Bull.lnd.lnst.Hist.Med. Vol. XXX - 2000 pp 35 to 40

REFERENCES CONCERNING BIRTH CONTROL METHODSIN ANCIENT INDIAN CLASSICS - AN EXPOSITION

N.SRIKANTH·

ABSTRACT

Reproduction is the basic phenomenon of Biological activity. Like other living

beings man has a desire to reproduce. Unlike others he can has control reproductions

at his will. From early vedic periods belonging to several centuries prior to Christian

era, we find references concerning methods controlling the population over growth.

Views of vedic sages, sexologists of ancient and medieval India regarding the birth

control methods are expressed in this presentation.

Introduction:Reproduction is the basic phenomenon

of Biological activity. Like other livingbeings man has a desire to reproduce. Unlikeothers he can has control reproduction at hiswill. In vedic, purana and samhita periodspopulation growth was not a problem and thedemand ofsocial disciplines of those day wasto multiply the race. Ancient Indian Classicson medicine, sexology and religion showmany evidences in favour of birth controlmethods. But they were kept dormant dueto the domination of certain social andreligious disciplines. According to charaka,it was social obligation to have manychildren. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana1: 12-19). Men without many children wetreated as senseless and compared with treewithout flowers and fruits. It indicates alacuna in his life (Charaka Samhita ChikitsaSthana Ch.2) According to Dr. Majumdar inearly Aryan period families being partilineland people prayed for many children (An

advanced history of India Part - 1) Howeversome indirect references concerningcontraception are available in some of theancient texts. Such references are found inRigveda. Rigveda has an advanced viewabout the problem of uncontrolled population- "A man with many children succumbs tomiseries" (Rigveda : 1:64:32)

History oflater Vedic age shows pointedreferences supporting birth control methods.Ashrama dharmas were the characteristicinstitution of later vedic period, regulatessexual life, indirectly limit the populationover growth. They are Brahmacharya,Grihastashrama, Vanaprastha andSanyashrama. Description about Ashramas(Religious Disciplines) are available in manyof Hindu Puranas and Dharma Sastras.Brahmacharya : This is the stage ofprofessional education. This stage runs fromthe period after upanayana up togrihastashrama. In this stage man has tofollow many restrictions which are against

* Asst. Research Officer (Ay.), Central Research Institute (Ay.), Bhubaneshwar.

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kama, c.g. Smarana, Keerthana etc.(Astangamidhunas). Sexual life is strictlyprohibited and any action stimulating thesexual perversion are also restricted. So theyare required to lead non-conjugal life.Grihastasrama: According to lathavallabhaPurushotam, "Man has to enjoy his sexuallife from 25 years of age after the completionof professional education, up to 50 years".This is only the conjugal period or period offertility in human life.Vanaprasta & Sanyasashrama: People whohave crossed the' above periods of Ashramaare required to avoid sexual life. The abovedisciplines had an in-direct effect on thecontrol of population growth by regulatingthe conjugal life.Support of Historical Evidences:Vedic period: Use of local contraceptivesand surgical procedures were adapted asmethods to prevent conception in ancientIndia. It will be seen from descriptions inAtharva Veda 2000 B.C. (Atharva Veda:6 : 138 1-5) and also in Brihat AranyaKopanishat 1500 B.C. (BrihatAranyakopanishad : 10.66). Surgicalprocedures like crushing of testicles,medicinal applications preventing conceptionare discussed in Kausika Sutra. DuringPurana Yuga (Period of epics) 1000 B.c.,there is a mention of contraceptive methodsin Garuda Purana.Samhita period: Direct references concer-ning birth control methods are not availablein Samhita Granthas. However some indirectevidences explaining about the method ofspacing of children and limiting the conjugallife are mentioned in different contexts. Forinstance, statement given by Sushruta in hisclassic supports the above matter - "A child

Bull.Lnd.Inst.Hist.Med. Vol XXX - 2000

born before 6th year of previous child isconsidered to have short life span". Thisindirectly highlights the concept of properspacing between children (Sushruta SamhitaShareera Sthana : 10:66).Medival period: Works compiled andoriginal works done between 13 and 18thcenturies show many advancements in thisfield. Many evidences to local and oralcontraceptive methods are available. Suchreferences are found in texts like,Anangranga (1600AD) Bhava Prakash -(1600AD) Brihat Yoga Tarangini (800AD),Paneasavaka (1400A .0.), RasaratnaSamuchchaya (1300 A.D.), Yogaratnakara(1600 A.D.) etc.Evidences from Astrology: According toVaraha Mihira, position of certain planets atthe time of coitus will determine whetherthere will be conception or not.Evidences from Indian Marriage SystemPopular marriage systems practised inancient India are Monogamy, Polygamy andPolyandry. Polygamy method of marriagesystem of ancient India mainly followed inroyal families. Kautilya, author of ancientArtha Shastra, advised polygamy type ofmarriage system in special conditions. "Iffirst wife remains sterile for 8 years aftermarriage." He indirectly prohibitedpolygomy type of marriage systems andadvised monogamy which is a favourablemeasure for controlled reproduction.Polygomy and polyandry were not popularlypractised in ancient India.Monogamy: This was popularly followedby ancient Indian families. Many authoritiesof Indian sociology advised monogamy typeof marriage system which indirectly limitspopulation growth. Merits of Monogamy -

