The wish to give birth to a Super-child is as old as Time. The characteristics required in a super-child, however, vary among individuals. Some desire a child with good health, brave warriors in olden days, super intelligence, super genius, versatile artistic qualities, spiritual qualities and so on. We desire or may not desire but if we so desire do we get such a super child? Modern scientists think that cloning a child by changing genetics may be the answer. But we have already seen that children born of the same parents, or same gene-pool, are different and we understand that this is the result of the mother's mental state during pregnancy.

   Ancient Indian thinkers have researched the influence of genetics and environment on the qualities of a child. Thus the ancient Indian thinkers fall into two categories. One class of thinkers say that a human being is a consequence of heredity (vanshaanu-sankraman), the other class of thinkers propound that heredity can be altered through desired environment (ichchhit parayaavaran). The Vedic Sanskaar system is a synthesis of both these theories.

What does the term Samskaar mean?

Every thought and every action leaves a subtle impression on the mind of a person as a permanent record. These are called Samskar. Ancient scientists always gave importance to the thoughts in the mind. It is the way of thinking that attributes to the personality.

   The Vedic Samskaar system does not deny that a child is created through parental union of sperm-ovum; it also does not deny that environment has a great hand in the development of the off-spring. This is the reason that the Vedic Sanskaars are classified in two categories. The first category  is formed while the child is in its mother's womb: these can be called the prenatal Sanskaars (garbhasth sanskar); the second category is formed after birth: these can be called postnatal Sanskaars (janmasth sanskar).

   Every Cultural traditions around the world has it own sanskars. But it is well defined in Indian system because of it heritage. As we mentioned it earlier you can use this information to understand you own tradition.

Prenatal and Postnatal Sanskaars.

Conception (Garbhadhan ), Pro-creation (Punsavan), and  Mental Development (Seemantonayan) are the prenatal Sanskaars.

   Pursuit of Knowledge (Upanayan), Enquiry of the learned knowledge (Brahmacharya), Application of that knowledge (Grihastha)  etc. are the postnatal Sanskaars.

Pregnancy - pre-steps

Instead of making pregnancy an accident and panic about the steps to be undertaken,  it is best to pre-plan what is needed.

Seemant (Mental development ceremony)

Rituals for the pregnant women are done in all cultures. In USA, it is called baby shower , where it is a social function organized by pregnant women's friends who would shower gifts that would be needed for the mother and newborn child. The ancient vedic ritual (Seemant)  is more than a social function.

   The baby shower gives only practical materialistic benefit  for the mother or the newborn baby. But Seemant ritual helps in the mental development of the child.

What is the meaning of Seemant?

The junctions of the head is called Seemant. The head houses the brain which is the thinking organ. Thus Seemantonnayan means uplift of the brain (unnayan) or development of the brain. Thus this ceremony draws attention of the mothers center around the development of the brain. Punsavan ceremony is for the physical development and seemant is for mental development. With these two all that is needed for an unborn child is covered.

The ceremony:

   In the Seemantonnayan ceremony the husband pours aromatic oil on the hair of his wife, combs her hair, removes the hair knots.  This signifies that the attention of the husband and wife should center around the mental development of their child. They must understand that the mental development of the child depends on them. Whatever mental and intellectual life they lead will find its imprint on their child. The ancient masters believed that the mother is such a mould which can cast the child according to will. If this time is lost then the child, after it is born, can be influenced with good or bad circumstances of the outside environment.

   In Indian tradition on seemant day,  favorite food of the pregnant mother is given. In a social gathering, gifts are given to make her mind happy. Her hair is decorated with flowers. She wears new dress. Glass bangles are given to her and she wears till the child is born. Since the tingling sounds of the bangles are produced, the baby listens to the sound which makes the baby very attentive to sounds.

   The intention of this ceremony is to make the pregnant mother happy. Only a happy mother can give birth to a cheerful and happy kid. You will understand the deep scientific significance of performing this ritual.

Ceremony for Mental development

Why should seemant ceremony be performed in the 4th, 6th and 8th month?

   Reason for holding in the 4th month-As we have mentioned earlier, the aim of the seemantonnayan ceremony is to draw the attention of the parents towards child's mental growth. Therefore it is clear that the best time for this ceremony would be when the brain cells start forming and the child is in its mother's womb. Sushrut has written :

"Panchme manah prati-budhataram bhavati. Shashthe budhih. Saptme sarvaang pratyang vibhaagah pratyakt- tarah. Asthame asthiree bhavati ojah. Tatsra jaatah chenna jaavat niro-justvaat".

