The Fertility Rituals of Hinduism

Faith Mysticism

oi-Anwesha Barari

By Anwesha Barari

Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 11:01

Fertility rituals are so ingrained in the day to day life of Hindus that one might just fail to notice them. Hindu rituals directly or indirectly celebrate this very mortal quality of 'giving birth'. The fertility rituals in Hinduism pay tribute to this divine power to propagate and regenerate that all living beings have. Everywhere in Hinduism, myths we come across are symbols of fertility, be it the worship of the various Goddesses or the harvest festivals; Hinduism is strewn with instances of reverence for the 'fertile'.

We associate certain patent concepts like 'karma', 'the cycle of rebirth', 'moksha' etc with Hinduism. 'Fertility' too is one such concept that commands great importance in the Hindu way of life. As Hinduism is not a religion of the book but rather a way of life, the concept as such comes through in the form of fertility rites and rituals rather than academic references.

Here are some examples of fertility rituals in Hinduism that express the complex concepts in simple practices of daily life.

1. The Harvest Festival:
In India, most of the festivals are celebrated in tandem with the crops calender. Thus the Harvest season is a major ritual of fertility. It celebrates the 'fertility of the land' in form of the crops that have been successfully harvested. In a way it also a prayer for the land to retain its fertility for the season. Examples: Baisakhi, Pongal, Onam

2. Worshiping the Girl Child:
A festival called 'Kanchack' or 'Kanya Pujan' is celebrated in the Northern parts of India which involves worshiping girls who have not yet reached puberty. This ritual in Hinduism celebrates fertility of a woman in nascent and virgin state. Girls are considered symbols of fertility and women, who wish to have children worship them as good omens.

3. Marriage as a fertility rite:
Hindu marriages are thick with examples of sacred fertility rituals. The presence of a banana stock, betel (paan) leaves, mild and curd are all symbols of Hinduism suggestive of the imminent fertility that will be the outcome of a sacred union. The Vedas give a detailed descriptions and chants for these rituals as they change the course of our life. Just before the groom sears vermilion (sindoor) on the parting of the bride's hair and the marriage is completed, the bride and the groom together feed sweet to a young child. This is supposed to be a good luck charm for their progeny to come.

4. The Baby-shower Ritual:
Commonly known as 'God-bharai',the baby-shower is the most important fertility rite in the life of a woman. It is a celebration of her womanhood and the blessing of motherhood she is about to receive. The would be mother on this day is indulged to the core and feed all things auspicious for the unborn child. It declares loud and clear, 'you are special because you are fertile.'

In Hinduism, life revolves around these symbols of fertility that give meaning to human existence. The miracle of birth truly establishes there is a higher power watching over us.