Seemantonnayana Sanskaara

Introduction

The Seemantonnayana Sanskaara (सीमन्तोन्नयन) is the 3rd Sanskaara. It is held for the mental development of the child. The previous (Punsavan Sanskaara) is held when pregnancy is assured, and the physical development of the child’s body is in its biological development process. This third sanskaara is held when the perceptive awareness of the child starts. It is after this stage that the child starts to respond to the sounds and presence of things in the immediate environment.

The Sushruta Samhita¹ notes that the food of the mother and the surroundings in which the mother lives all affect the mental and intellectual development of the child. The mental state of the mother directly impacts the child. The texts also prohibit the use of drugs and alcohol by the expectant mother or by those close to the expectant mother.

Some of these are:

येषु येष्विन्द्रि यार्थेषु दौहृदे वै विमाननाप्रजायेत सुतस्यार्तिस्तस्मिंस्तस्मिंस्तथेन्द्रि ये²
Whatever the mother likes or dislikes, so too will the child like or dislike.

राजसंदर्शने यस्या दौर्हृदं जायते स्त्रियाः अर्थवन्तं महाभागं कुमारं सा प्रसूयते³
If the pregnant mother is in good company and in the company of wise persons who are leaders in their field, so the child will be inclined towards leadership, fame and fortune.

दुकूलपट्टकौशेयभूषणादिषु दौहृदात्अ लङ्कारैषिणं पुत्रं ललितं सा प्रसूयते⁴
Longing for the finer things in life affects similar desires in the child when grown up

आश्रमे संयतात्मानं धर्मशीलं प्रसूयते देवताप्रतिमायां तु प्रसूते पार्षदोपमम् दर्शने व्यालजातीनां हिंसाशीलं प्रसूयते⁵
Thoughts and desires of expectant mothers will create similar longing and thinking in the child.

 यादृशं भजते हि स्त्री सुतं सूते तथाविधम् । तस्मात् प्रजाविशुद्ध्यर्थं स्त्रियं रक्षेत् प्रयत्नतः ॥⁶
The child is affected by the mental state of the mother. It is essential to be calm and be properly cared for during pregnancy.

This Sanskaara is, therefore, essential – not only for its ritual presence but for its reminder to the mother and parents of their constant duties towards the child’s development.

Timing: 

चतुर्थे गर्भमा सीमन्तोनयनम् ॥⁷
Fourth month

While various authorities have allowed for the 4th, 5th, or 8th month, Maharishi Dayanand accepted the Ashvalayan Grihyasutra’s 4th month recommendation. It is at this juncture that essential development starts. It is at this point that blood flows are being streamlined, and the baby’s heart and other organs are forming. So, it is recommended for this time, at the commencement of the essential development of the child’s body.

आपूर्यमाणपक्षे यदा पुंसा नक्षत्रेण चन्द्रमा युक्तः स्यात् ॥⁸
Full moon period

Notes:

Note 1: Preparation of items for Sanskaara

A special “Khitchree”, that is, a mixture of cooked grains and ghee, is to be prepared for offering into the fire in this Sanskaara. In the Sanskaara Vidhi, this preparation of cooked grains takes place within the Sanskaara, and the two mantras used before that preparation come into play within the Sanskaara. 

To allow for a smooth flow of the Sanskaara ritual, we usually prepare every ingredient to be used in the ritual before it starts; thus, we have moved these two mantras to the top of the Sanskaara as an instructional part for the preparation in advance of the start of the Sanskaara Ceremony.

Note 2: A special plant/tree

This verse comes in the Sanskaara Vidhi for this Sanskaara. However, this verse refers to a special plant, the ficus glomeraia, also known as the cluster fig. The verse asks that the pregnant mother be in full bloom like the plant. We have removed this verse to these notes because the plant is not known to all and is not available to all, thus its reference may be in a void. We have omitted this verse and brought it to these notes.

ओम् अयमूर्ज्जावतो वृक्ष ऊर्ज्जीव फलिनी भव ।
पर्णं वनस्पतेऽनु त्वाऽनु त्वा सूयताꣳरयिः ॥

Om ayamoorjaavato vriksha oorjjeeva phalinee bhava.
Parṇam vanaspate’nu tvaa’nu tvaa sooyataam rayih.⁹

Note 3: River

Just before the “blessing” ashirvaad part of the sanskaara, there is a verse that requires the naming of the location where the husband and wife live, relative to a nearby river. We have omitted this verse and brought it to these notes.

ओं सोम एव नो राजेमा मानुषीः प्रजाः ।
अविमुक्तचक्र आसीरंस्तीरे तुभ्यम् असौ॥

Om soma eva no raajamaa manuṣhee prajaah.
Avimuktachakra aaseeramsteere tubhyam “asau”.Paaraskaara grihyasutra 1.15.8[/efn_note]