A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c25.601

v1.c25.601

The chapter proceeds with the rules to be observed by a woman during the first three days of the cycle (1.23);²⁵ the behaviour prescribed for the fourth day (1.24);²⁶ intercourse should not take place during the first week of the menstrual cycle;²⁷ couples wanting a son should have intercourse on the even days of the fertile period, those wanting a daughter on the odd days;²⁸ the desirable qualities of the offspring decrease with the advance of the fertile period²⁹ (1.25); the male seed is said to prevail on even, the female procreational fluid on odd days; this rule does not apply when the menstrual period continues for more than three days; intercourse on the days mentioned as favourable to begetting a son or daughter may under such circumstances lead to the birth of a child with a mixture of male and female characteristics or with deficient limbs; intercourse on the eleventh or thirteenth day results in the birth of a napuṃsaka (1.26); the ritual ensuring the birth of a son should be performed by the upādhyāya ³⁰ and the female partner should concentrate her thoughts on the type of son she wants to conceive ³¹ (1.27); the rules to be observed after the ritual by both partners; details concerning the way of mounting their couch;³² the mantra to be pronounced³³ (1.28); rules for the coitus (1.29);³⁴ circumstances unfavourable to impregnation; the male should not lie under the female, for this would lead to the conception of a son or daughter with behavioural characteristics of the opposite sex; a bent position (nyubja) would make vāta strong, thus exerting pressure on the generative organs; kapha moves downwards, thus occluding the uterus, when the woman lies on her right side; when she lies on her left side, pitta will do so and lead to vidāha of the procreational fluid;³⁵ therefore the woman should lie down, which ensures that the doṣas remain in their seats³⁶ (1.30); reference is made to a series of opinions on the days suitable to the puṃsavana ritual (1.31).³⁷