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SOCIAL CONDITIONS
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provided for the pregnant woman who was confined to it during the last days of her pregnancy. The Sušrutasaṁhit a gives directions for it (10.2). It was considered to be essential for the security and the welfare of the foetus and the pregnant woman.
Curiosity for the Birth of a Son :-The parents always had a great desire to be blessed with son (41.41). The joy of the parents started even before the actual birth of a son. Mere prediction that a son would be born to them (3.66) was enough for their joy, not to talk of the actual birth. Thus the PCV reveals that Nabhi was in mirth when Rşabha was born (3.70). The son used to receive immense love and caress from his parents. Videhā regarded her son as her very eyes and a valuable treasure (26.89). The sudden kindnappiyg of her son was considered to be a great misfortune (26.89). Añjanasundari considered her son as the very source of her existence in her woeful days (17.93). Amsumati was not living cheerfully because she had no son (26.83). For Ambumati and her husband it was a day of great joy when they adopted a son (26.84). The relatives also felt happy on the occasion of the birth of a male child (7.89). The father as far as possible never liked to send his son to war (27.18; 16. 32) and killing one's own son was considered to be a great sin (14. 14).
Birth Ceremonies and other Rites :-With so much importance attached to a son it was natnral that with the birth of a male child the happiness of the parents grew immensely. Various functions were performed in connection with the cermonies of the birth and gradual growth of the child and due care was taken for his healthy nourishment. The first thing to be noted was the day and the time of the birth of a son and to get the planetary postiion recorded to asceratain the future happiness of the son (25. 7. 97; 7; 17. 106-112).
Then the birth ceremony was performed with great pomp and show accompanied by the playing of musical instruments (3. 70; 7. 90; 17. 119; 25. 8-14; 97. 8). Thereafter the name of the son was christened according to his physical qualities(Padma--because he was lotus-eyed 25.8) or intrinsic merits (Lakhkaņa=Lakşmaņa-because he was possessed of many qualities 25. 11) or in association with some incident' (Dasamukha-because his face reflected in the nine jewels of his necklace 7. 96) or in association with the particular con dit tons developed by
1. 97.9. 2. 2. 26; 63. 29 3. 3. 68; 9 78; 17, 120; 22, 56; 26, 87; 3, 106; 21 21.
