If the mind of the father is not sober,
the semen discharged
will not be very good. Thus the living entity, wrapped in the matter produced from the father and mother, will be demoniac like Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. The conditions of conception are to be carefully studied. This is a very great science
TRANSLATION: Lord
Brahma continued: Those two principal doorkeepers of the
Personality of Godhead have now entered the womb of Diti, the
powerful semen of Kasyapa Muni having covered them.
PURPORT:
Here is
clear proof of how a living entity coming originally from
Vaikunthaloka is encaged in material elements. The living entity
takes shelter within the semen of a father, which is injected
within the womb of a mother, and with the help of the mother's
emulsified ovum the living entity grows a particular type of a
body. In this connection it is to be remembered that the mind of
Kasyapa Muni was not in order when he conceived the two sons,
Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. Therefore the semen he discharged
was simultaneously extremely powerful and mixed with the quality
of anger. It is to be concluded that while conceiving a child
one's mind must be very sober and devotional. For this purpose
the Garbhadhana-samskara is recommended in the Vedic scriptures.
If the mind of the father is not sober, the semen discharged
will not be very good. Thus the living entity, wrapped in the
matter produced from the father and mother, will be demoniac
like Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu. The conditions of conception
are to be carefully studied. This is a very great science.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.35]
Side Note:
Living entity coming originally from Vaikunthaloka, from a
planet!!!
Before
begetting a child, one has to sanctify his perplexed mind.
When the parents engage their minds in the lotus feet of the
Lord and in such a state the child is born, naturally good
devotee children come; when the society is full of such good
population, there is no trouble from demoniac mentalities.
According to Sridhara Svami, Brahma's constant dropping of his body does not refer to his actually giving up his body. Rather, he suggests that Brahma gave up a particular mentality. Mind is the subtle body of the living entity. We may sometimes be absorbed in some thought which is sinful, but if we give up the sinful thought, it may be said that we give up the body. Brahma's mind was not in correct order when he created the demons. It must have been full of passion because the entire creation was passionate; therefore such passionate sons were born. It follows that any father and mother should also be careful while begetting children. The mental condition of a child depends upon the mental status of his parents at the time he is conceived. According to the Vedic system, therefore, the garbhadhana-samskara, or the ceremony for giving birth to a child, is observed. Before begetting a child, one has to sanctify his perplexed mind. When the parents engage their minds in the lotus feet of the Lord and in such a state the child is born, naturally good devotee children come; when the society is full of such good population, there is no trouble from demoniac mentalities.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.20.28]
The mental state of the father and
mother before sex will certainly
affect the mentality of the child to be begotten. A child who is begotten out of lust may not turn out as the parents desire. TRANSLATION: Being situated in the liberated position of devotional service, Prthu Maharaja not only performed all fruitive activities but also begot five sons by his wife, Arci. Indeed, all his sons were begotten according to his own desire.
PURPORT: As a
householder, Prthu Maharaja had five sons by his wife, Arci,
and all these sons were begotten as he desired them. They were
not born whimsically or by accident. How one can beget
children according to one's own desire is practically unknown
in the present age (Kali-yuga). In this regard the secret of
success depends on the parents' acceptance of the various
purificatory methods known as samskaras. The first samskara,
the garbhadhana-samskara, or child-begetting samskara, is
compulsory, especially for the higher castes, the brahmanas
and the ksatriyas. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, sex life which
is not against religious principles is Krsna Himself, and
according to religious principles, when one wants to beget a
child he must perform the garbhadhana-samskara before having
sex. The mental state of the father and mother before sex will
certainly affect the mentality of the child to be begotten. A
child who is begotten out of lust may not turn out as the
parents desire. As stated in the sastras, yatha yonir yatha
bijam. Yatha yonih indicates the mother, and yatha bijam
indicates the father. If the mental state of the parents is
prepared before they have sex, the child which they will beget
will certainly reflect their mental condition. It is therefore
understood by the words atma-sammatan that both Prthu Maharaja
and Arci underwent the garbhadhana purificatory process before
begetting children, and thus they begot all their sons
according to their desires and purified mental states. Prthu
Maharaja did not beget his children out of lust, nor was he
attracted to his wife for sense gratificatory purposes. He
begot the children as a grhastha for the future administration
of his government all over the world.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.53]
According to the Vedic system,
therefore, before a child is conceived,
