A child’s rearing and development begins from the time it is conceived, rather than once it is born. In fact, all the basics of life are learnt through the pregnant mother. Her joys and suffering, her food and exercise, her thoughts and emotions, everything has an impact on the fetus. That is why since time immemorial they say that a mother during pregnancy must devote her time in spiritual/religious practices.

She should be kept happy and healthy. Before feeding the family, she should be well fed. She should surround herself by all that is positive. She must rest well, and exercise sensibly. Her sadness and sorrow, her pain and misery can affect the growth and development of the fetus. And moreover, the fetus s registering every experience the mother is going through.

All this is not just a part of Indian mythology and garbh sanskar, but even today’s medical research affirms whatever pregnant ladies would be told eras ago. Today, mothers-to-be, visiting their gynecologists are constantly reminded to keep themselves busy and their minds active, free of anything negative. They are encouraged to practice Yoga and Meditation, in order to bring calm and peace to the mind under all circumstances. In fact, educationists encourage those pregnant to read a lot of educative and value-building books, as well as listen to music that has happy and calming tunes. Some mothers-to-be in fact enjoy listening to enacted fairy tales and nursery rhymes in order to refresh their memories. And this also makes them very happy.

According to a famous tale in Indian Mythology, during the historic battle of Kurushetra, Arjuna’s son could courageously take up the challenge of entering the Chakravyu, which was a dangerous spiral plan laid by the enemy camp, because when his mother was pregnant she heard how the entire layout was. However, since she never heard the way of getting out of it, Arjuna’s son was killed on the battlefield. Thus, according to this tale, a child learns and recalls even what is heard while in the womb.

Parenting in India, has always been value based. For every family, the most important education for the child is the sanskars and values. Essentially, sanaskaars mean ‘impressions’. This implies the impressions in the mind that are inculcated because of teachings and experience; and these are fed into the fetal mind and continue to build up throughout life. Thus, the impressions and values are the basis of molding a fetus into a good human being, after which everything follows.

There is a misconception that states that Indian Mythology is religion based. However, this is not true. The entire pantheon of this countries mythology contains interesting tales that are nonetheless exaggerations of reality; but all the same contain practical lessons of life. After all, the human mind enjoys registering all that has an animated story with action and thrill. And this is the essence of each mythological tale. And yet, each story has something special to teach one. There are numerous tales that help those pregnant through their entire term, inducing important values and lessons in parenting. And these tales provide value-based education during the child’s formative years.

An essential part of fetal development is something known as garbh sanskar. This implies impressions created in the womb (literally: womb impressions). To explain this further, according to not only ancient scriptures, but also modern day scientific researches, the fetus in the womb registers everything that the mother goes through – mental, emotional, physical, etc., – it registers everything in the form of impressions that also form the basis of life. The fetus registers what makes the mother happy, and what brings her unhappiness. It is for this reason that various music companies have produced audio discs and cassettes that calm the mind and bring a feeling of harmony.

Thus, a pregnant one should remember that the true education is character building that begins with conception and continues through the entire pregnancy period. Once out of the womb, the life begins for the child where learning is about concrete concepts and experiences. However, it has been proven that the foundation of the human character is laid in the womb, through the pregnancy tenure.

For those looking out for various interesting tales to read during pregnancy, one could read about the role of Manu in Indian Mythology. He is considered to be the first man, who was self-created. He is considered to have penned the code of values for human beings, which is an interesting and educative read for the entire family. Apart from this there are numerous Indian fables. The way they have been written is entertaining and actually create animated pictures in the mind, making one a witness of all that is narrated. Authored Karishma Bajaj. copyright data 2007. Indianchild.com

Prenatal Parenting » Indian mythology and garbh sanskar | prenatal yoga | prenatal vitamins | prenatal development | prenatal care |

One of the most beautiful aspects of being a woman is the fact that only she can give birth to another life. Within her a new life takes shape, is molded and then is born to be nurtured into a good human being. There are women who recall the ordeal of pregnancy, but yet none would deny it is a blessing to be able to give birth. Like some mothers would say, it is a sweet ordeal to feel the little one grow and develop through the nine months. It is a sweet kind of pain when the fetus within kicks the mother to move about. There is something pleasant about the morning sickness, knowing that there is a little being forming in there. All this is part of the process known as prenatal parenting.

In today’s day and age most couples prefer the process known as a planned pregnancy, because of various factors; prime amongst them being the financial well being to support the birth and nurturing of a child. In such cases, the first prenatal visit actually happens prior to actual pregnancy, to see whether one is ready to go off the contraception pills and conceive a baby. However, in maximum conceptions, one is unaware of the pregnancy until actual realization dawns after one skips the first menstrual cycle. Normally doctors except ladies to pay their first visit anywhere between the sixth and twelfth week after conception.
Apart from all the physical care required to ensure the healthy development of the fetus, the mother actual starts proper parenting during pregnancy. Like they say, the permanent impressions of a human being are imprinted on the mind while in the womb of the mother. So, just as the food she eats determines the bodily development of the child; the kind of feelings and thoughts and words she fills herself with and exchanges with others affect the child’s mental and emotional development.

Indian parenting is based on value-based parenting. Women living in joint families are provided with the traditional guidance of nurturing the fetus. Traditionally, the pregnant women would be encouraged to attend regular prayer meets, listen to soft and calming music, read tales from Indian mythology, as well as the scriptures. They felt that everything that would engage the mother’s mind in calming thoughts would be good food for the fetus’s developing mind. This is not only a practice amongst Hindus, but every religion provides such guidance to those who are pregnant.

Effective parenting skills are a combination of love and logic. Sometimes mothers tend to overlook the need to be practical and logical, letting their young ones get away with bad behavior. And on the other hand some mothers tend to be so practical in their ways that children grow up feeling unloved. Parenting with love and logic is not about upbringing beyond the birth, but even while the baby is developing in the womb. While ancient scriptures contain numerous tales to prove that impressions are created in the human mind while still in the womb; today, numerous researches in modern sciences are proving the same through the various experiments.

Good parenting is virtue that is inbuilt in every mother. However, sometimes due to excessive stress and tension, mothers tend to lose control over their emotions and deal with the children wrongly. And unfortunately children tend to carry forward the negative impressions into their adult life, rather than all the positives the parents have done. Thus, it is important that a mother is always in control of her emotions and mental state of mind. And this awareness will always help her inculcate good values in the child.

As part of the prenatal development, it has been an age-old practice to listen to good soothing music as well as make the pregnant one read value-based books. There is a lot of literature that promotes the proper garbh sanskar, which means values for the fetus. One needs to remember that the first set of impressions is what the fetus gathers, and the experience of the womb is the seed of the rest of the human life.

There is a specially rendered garbh sanskar mp3 that contains soothing music for mothers-to-be, as well as the key mantras that promote peace of mind and the healthy growth and development of the fetus. Listening to this brings peace and harmony within one who is pregnant.