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{{Short description|Modern combination of two Hindu prenatal rites}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''''Pumsavana Simantonayana''''' is a combination of the two rites of [[Pumsavana]] and '''[[Simantonnayana|Srimatham]]''' (also spelled Srimantha and Simantonnayana ({{lang-sa|सीमन्तोन्नयन}}, {{IAST| Sīmantonnayana}}) that is observed in modern times.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Both form a part of the prenatal rituals, part of ''[[Saṃskāra]]'' in the [[Hindu]] tradition that is celebrated in [[India]] by the pregnant mother and father of the child, during the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.<ref name="Selin2009">{{cite book|editor=Helaine Selin|editor-link=Helaine Selin|title=Childbirth Across Cultures: Ideas and Practices of Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Postpartum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FcjJpDqD_TUC&pg=PA100|year=2009|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-90-481-2598-2|page=100}}</ref><ref name="KellerRuether2006">{{cite book|author1=Rosemary Skinner Keller|author2=Rosemary Radford Ruether|author3=Marie Cantlon|title=Encyclopedia of women and religion in North America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WPILfbtT5tQC&pg=PA661|year=2006|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-34687-2|page=661}}</ref><ref name="Kapoor2002">{{cite book|author=Subodh Kapoor|title=Indian Encyclopaedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jj_JpunW_8YC&pg=PA256|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=978-81-7755-257-7|page=256}}</ref>

==Rites==
The four prenatal rites which are part of the 16 ''samskaras'' (personal sacraments followed by [[Hindus]] and which are based on [[Grhya Sutras]]) performed on a single day, in the modern times, starting from morning till evening, are the following.<ref name="Selin2009"/>

===Srimantham===
{{Main|Simantonnayana}}
''Srimantham'' is a family and a community festival with prayers seeking safe birth of the child. This is the third of 16 samskaras.<ref name="Selin2009"/><ref name="Pandey">Pandey, Rajbali (1969, reprint 2002). ''Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|81-208-0434-1}}, pp. 64–9</ref>

There is difference of opinion on the months when it should be performed. The authorities are not unanimous whether this ''saṃskāra'' should be performed at each pregnancy or it should be performed only during the first conception. According to [[Ashvalayana]], [[Baudhayana]], [[Apastamba]], [[Paraskara]], [[Harita]] and [[Devala]] it should be performed only once. But other authorities think that it should performed during every pregnancy.<ref name="Pandey"/>

===Pumsavana===
{{Main|Pumsavana}}
[[File:Indian Sweets.JPG|thumb|Different varieties of sweets served on a Pumsavana function.]]
Pumsavana ({{lang-sa|पुंसवन}}, {{IAST|Puṁsavana}}) is also a vedic prescribed rite that is performed to beget a son. This is performed during the second, third or fourth month of pregnancy.<ref>Pandey, R.B. (1962, reprint 2003). "The Hindu Sacraments (Saṁskāra)'' in S. Radhakrishnan (ed.) ''The Cultural Heritage of India'', Vol.II, Kolkata:The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, {{ISBN|81-85843-03-1}}, p. 392</ref>

In some regions, this rite is combined with ''Srimantham'' and the two together is called the Pumsavana Srimantham. It includes a luncheon feast.<ref name="Selin2009"/><ref name="KellerRuether2006"/>

===Valakappu===
This is usually performed in the evening after the ''Srimantham'' or ''[[Pumsavana Srimantham]]'' is performed. ''Valakappu'' ( 'valai' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] means "bangle" or "bracelet" and 'kappu' means to "adorn"). On this occasion, which is the prerogative of the women folk of the family to perform, the pregnant mother would be dressed in a fine [[silk saree]], and women of all ages slip [[bangle]]s and [[bracelets]] on her arm. The reasoning for this is that the bangles would act as "protective [[amulet]] against [[evil eye]] and [[evil spirits]]". This is a ritual which the Indian immigrant families in the [[United States]] also observe along with ''Srimantham'' and ''pooshuttal''. It is similar to the [[baby shower]] ritual observed in other parts of the world.<ref name="Selin2009"/><ref name="KellerRuether2006"/>

In many Tamil Brahmin Iyer families, the mother-to-be wears a black saree for this ritual. Black is usually not allowed for any good occasion but this is a special occasion that asks for a black saree. It is also called as "masakai karuppu" meaning '''yearning for black.''' Anything that the mother-to-be yearns for must be fulfilled! The mother and mother-in-law of the lady start the ritual off by adorning the lady with 3 bangles made of Neem leaf, silver and gold. Post this all the ladies who are attending put the bangles for the mother-to-be. The ceremony closes with an aarathi.

===Poochuutal===
Another related rite that used to be observed in the earlier days, as a separate ritual, but is now combined with ''Srimantham'', in [[South India]] is called the ''poochuttal'' meaning "adorning the head of the expectant mother with flowers". After observing this ritual, in the olden days, the expectant mother used to go to her parental house for delivery. In the traditional practice, the parents of the expectant mother offer gifts of new clothes, sweets, betel leaves and nuts and coconuts to their daughter and son-in-law.<ref name="Kapoor2002"/>

==Food feast==
Food prepared on this occasion is special and consist of rice, sambhar, rasam, chutney, two or three types of vegetable dishes, payasam, laddo, curd and pappad and many more items.<ref name="Kapoor2002"/>

==See also==
*[[Saṃskāra]]
*[[Baby shower]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hindu rituals]]

Pumsavana Simantonayana - Revision history

ImportMaster: robot: Add missing article in Category:Mahabharata