the garbhadhana-samskara is performed. This ceremony molds the mentality of the father in such a way that when he plants his seed in the womb of his wife, he will beget a child whose mind will be completely saturated with a devotional attitude. Since Maharaja Priyavrata was a great devotee, how could he have begotten a son who desired to be transferred to Pitrloka? Lord Krsna says, pitrn yanti pitr-vratah: persons who desire to go to Pitrloka are transferred there. Similarly, yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam: persons who desire to be transferred to the spiritual planets, Vaikunthalokas, can also go there. Since Maharaja Agnidhra was the son of a Vaisnava, he should have desired to be transferred to the spiritual world, Vaikunthaloka. Why, then, did he desire to be transferred to Pitrloka? In answer to this, Gosvami Giridhara, one of the Bhagavatam commentators, remarks that Agnidhra was born when Maharaja Priyavrata was infatuated by lusty desires. This may be accepted as a fact because sons are begotten with different mentalities according to the time of their conception. According to the Vedic system, therefore, before a child is conceived, the garbhadhana-samskara is performed. This ceremony molds the mentality of the father in such a way that when he plants his seed in the womb of his wife, he will beget a child whose mind will be completely saturated with a devotional attitude. At the present moment, however, there are no such garbhadhana-samskaras, and therefore people generally have a lusty attitude when they beget children. Especially in this age of Kali, there are no garbhadhana ceremonies; everyone enjoys sex with his wife like a cat or dog. Therefore according to sastric injunctions, almost all the people of this age belong to the sudra category. Of course, although Maharaja Agnidhra had a desire to be transferred to Pitrloka, this does not mean that his mentality was that of a sudra; he was a ksatriya. [Srila Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 5.2.2]
Lord Siva, being very kind to the ghosts, sees that
although they
are condemned, they get physical bodies. He places them into the wombs of women who indulge in sexual intercourse regardless of the restrictions on time and circumstance. TRANSLATION: Lord Siva, the king of the ghosts, sitting on the back of his bull carrier, travels at this time, accompanied by ghosts who follow him for their welfare.
PURPORT: Lord Siva, or Rudra, is the king of the ghosts.
Ghostly characters worship Lord Siva to be gradually guided
toward a path of self-realization. Mayavadi philosophers are
mostly worshipers of Lord Siva, and Sripada Sankaracarya is
considered to be the incarnation of Lord Siva for preaching
godlessness to the Mayavadi philosophers. Ghosts are bereft of
a physical body because of their grievously sinful acts, such
as suicide. The last resort of the ghostly characters in human
society is to take shelter of suicide, either material or
spiritual. Material suicide causes loss of the physical body,
and spiritual suicide causes loss of the individual identity.
Mayavadi philosophers desire to lose their individuality and
merge into the impersonal spiritual brahmajyoti existence.
Lord Siva, being very kind to the ghosts, sees that although
they are condemned, they get physical bodies. He places them
into the wombs of women who indulge in sexual intercourse
regardless of the restrictions on time and circumstance.
Kasyapa wanted to impress this fact upon Diti so that she
might wait for a while......... Kasyapa warned his wife that
because Lord Siva would see their sex indulgence, the time was
not appropriate. Diti might argue that they would enjoy sex
life in a private place, but Kasyapa reminded her that Lord
Siva has three eyes, called the sun, moon and fire, and one
cannot escape his vigilance any more than one can escape Visnu.
Although seen by the police, a criminal is sometimes not
immediately punished; the police wait for the proper time to
apprehend him. The forbidden time for sexual intercourse would
be noted by Lord Siva, and Diti would meet with proper
punishment by giving birth to a child of ghostly character or
a godless impersonalist. Kasyapa foresaw this, and thus he
warned his wife Diti.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.24-25]
Garbhadhana-samskara = the
husband and wife
should chant at least fifty rounds before going to sex.
You have asked me
some questions about the functions of sex life in Krishna
Consciousness, and the basic principle is that it should be
avoided as far as possible. However, if it is unavoidable,
then it should be utilized only for begetting Krishna
Conscious children. In that case, the husband and wife should
chant at least fifty rounds before going to sex. The
recommended period is six days after the menstruation period.
[Srila
Prabhupada Letter to: Syama Los Angeles, 18 January, 1969]
In Bhagavad-gita we have studied also before that
sex life for begetting a good child is Krsna Himself.
To beget a child
in a godly atmosphere is known in the Vedic scriptures as
Garbhadhana-samskara. If the parents want a child in the godly
qualities they should follow the ten principles of the human
being. In Bhagavad-gita we have studied also before that sex
life for begetting a good child is Krsna Himself. Sex life is
not condemned provided the process is used in Krsna
consciousness. Those who are in Krsna consciousness at least
should not beget children like cats and dogs but should beget
them so that they may become Krsna conscious after birth. That
should be the advantage of children born of a father or mother
absorbed in Krsna consciousness.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Bhagavad-gita 16.1-3]
There will be peace and prosperity in the world due to good
and sane
population only; there is hell and disturbance only because of the unwanted, insane populace addicted to sex indulgence.