   Sushrut says it is best to do in the  4th because the mind starts working and so paying more attention while the mind is developing is the best.  Seemant also can be performed at 6th when the brain formation is rapid. In the  8th month because all four components-body, mind, nervous system, and heart are complete, one should not delay further. Whatever the month is, the aim of the ritual  is that the mother must understand that it is her responsibility for the mental growth of her child. From then on whatever she does, she should do it with caution and care because she is unintentionally influencing the child's brain inside her with each of her reflections.

Tamil Song to be sung in Seemantham

Music the first connection of

Awareness Energy to the Body Energy.

The ears are the first sensory organ to develop brain connections, it is as early as five months that the ears are fully developed that is why babies inside the tummy are responding and moving to whatever sound they hear.

   The sense of hearing is the first to develop in the uterus. At 135 days of gestation, a full sized cochlea has already developed in the baby. The first part of that hearing system to develop is the part that senses high frequencies. Thus, we can see that hearing is very primary to brain development, especially the part that hears high frequency sounds—which is often the first to be lost when there are hearing problems.

   This is why in Vedic Tradition, as soon as the baby is born, two stones are rubbed near the ears of the child, because it is the hearing sense organ that is the most developed at that state. Rubbing of  the stones brings awareness of the "Earth  to the child.

   During pregnancy this is why in the "Seemantham" ceremonies glass bangles made from "Earth" are given in  the pregnant women to wear, so that the child hears the musical sounds and its awareness is trained.

   All Vedic traditions have similar health and psychological benefits which in modern times we ignore them as unwanted superstitions.  Ancient women used to sing lullabies even before the child was born because through these lullabies they were imparting the child the knowledge of culture and human values very early in the development that it gets imprinted in the mind.

   Modern research is slowing learning this ancient fact of the influence of Music. We request readers to do searches for this information. for your convenience we give a few of them , in these links like

1. The Importance of Prenatal Sound and  Music 2. Fetal learning

   The type of music of course has its own influence on the child. usually gentle and melodious music is recommended.  Here is our recommendation.

   Listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam during pregnancy is considered to the best because of its high musical note and vibrations that completely influence.

   The left brain is the logical side and the right brain the emotional side.  Left brain is the math side and right the art side. Music bridges between math and art. Art is symbolic and math is the logical  fundamental of that symbols. Music is the mathematical expression of symbols.

   The bridging of Art and Maths in the musical form is the fundamental core in the Vedic chanting of Vishnu Saharanamam.  The neuronal traffic between the two brain hemispheres is well orchestered while listening to this Vedic chanting. Hence it is of utmost importance to listen to Vishnu Sahasranam during pregnancy making the child excel in the knowledge of Arts and Science without losing the awareness of the divine.

   Similar to other Vedic texts , Vishnu Sahasranama  starts with a dialogue between the great grandfather  Bheesma and the great grand-son  Yudhisthira seeking answers to eternity. The musical chanting uplifts the spirit of the listener and at the same time imparts physiological benefits to the body. Anyone who listens to this enchanting music can see physiological changes in a treadmill, like changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing pattern.

   It is beyond doubt that the psychology and physiology is influenced in a very positive way when the mother listens with full awareness to Vishnu Sahasranama during pregnancy. Listening to this Vedic chant during any work brings indescribable benefits to the mother and child.

   We have stories of mothers who listened to Vishnu sahasranamam during pregnancy and seeing amazing difference in the intelligence of their children as they grow up.

The type of music of course has its own influence on the child. usually gentle and melodious music is recommended.  Here is our recommendation.

Listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam  during pregnancy is considered to the best because of its high musical note and vibrations that completely influence

The left brain is the logical side and the right brain the emotional side.  Left brain is the math side and right the art side. Music bridges between math and art. Art is symbolic and math is the logical  fundamental of that symbols. Music is the mathematical expression of symbols.

The bridging of Art and Maths in the musical form is the fundamental core in the Vedic chanting of Vishnu Saharanamam.  The neuronal traffic between the two brain hemispheres is well orchestered while listening to this Vedic chanting. Hence it is of utmost importance to listen to Vishnu Sahasranam during pregnancy making the child excel in the knowledge of Arts and Science without losing the awareness of the divine.

Similar to other Vedic texts , Vishnu Sahasranama  starts with a dialogue between the great grandfather  Bheesma and the great grand-son  Yudhisthira seeking answers to eternity. The musical chanting uplifts the spirit of the listener and at the same time imparts physiological benefits to the body. Anyone who listens to this enchanting music can see physiological changes in a treadmill, like changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing pattern.

It is beyond doubt that the psychology and physiology is influenced in a very positive way when the mother listens with full awareness to Vishnu Sahasranama during pregnancy. Listening to this Vedic chant during any work brings indescribable benefits to the mother and child.

We have stories of mothers who listened to Vishnu sahasranamam during pregnancy and seeing amazing difference in the intelligence of their children as they grow up.