Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c11.38

c11.38

Along with the eight abnormal positions Su 4.15.4 mentions three obstructions (saṅga), viz. the natural deformity of the head, of the shoulders and of the buttocks¹. In relation to the obstruction in the case of a living foetus which he advises the woman to push out (by pressure), AS 2.4.217 plainly says: "There are three kinds of obstructions, viz. the natural deformity of the head, of the shoulder and of the buttocks." Vr 869 speaks of the upper coccyx (trika) instead of buttocks and appears to attribute the natural deformity to the nature of the wind in the body of the woman (vātagatisvabhāvāt). Su 1. c. also has in view the living foetus with regard to the above conditions and also advises the mother to try her best to bring it out.