The samskaras of
the school of sanatana-dharma (man's eternal engagement) are
highly suitable for creating an atmosphere for taking
advantage of good stellar influences, and therefore
garbhadhana-samskara, or the first seedling purificatory
process prescribed for the higher castes, is the beginning of
all pious acts to receive a good pious and intelligent class
of men in human society. There will be peace and prosperity in
the world due to good and sane population only; there is hell
and disturbance only because of the unwanted, insane populace
addicted to sex indulgence.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 1.12.12]
When there are constant disturbances on the earth, that
is an omen that some demoniac people have been born
or
that the demoniac population has increased.
TRANSLATION: Marking these and many other omens of evil times,
everyone but the four sage-sons of Brahma, who were aware of
the fall of Jaya and Vijaya and of their birth as Diti's sons,
was seized with fear. They did not know the secrets of these
portents and thought that the dissolution of the universe was
at hand.
PURPORT:
According to Bhagavad-gita, Seventh Chapter, the laws of
nature are so stringent that it is impossible for the living
entity to surpass their enforcement. It is also explained that
only those who are fully surrendered to Krsna in Krsna
consciousness can be saved. We can learn from the description
of the Srimad-Bhagavatam that it is because of the birth of
two great demons that there were so many natural disturbances.
It is to be indirectly understood, as previously described,
that when there are constant disturbances on the earth, that
is an omen that some demoniac people have been born or that
the demoniac population has increased. In former days there
were only two demons--those born of Diti--yet there were so
many disturbances. At the present day, especially in this age
of Kali, these disturbances are always visible, which
indicates that the demoniac population has certainly
increased.
To check the increase of demoniac population, the Vedic civilization enacted so many rules and regulations of social life, the most important of which is the garbhadhana process for begetting good children. In Bhagavad-gita Arjuna informed Krsna that if there is unwanted population (varna-sankara), the entire world will appear to be hell. People are very anxious for peace in the world, but there are so many unwanted children born without the benefit of the garbhadhana ceremony, just like the demons born from Diti. Diti was so lusty that she forced her husband to copulate at a time which was inauspicious, and therefore the demons were born to create disturbances. In having sex life to beget children, one should observe the process for begetting nice children; if each and every householder in every family observes the Vedic system, then there are nice children, not demons, and automatically there is peace in the world. If we do not follow regulations in life for social tranquillity, we cannot expect peace. Rather, we will have to undergo the stringent reactions of natural laws.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.17.15]
In Bhagavad-gita it is said that if human beings
do not follow the spiritual way
of life, there will be an increase of varna-sankara population, population begotten like cats and dogs, and the entire world will become like hell.
TRANSLATION:
My dear father
and mother, you endured rain, wind, strong sun, scorching heat
and severe cold, suffering all sorts of inconvenience
according to different seasons. By practicing pranayama to
control the air within the body through yoga, and by eating
only air and dry leaves fallen from the trees, you cleansed
from your minds all dirty things. In this way, desiring a
benediction from Me, you worshiped Me with peaceful minds.
PURPORT: Vasudeva
and Devaki did not obtain the Supreme Personality of Godhead
as their son very easily, nor does the Supreme Godhead accept
merely anyone as His father and mother. Here we can see how
Vasudeva and Devaki obtained Krsna as their eternal son. In
our own lives, we are meant to follow the principles indicated
herewith for getting good children. Of course, it is not
possible for everyone to get Krsna as his son, but at least
one can get very good sons and daughters for the benefit of
human society. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that if human
beings do not follow the spiritual way of life, there will be
an increase of varna-sankara population, population begotten
like cats and dogs, and the entire world will become like
hell. Not practicing Krsna consciousness but simply
encouraging artificial means to check the population will be
futile; the population will increase, and it will consist of
varna-sankara, unwanted progeny. It is better to teach people
how to beget children not like hogs and dogs, but in
controlled life.
Human life is meant not for becoming a hog or dog, but for tapo divyam, transcendental austerity. Everyone should be taught to undergo austerity, tapasya. Although it may not be possible to undergo tapasya like that of Prsni and Sutapa, the sastra has given an opportunity for a method of tapasya very easy to perform--the sankirtana movement. One cannot expect to undergo tapasya to get Krsna as one's child, yet simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra (kirtanad eva krsnasya), one can become so pure that one becomes free from all the contamination of this material world (mukta-sangah) and goes back home, back to Godhead (param vrajet). The Krsna consciousness movement, therefore, is teaching people not to adopt artificial means of happiness, but to take the real path of happiness as prescribed in the sastra--the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra--and become perfect in every aspect of material existence.
[Srila
Prabhupada from Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.34-35]
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