Seemantham : An Important & Sacred Ritual In Hindu Tradition
Seemantham : A Ritual performed to wish the mother good fortune and long life to the unborn child. A mother’s physical and mental happiness is essential for the healthy growth of the baby in the womb. For that, the rules to be followed by her and her husband are part of this ritual.
One of them is Khamaya (desire). The husband knows what her desire is and fulfills it. Seemantam means to take the papidi. It means that at that time the husband should treat her so incredibly. It is known that the pregnant woman is possessed by inauspicious powers and this ritual is there to prevent them. According to the Asvalayana Smriti, the demon spirits who are bloodthirsty come to eat the first womb.
They come to eat during the first pregnancy. The husband should invoke Sri to save his wife from those demonic powers. Asvalayana Smriti says that this rite should be done for that.
There is a mention of Seemantha in the Samavedamantra Brahmana of the Praksutra period. According to it, the husband who performs Seemantha Sanskaram is said in this way. ” In the same way as Prajapati determines the boundary of the guest for mahaaishwarya, so for the long life of the progeny, I (the husband) divide her hair or samvarana (seemanam nayami ).
I will beget sons and grandsons and make them live long to my old age”. It is said that the woman is compared to the Udumba tree. It means that a woman who has many offspring is similar to the udumba tree. After that, the husband prays to the deities to remove pregnancy defects, and Charupaka performance is performed with the pregnant woman for future child marriage.
He does such actions. It should be performed either in the sixth month or the eighth month of pregnancy ( these may vary depending on the country’s calendar ). According to Jyotisha scriptures, it is said that this rite can be done as soon as possible until the child is born.
Seemantham & Procedures To Follow
Red and Green color bangles should be worn by the woman ,Any color glasses except black and blue glasses can be worn in Seemantham. A hand full of bangles can be worn or at least 20, 21, and 25. These glasses should be there even till delivery. It is believed that due to this there will be pressure on the nerves and there will be a chance for a smooth delivery.
Bangles worn shall not be 7, 12 in number. 13 It is better to wear bangles. The more bangles, the better, regardless of the number. A garland made of yam sprouts should be placed around the pregnant woman’s neck. The husband should take the papidi of the wife with the thorn of the boar.
Method of doing Seemanthaam:
In the morning, Ganapathi Puja, and Punyahavachanam is done and after tying the Raksha Bandhanam, then this rite begins. ‘
Karta performs the eight homams called ‘Dhata Dadatu ‘. To the west of the fire, the wife should be kept facing east. A three-spotted bore’s thorn (first black, black with red, and white ) with bundles of three barhissu and a bunch of Brahma fruits i.e. all these should be brought up to the papidi in a bundle. Then recite mantras like ‘Raka Mahag‘ etc. ” and call Purnima.
To accomplish this task. The meaning of the above mantra is ” Let him give a son who has the gift of good intellect “. Starting from the navel and moving upwards with the above-mentioned bundle, wipe it up to the top of the head and dispose of it. Then they order the veena singers to sing the history of the mantras like ” Yaugandhari …” etc. Then the sprouted grain is strung on a thread and tied to the pregnant woman’s hair cup.
The husband and wife walk towards the east or the north without speaking until two stars appear and then touch the cow’s calf and leave the silence they have observed until then. In some scriptures, it is said that the Brahmin women who are close to the pregnant woman should say auspicious words. That is, Muthaiduva says , ” May you become the mother of a heroic son , and may you have sons of life !” They say the words etc. These words will have a good effect on the mother and the unborn child. In this case it is said that the daughter- in-law should touch the calf as a symbol of male descent .
It is found in Jaimini Grihya Sutras that when the husband shows the gold- plated bronze vessel in water to his wife and asks what are you looking at , the wife should feel that she is looking at children and longevity . In the current Seemantha Samskaram the above mentioned customs most are lacking . The rituals of putting flowers , protecting glasses etc. are followed today . In some areas, the custom of tying bunches of raspberries in the 8th month is being followed even today .
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