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Children were the centre of attraction in the family. Childless mothers were considered unlucky. Prayers for getting children were offered. People fasted, performed sacrifices, and propitiated various duties to 404 obtain children. Many are our examples wherein kings 405 and their queens are seen following the same practice. 400. Nirnaya Sagar 6.3.67. 401. Ibid. 6.3.73,74,81, 84. 402. Ibid. 12.7.163. 403. Ibid. 3.5.35. 404. Ibid. 7.2.104, 17.5.29,32, 12.16.8, 6.7.213,9.2.388, 12.2.77, 12.26.57-58, 9.2.365, 4.3.82-83,77. 405. Ibid. 18.1.42, 10.3.59,60.

375 It is said that Udayana and Vasavadatta fasted for three days and then Siva came to them in a dream and granted 406 them the desired boon. Again it is mentioned that by the boon from the God of Fire a son was born to a Brahmin 407 named Devadarshana of Trigarta. Dreams Dreams played an important part in the birth of 408 409 a child in the life of ancient India. A regular science of dreams existed and we have many references in Kathasaritsagara wherein the dream-readers have been consulted. Inauspicious dreams were counteracted. It is said that a certain man with matted locks came and gave queen Vasavadatta a fruit in her dream 411 and told her that she will get a son. Again the queen Saumyadarshana is said to have received from the god 412 Siva a fruit in a dream and soon got a son. An inauspicious dream of queen Rajadatta of King Ratnadhipati of Ratnakuta was counteracted by the king by indulging with her in a drinking bout. 413 406. Nirnaya Sagar 4.1.143. 407. Ibid. 12.6.67. 408. Ibid. Cf. Jain J.C. Life in ancient etc. p.146.151. 409. Ibid. 6.4.138. 410. Ibid. 8.3.147-150,137,142,9.5.139,146,10.10.160,165. 411. Ibid. 4.1.147, 6.3.15. 412. Ibid. 18.1.42. 413. Ibid. 7.2.67.

376 Period of Pregnancy (Dohada) This was considered an important period. Women were to be very cautious while moving, walking, eating and sleeping. Doing The period of pregnancy 'Dohada' or pregnancy longing played an important part in ancient India. The women had peculiar cravings during this period. We are told that during her pregnancy period Alankaraprabha wished to roam in the sky in a chariot. Her 414 wish was fulfilled. Again the pregnancy desire of Vasavadatta, to hear the stories containing magic etc., was gratified by the minister Yangandharayana by employing 415 spells, machines, and jugglery, Also king Sahasramika is said to have ordered to fill a tank with the juice 316 of loc (Laksha) and other red extracts to gratify the desire of his queen. She wished to take a bath in blood. Miscarriage (Bhrasthagarbha) Only one case of miscarriage of a Brahmin lady, is mentioned. Bhogadatta, the wife of a Brahmin was beaten and kicked by a washerman for breaking the hoof of his donkey and as a result of this she had a miscarriage 417 since she was pregnant. 414. Nirnaya Sagar 7.2.117. 415. Ibid. 4.2.12. 416. Ibid. 2.1.47. 417. Ibid. 12.5.209.

377 The Lying-in-Chamber (Garbhagraha) We have many references to the lying-in-chambers and the mid-wives (garbha-grahikas). It was the custom that such chambers were to be prepared by matrons having 418 sons (putrim pariskritam). A light to protect the chamber 419 (rakshapradeepa) from evil sprits was kept in them. These chambers were decorated and many auspicious things were kept in them to protect the newly born child from evil 420 spirits. The above protective-light was one of them. People always wished that a son be born. It was believed that a sonless man does not attain the world of bliss 421 (svarga). Birth The birth of a child was an occasion of great rejoicing in ancient India. Neighbours and relatives came with offerings to the parents of the newly born 422 child. Kings used to distribute immense wealth on the birth of a son. At times general amnesty to the prisoners was declared. Cities were decorated with banners and garlands and flags were flung on the palaces. 418. Nirnaya Sagar 4.3.61. 419. Ibid. 6.2.4, 6.8.48, 4.3.62. 9.1.186. 420. Ibid. 4.3.62. 421. Ibid. 9.2.150, 12.26.21. 422. Ibid. 4.3.84.

378 Feasts were arranged after which beautiful women danced. Kings distributed so much wealth among their subjects on the birth of a son that practically every one became rich. In honour of the auspicious event of the birth of a son, it is also said that king Udayana made a great feast. Red flags were flung on the various palaces, beautiful women danced in Kaushambi and the whole city 23 was bestowed with ornaments and new dresses by the king. We have references wherein lucky, auspicious, good as well as hump-backed son's were born. The father of one such hump-backed son is said to have approached a physician and requested him to remove the hump. 424 We have references to the birth of twins in many a families. It is said that to a Brahmin named Sridhara 425 in Malva twin sons of like features were bown. Again queen Madri of the Sivis is said to have given birth to 426 twin sons. In the absence of a child people adopted sons. The natural son was called 'aurasa' while the adopted 427 one was called 'krustrima'. 423. Nirnaya Sagar 9.3.78-80. 424. Ibid. 10.6.231. 425. Ibid. 10.7.7. 426. Ibid. 16.3.32, also 4.1.43. 427. Ibid. 12.6.60.

? 379 On the elevanth day the ceremony of naming the child (namakaranavidhi) was performed. It is said that the Brahmin Devadarshana of Trigara gave his 428 son the appropriate name Sridarshana on the eleventh day. The child was attended by nurses. In the absence of the mother or if she was unable to feed milk to the child 429 it was brought up on the milk of a goat. was called 'ajakshiravardhitam'. Such a child It is said that a courtesan of the court of King Prasannajita was thus 430 brought up on a goats milk. The various ceremonies were performed when the appropriate time came. The sacred-thread ceremony (upanayana) was performed when the son was probably of eight years old. The two sons of King Merudhavaja are said to have been invested with the sacred-thread after 431 eight years had passed. 432 Infant deaths are mentioned. There were bald-headed 433 men in the society. In many a families, from Kathasaritsagara, we see that maidservants or slaves (dasi) were employed. 428. Nirnaya Sagar 12.6.67. 429. Ibid. 10.6.62. 430. Ibid. 12.15.36. 431. Ibid. 17.5.46. 432. Ibid. 9.5.17. 433. Ibid. 7.4.116. The members

380 434 of royal families had bands of such attendents (pariwara). Kirtisena had female slaves (chetis) in her house. Again many such attendants of the courtesan named Madanamala 435 are mentioned. They were considered part of their property.