Garbhadhana
Garbhadhanam / கருத்தரித்தல்
கருத்தரித்தல்
Garbhadhana
Meaning of Garbhadhana
- The word Garbh means “womb” or “conception.”
- Adhana means “receiving” or “establishing.”
- Therefore, Garbhadhāna means the sacred act performed for conception.
It is the first of the 16 Hindu Saṃskāras and refers to the process where a married couple unites on an auspicious day and nakshatra with the intention of conceiving a good child.
This ritual is performed only for conception, not merely marital intimacy.
Garbhadhana should not be confused with:
- Nishekam
- Shanti Muhurtham
- Ritu Shanti
These refer to the first marital union after marriage, not conception.
When to Perform Garbhadhana?
- From the day menstruation begins, first 4 days are forbidden.
- Garbhadhana is allowed from the 5th to the 16th day of the cycle.
- The days on which the husband and wife have sexual intercourse are important in determining the child’s gender.
- Conception on even-numbered days → More Chance for male child.
- Conception on odd-numbered days → More Chance for female child.
Garbhadhana -The importance of days in determining gender.
It is calculated from the first day of menstruation
5th day – Neutral; no major harm
6th day – Male child; shorter lifespan
7th day – Female child
8th day – Male child; bright life
9th day – Female child; good life
10th day – Male child; long life
11th day – Female child; beautiful
12th day – Male child; virtuous
13th day – Female child; virtuous
14th day – Male child; wealthy
15th day – Female child; auspicious
16th day – Male child; king-like qualities
Planetary positions for the birth of a male child
- Choose even-numbered days (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16).
- Adhana Lagna should be:
- male Rasi.
- male Navamsa.
- male planets in Lagna.
- Male Planets like Sun, Mars, and Jupiter should be occupied in 1, 5, or 9.
- Avoid performing Garbhadhāna on Revati, Moola, Kettai, Magam nakshatras.
- If Moon, Venus, Mars, and Lagna occupy Upajaya Rasi and receive Mercury’s aspect → twins baby possible.
- If during Garbhadhāna breath flows through the right nostril → male child (traditional belief).
Planetary positions for the birth of a Female Child
- Choose odd-numbered days (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15).
- Adhana Lagna should be:
- Female Rasi.
- Female Navamsa.
- Female planets in Lagna.
- If breath flows through left nostril → female child.
Recommended Nakshatras for Garbhadhana
Good:
Uttara , Uttiradam , Ashtam , Thiruvonam , Mirugasirisha , Chithirai , Avittam , Swathi , Sathayam , Punarpoosam , Poosam, Anusham , Uthiratadhi
- Avoid:
Aswini , Magam , Moolam , Bharani , Pooram , Pooradam , Poorattadhi , Krittikai , Thiruvathirai , Ayilyam , Kettai , Revathi
Recommended Tithi for Garbhadhana
- Good:
Dwithiya, Thrithiya, Panchami, Sapthami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadashi, Trayodashi.
- Avoid:
Amavasya, Prathamai, Ashtami, Navami, Chaturdashi
Recommended Lagnas for Garbhadhana
- Good:
Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Cancer, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Pisces
- Avoid:
Aries, Scorpio, Capricorn
Recommended Weekdays for Garbhadhana
- Good:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Avoid:
Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday
Days to Avoid for Garbhadhana
- First 4 days of menstruation
- Days with rasi/nakshatra/tithi Gandantha (inauspicious)
- Avoid Janma, Anujanma, Trijanma nakshatras for both Husband and wife.
- Daytime, midnight, or sandhya (Morning or Evening) times
- Solar or lunar eclipse days
- Day of performing ancestor rituals (Thithi)
- Vaidhruthi, Vyatipata yogas
- Stars influenced by malefic planets
- Patthira Karana
- Avoid Inauspicious tithi like Amavasya, Prathamai, Sashti, Ashtami, Navami, Chaturdashi
- Avoid the days when Venus is afflicted (Venus is the significator for conception).
- Chara Lagnas or lagnas with malefics
- Simha Navamsa
- 5th house or its lord being Asthanga Dosha or debilitated
Key Muhurtha Rules for Garbhadhana
- Even if marriage muhurtham was in Krishna Paksha, Garbhadhana must be in Shukla Paksha.
- Choose a day giving Tarabalam to both husband and wife.
- Avoid days of Chandrastas for both.
- Garabhadhana should be Perform betwwen 5 to 16 days from the start of menstruation.
- Avoid Rahu Kalam and Emakandam.
- Malefic planets (Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, Sun) should be in 3, 6, 11.
- Benefic planets (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury + waxing Moon) should be in Kendra or Trikona.
- Jupiter (Putra Karakar) should ideally be in 1, 5, or 9.
