (durva) which is stated to help in
the progeny. It probably excites the desire for intercourse
and may have some medical effect.
This sacrament clearly indicates that there was no
primitive selfishness, cruelty or callousness, and mere
1 The present day prae jee is to perform this sacrifice
on the same day or the day following the marriage. This sets the
couple at liberty and provides privacy and saves them from
unnecessary exposure.
