Maternity care

Vedic Post delivery maternity care ideas

( subodh kumar-email subodh1934@gmail.com)

1: Shankhayan griha Sutra:
Gold Bangle for New Mother
Recommends that after delivery new mother should wear on her right arm for at least next ten days, a Gold bangle.( Wearing Gold on right arm could have a nanotechnology antibiotic protection role through skin, for the new mother.)

2.Paraskar Griha Sutra lays down the following in 1-16-22
a. Drinking Water for New mothers
For the next ten days a vessel of Silver/Copper with a lid for water should be kept on the head side of the mother. This water should be drunk by the mother. The vessel should be washed and fresh water stored in vessel every day. Following mantra is recited when the pot containing the drinking water is kept in its place,

ओं आपो देवेषु जागृथ यथा देवेषु जागृथ । एवमस्यां सूतिकायांसपुत्रिका यां जागृथ ।।पा.गृ.सू-
का 1.1क .16 सू .22
About water this mantra makes a very interesting statement. It talks about आपो देवेषु जागृथ 'living' water and such living water gives human life divine qualities, सूतिकायांसपुत्रिका to the new mother and her child.
'Living' water is a very modern concept that had been so far dismissed as nothing more than pseudo science. The latest researches in the biophysics of water, a number of patents in USA, work of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto and studies of water activation by Biodynamic Agriculture experts, have confirmed modern scientific studies on water. Vortex phenomenon brings about change in the pH and surface tension of water. Similarly different isotopes of water have confirmed that oxygen content of water varies considerably in nature. Thus there is a lot about water about which modern science is still clueless. Closer home no body has been able to fathom the secrets behind Ganga water.

b. Special Homa for ten days.
Near the Newborn child and mother a very special 'havan' is prescribed, This havan is to be performed both times in the morning and the evening. There are only two mantras to be recited. The specific effect of the rice and mustard seeds with ghee being offered in havan fire is for the questioning scientists to explore. But according to Vedic tradition this ten day regime of Havan in the maternity wards brings about a tremendous disease resistance and immunity to new born child and the mother both.
प्रातः सायं दोनो समय प्रसूतिका के कक्ष में अक्षत् साबत चावल और सरसों के पीले बीजों से गो घृत से निम्न मंत्रों से अग्नि में दो आहुति देनी होती हैं ।
1.ओं शण्डामर्का उपवीरः शौडिकेय ऽउलूखलः ।
मलिम्लुचो द्रोणासश्च्यवनो नश्यतादितः स्वाहा ।। इदं शण्डादिभ्यः इदन्न मम्

2. ओं आलिखन्ननिमिषः किंवदन्त उपश्रुतिः।
हर्यक्षः कुम्भीशत्रुः पात्रपाणिर्नृ मणिर्हन्त्रीमुखः सर्षपारुणश्च्यवनो नश्यतादितः स्वाहा।। इदमालिखन्ननिमिषाय किंवदद्भ्यः उपश्रुतये हर्यक्षाय कुम्भीशत्रवे पात्र पाणये नृमणये हन्त्रीमुखाय सर्षपारुणाय च्यवनाय, इदन्नमम्

Roughly translated by a non medical science person these two mantras carry the following sense.
(शण्डामर्का -are names given to two demons, with killer habits from the family of bacilli such as found in milk curds etc. being of organic origins- उपवीरः शौडिकेय with abilities to cause physical pains discomfort to the new born ऽउलूखलः the bacteria are as if ground and mixed together in a pestle with mortar…
मलिम्लुचो disease caused by contagion with insanitary द्रोणासश्च्यवनो objects entering with breath through nose (manifesting as colds and coughs in the initial stages), नश्यतादितः and causing debility to the body of this new born may get destroyed. इदं शण्डादिभ्यः इदन्न मम This offering in the fire is for them and not for me.
2. आलिखन्ननिमिषः causing invisible scratches /coatings /injuries किंवदन्त inimical to children (those without teeth) उपश्रुति: said to be demons, हर्यक्षः depriving eyesight कुम्भीशत्रुः enemies of both the eye cavities पात्रपाणिर्नृ as if seeking alms with both hands मणिर्हन्त्रीमुखः as if with mouths wide open to kill/destroy सर्षपारुणश्च्यवनो of different colors नश्यतादितः may get destroyed and thrown away स्वाहा।। इदमालिखन्ननिमिषाय किंवदद्भ्यः उपश्रुतये हर्यक्षाय कुम्भीशत्रवे पात्र पाणये नृमणये हन्त्रीमुखाय सर्षपारुणाय च्यवनाय, इदन्नमम् These offerings in to this fire for them and not for me.)