Pumsavana Simantonayana
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Pumsavana Simantonayana (
Both form a part of the prenatal rituals, part of
Rites
The four prenatal rites which are part of the 16 samskaras (personal sacraments followed by
Srimantham
Srimantham is a family and a community festival with prayers seeking safe birth of the child. This is the third of 16 samskaras.[2][5]
There is difference of opinion on the months when it should be performed. The authorities are not unanimous whether this saṃskāra should be performed at each pregnancy or it should be performed only during the first conception. According to
Pumsavana
Pumsavana (
In some regions, this rite is combined with Srimantham and the two together is called the Pumsavana Srimantham. It includes a luncheon feast.[2][3]
Valakappu
This is usually performed in the evening after the Srimantham or
In many Tamil Brahmin Iyer families, the mother-to-be wears a black saree for this ritual. Black is usually not allowed for any good occasion but this is a special occasion that asks for a black saree. It is also called as "masakai karuppu" meaning yearning for black. Anything that the mother-to-be yearns for must be fulfilled! The mother and mother-in-law of the lady start the ritual off by adorning the lady with 3 bangles made of Neem leaf, silver and gold. Post this all the ladies who are attending put the bangles for the mother-to-be. The ceremony closes with an arati.
Puchutal
Another related rite that used to be observed in the earlier days, as a separate ritual, but is now combined with Srimantham, in South India is called the puchutal meaning "adorning the head of the expectant mother with flowers".[7] After observing this ritual, in the olden days, the expectant mother used to go to her parental house for delivery. In the traditional practice, the parents of the expectant mother offer gifts of new clothes, sweets, betel leaves and nuts and coconuts to their daughter and son-in-law.[4]
Food feast
Food prepared on this occasion is special and consist of rice, sambhar, rasam, chutney, two or three types of vegetable dishes, payasam, laddu, curd and appalam, and many more items.[4]
See also
- Saṃskāra
- Baby shower
References
- ISBN 978-81-208-0810-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-481-2598-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-253-34687-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7755-257-7.
- ^ ISBN 81-208-0434-1, pp. 64–9
- ISBN 81-85843-03-1, p. 392
- ISBN 978-0-8204-1108-8.