Hindu Vedic Science of Progeny

Hailing from Tanjore District of Tamil Nadu, the autJ ior Shri Naagabharathi (B. Dhandapani) has served some research organizations and traveled in India. Blending ancient Hindu Culture for the Development of India is the interest that helped him this venture hitherto untouched.

Ancient Tamil Literature (English Menu driven) software and Upanishads in nutshell (software) are to his credit.

Our sages and savants believe that the soul & the body are entirely different entities; the body is Material and the Soul is of the nature of the Spirit. They come together at the conception of a child to create a new being. While the body is only a vehicle and is perishable, the soul is eternal and enters the body to work-out its Karma during an allotted time period.

By being in a pure-state, in body and of mind at the time of begetting a child it was logically concluded by them that the couple could attract highly elevated souls to enter into the womb of the lady desirous of good progeny having excellent character and of spiritual nature. To people the earth with noble men and women is the very purpose of human life for a Grihastha. It was considered as chief obligation of one and all to their ancestors. It was one’s duty to forefathers. Hence males were advised Bramhacharya and females were enjoined to be virtuous and their union was permitted only for the purpose of good progeny.

Pleasure was only of secondary importance in the scheme of things as envisaged by our ancestors.

This is the concept which Upanishads elaborate, in their own inimitable short and poetical way.

The author of this small booklet has painstakingly collected some stanzas from Upanishads which are a treasure house of ancient knowledge on all subjects from the Ultimate Knowledge of Brahma to those of earthly duties, during life’s short sojourn on this earth.

Brahma Sutra 3.4.48 delineates the three stages of the life of Great as that of a Brahmachari (a stage for acquisition of spiritual knowledge), Grihasthashrma (a stage to get noble progeny) and Vanaprastha Ashram (a stage to develop detachment to become a spiritual being).

Maharshi Yajnavalkya wanted to renounce worldly pleasure and enter Vanaprastha Ashrama. His wife also renounces everything and follows him into exile. Pleased with her noble act, the Rishi dedicated his famous work Brihadaranyaka Upanishad to her memory. This Upanishad deals with prefatory rites for getting noble progeny either male or female.

The greatness of this work can be gauged from the fact that Guru Adi-Shankara Bhagavatpada Acharya swamy wrote a commentary on it.

At an old age when infirmities of the body often deter many from undertaking any creative effort, it is really appreciable that Shri. Naagabharati the author who is a good friend of mine has taken great pains to collect the shlokas and bring them out in this booklet. It is a valuable reading for those interested in Ancient Philosophy.

Good, better and best we have. There is nothing called bad in the Hinduism.

Says a title from the country associated with Sanskrit - The Polar ice caps have melted. The earth is covered with water. This Hinduism calls as Pralaya at the end of Yuga(s). Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali are the four Yugas each having laths of years. Lord Shri Rama and Shri Krishna belong to the previous Yugas and the present one is Kaliyuga which is running its 5100 year today. It is said that it was very easy to see the God in Kaliyuga if one fully concentrates even for a fraction of a second, which is rarely attainable! That is why Vedas, Upanishads are there to help him. Some Upanishads form part of Vedas (Rig, Yajus, Sama and Atharvana) and some are separate. The theology of Hinduism originally speaks that God is Omnipotent and Omnipresent in every thing including you and me. This approach will do good and everlasting peace and happiness to the world. Barring few, Adi Shankaracharya was the Champion of the cause and gave commentaries for all major Upanishads. Besides dealing on Science, Technology, Astronomy, etc. physical, mental and spiritual attainment of man towards this philosophy was preached and practiced by the Sages and Seers of our country, mostly. Studies have helped to make the subject (Science of Progeny) in a presentable manner.

The Nature
The Nature denotes the course of things that exists and happens in profound order in the universe and earthly matters with the help and presence of Pancha Bhootas (Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Space).

The God
The Supreme Being (Brahman) as the spiritualists and philosophers define, the common man calls it God - The One who creates Himself by Himself. The God as Soma is the Lord bestowed of the mankind. His blessings are invoked as he is the enlarger of our progeny and wealth in this world (Rig Veda 16.21.2).

The Man
Man is considered as the fourth fire of the Panhagni Vidya and the order being God, faith, moon, earth, man and woman. His holy vow is that he should not despise any woman (Chhandogya Upanishad (11.13.1).

The Woman
Woman as the fifth fire enjoyed equal status in the early Vedic periods. They were perfectly eligible for the privileges of studying Vedas. Educating woman folk greatly help to the advancement of the nation says Yajurveda. (Ch.38.3). As a housewife she can offer oblations in the house fire unaided normally in the evenings and sometimes its the mornings.

According to Atharvana Veda (XI.5.18) Upanayanam for ladies and the habit of their observing spinsterhood throughout her life was prevalent. Study at Gum’s place for 12 years, late marriage at 16 or 17 was also there and went out of vogue in the first century of Christian Era. Reasons for this could be inferred to enlarge the Hinduism and protect it from influencing by other religions.

Marriage
As conceived in the Upanishads marriage is not a one sided domination but a reciprocal fulfillment of duties. (Chhandogya Up a. 1.1.6).

The science under the caption as found in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and in others, in the forty Samskaras (particularly Manias for Nuptials), briefly in the Vedas and the works of characteristic physical features (Samudrika Lakshana Shastra) have been compiled and narrated henceforth. The Hindu scriptures teach that it is the prenatal influences that give driving force for good and evil.

The great Sage Adi Shankaracharya has given commentaries on this Upanishad and this vouches its authenticity.