A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c25.604

Language: English

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Chapter two (garbhāvakrānti), which corresponds to part of chapter one of the Śārīrasthāna of the Hṛdaya,46 is concerned with the process of conception, i.e., the union of semen and ārtava and the entry of the jīva (2.2);47 the product of fertilization divides and assumes a particular form; it develops into a male when semen, into a female when ārtava predominates; a napuṃsaka will be born when semen and ārtava are in balance; vāta may split the product of fertilization into two or more parts, thus giving rise to twins or another type of multiple birth; morbid changes of semen and ārtava lead to abnormalities in the embryo (2.3);48 the early and the later developing signs of pregnancy (2.4);49 the menses disappear during pregnancy because the rajas-transporting channels are obstructed by the foetus; the accumulating rajas develops into the aparā,50 or, according to others, into the jarāyu; due to this obstruction of rakta (= rajas), the romarājī becomes visible (2.5); part of the asṛj (= rakta) goes upwards, thus leading to swelling of the cheeks and breasts, and to a dark colour of lips and nipples (cūcuka); another part, coloured (white) by kapha, goes to the breasts and turns into milk,51 replenished after parturition by the juice deriving from the mother's food (2.6); the development of the child during the first three months of pregnancy (2.7);52 the mental and bodily characteristics of a male, female or napuṃsaka become manifest;

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napuṃsakas may possess all grades of mixed characteristics (2.8); those typical of a napuṃsaka with mainly female traits are enumerated, those of the opposite type can then be deduced (2.9);53 sensations (vedanā) arise in the foetus; it begins to move (spandate) and to desire for the objects of the five senses (2.10); the heart of the foetus is connected with that of the mother by rasa-carrying vessels (dhamanī); this is the cause of the appearance of the longings (śraddhā) in the mother, who is therefore called dauhṛdinī;54 others assert that these longings appear in the fourth month (2.11); the longings should be respected; otherwise, vāta gets excited and causes annihilation of the foetus or malformations;55 gratification will result in the birth of a strong, long-lived son (2.12); the development of the foetus during the fourth to seventh months (2.13);56 the signs of instability during the eighth month; the problems during this period are due to the variability of the distribution of ojas over the bodies of mother and child (2.14);57 others hold that the foetus may die in this month, not due to the instability of the ojas, but on account of the demonic influences of the Nairṛtas (nairṛtabhāgatva); these beings should be soothed by appropriate types of bali;58 after expiry of the eighth month until a full year has elapsed, a woman may give birth (prasavakāla); delivery taking place later will result in an abnormal child59 (2.15);

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the position of the foetus within the womb, dependent on its sex;⁶⁰ the rhythm of sleeping and being awake of the child depends on that of the mother;⁶¹ the child in the womb is completely dependent (paratantravṛtti) and lives upon the upasneha and upasveda produced in the uterus⁶² (2.16); the major and minor parts of the foetus become gradually visible; the child’s nutrition takes place through the umbilical cord, attached to the placenta (aparā), which is connected to the mother’s heart; the juice derived from the mother’s food is carried by the dhamanīs from her heart to the placenta, and thence to the child’s navel; it is digested in the child’s pakvāśaya and nourishes, being rich in prasāda, its bodily constituents;⁶³ the upasneha is absorbed through the pores of the child’s hairs (2.17); the reason for the non-production of urine and faeces in the foetus;⁶⁴ the position in which a child is normally born (2.18);⁶⁵ signs indicating that the pregnancy will result in the birth of a boy, girl or klība (= napuṃsaka) (2.19);⁶⁶ when vāta desiccates the vessels transporting rasa, the child may suffer from a vāta disease or show defective limbs; such a foetus may remain in the womb for several years (2.20);⁶⁷ factors resulting in the birth of children liable to show abnormal types of sexual behaviour and functioning;

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the types described are called dviretas (2.21),⁶⁸ vātendriya (2.22),⁶⁹ saṃskāravāhya (2.23),⁷⁰ āsekya (2.24),⁷¹ vakradhvaja (2.25),⁷² saugandhika (2.26),⁷³ īrṣyārati (2.27),⁷⁴ and vātaṣaṇḍaka (2.28);⁷⁵ disorders of the child in the womb will affect the same body parts as those affected in the mother (2.29);⁷⁶ the causes of sterility (vandhyātva) and a disorder leading to repeated stillbirth (pūtiprajātva) (2.30);⁷⁷ the origin of a pseudo-female called vārttā or strīvyāpad; these three disorders arise when the germ (bīja) of the mother or part of it, which is transmitted to the child, is corrupted (2.31);⁷⁸ when the father is affected in the same way, three corresponding disorders may manifest themselves, resulting in the birth of an infertile son (vandhya), one who will beget stillborn children, or one whose children will be pseudo-males (tṛṇamukhin) (2.32);⁷⁹ disorders of those parts which have their origin in sātmya, rasa and sattva have thus been explained;⁸⁰ a child will develop disorders of those body parts which were already affected (upatapti) in a rudimentary form in the bīja or part of it; the same disorders do not occur secondarily (by anutāpa) (2.33); an expectant mother, repeatedly indulging in things that provoke one or more of the doṣas, will get a child prone to disorders caused by that doṣa or those doṣas⁸¹ (2.34); affections of the child’s eyes associated with the influence of tejas (fire);

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when this element does not reach the region of the eyes, the child will be born blind (jātyandhatva); when tejas is associated with one of the doṣas or blood, the eyes will have a particular colour (2.35);⁸² things to be avoided by a pregnant woman (2.36);⁸³ things which are prohibited in order to avoid provoking malevolent beings and deities; particular types of behaviour resulting in specific characteristics or disorders of the child are enumerated (2.37);⁸⁴ general rules for the medical treatment of pregnant women (2.38-40);⁸⁵ an explanation for the fact that a child in the womb does not cry (2.41).⁸⁶