References Concerning Birth Control Methods - Srikanth

limits population over growth andEconomically favourable.Sex taboos: In vedic period sexual act wasa part of Dharma to be performed inprescribed procedures, given by physiciansand law givers. According to Manuscript,sexual act is to be performed during particulardays and conjugation is prohibited duringcertain period e.g .. , Ashtami, etc.Sexual act is also prohibited in the presenceof gurus and other respectable persons.(Astanga Sangraha Sutra Sthana Ch.9).Certain references were also put for the agelimit of marriage. According to Manu, manhas to marry after 25 years of age and sexuallife is to be continued up to 50 years.(Manusmruti :4 : I, 5: 169)

Some prescriptions from ancient medicalscience indirectly regulates sexual life whichgive the scope of contraception withoutdisturbing normal life. For instanceVagbhata states about the frequency of sexualact in different seasons i.e. Vasanta rutu, 2Times/day, Grishma rutu, fortnightly onceand in Hemantha rutu : No Restrictions wereput. (Astanga Sangraha Sutra Sthana Ch.9).Direct and Indirect Birth ControlMethods Advised by Ancient IndianPhysicians and Law Givers:Religious disciplines adapted by indianfamilies: according to Ashrama Dharmas oflater vedic period, one has to pass throughfour stages of Ashrama, out of which he hasto enjoy sexual life in grihasthashrama periodand has to lead non-conjugal life in otherperiods of Ashrama. This indirectly limitsthe period of conjugal life (Hindu-Socia]organisation).Special Methods In Yoga Ratnakara and RasaRatna Samuchchaya certain special methods

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have been described. For instance:a) Man at the time of sexual act, particularlyduring orgasm should press his force part oftesticles. One should with hold breath duringthe orgasm. By practising the above method,Shukra should not enter into female genitaltract. So there will be no conception. (RatiRahasya, Sakal a - Yoga Adhikara - 19),b) Root of Datura Plant collected duringKrishnapaksha is advised to tie to the waistof female during sexual act. (Rasa RatnaSamuchchaya 25 :91),c) For the prevention of emission of semenduring coitus, some special recipes areprescribed.

Root of Sharapunkha with mercury andpaste made out of root of Mimosa pudica withcow milk applied over sole of feet willprevent emissions. (Rati Rahasya. Sakal aYoga Adhikara - 110).Local Contraceptives:a) Genital tract of female should befumigated with smoke of burning Margosaafter stoppage of Rutusrava will preventconception (Brihat Yoga Tarangini;14:3:55),b) Palasha beejayoga (Seeds of Buteamonsoperma) : Paste made out of Palasabeeja and honey kept in vagina during coituswill prevent conception. (Brihat YogaTarangini; 143-54),c) Root of Datura collected during KrishnaPaksha should be kept in vagina during coitus(Rasaratna Samuchchaya 25:9),d) Mixture prepared out of Rock salt andTilataila applied in female genital tract willprevent conception (Hara Mekhala 4:298).Oral Contraceptives:a) Preparations with seeds of Buteamonsperma. Internal administration of

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powder of Palasha seeds for 3 days duringrutukala will prevent conception. YogaChintamani Misra Adikara),b) Flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis: Intakeof Japa Pushpa will produce sterility inwomen, according to Bhava Mishra (BhavaPrakasha Madhyama Khanda, Yoni RogaAdikhara - 33),c) Chitramoola Yoga (Plumbagozeylanica):Intake of decoction made out ofChitramoolafor 3 days, after Rutusrava will preventconception. (Kuchi Mara TantraBandhyakarana : 19),d) Oral Administration ofBeeja dala ofGunjaduring fourth and fifth day of Rutukala willprevent conception.Conclusion:

Modern commentaries of Ayurvadictexts attributed various actions to differentpreparations used for contraception during

Bull.lnd.lnsl.Hisl.Med. Vol XXX - 2000

ancient periods. According to modernpharmacology fertility control can beachieved by control of central mechanism,prevention of union of spermatozoa withovum, by altering the natural mechanisms ofconception like inhibition of ovulation, byaltering the physiology of cervical mucusetc.,. Many methods, preparations advisedand adapted by ancient Indian physicans andlaw givers may produce above effects. Someof them may possess, anti-zygotic, anti-ovulatory, spermatolytic, anti-spermatogenicactions. In ancient texts many contraceptivesare advised to insert in Yoni (Genital tract).This will give a basic idea of IUCD.Acknowledgment:

The author is thankful to Dr.K.K.Chopra, Director, Central Research Institute(Ay.), Bhubaneshwar for his encouragementand able guidance for this article.

References Concerning Birth Control Methods - Srikanth 39

REFERENCES1. Agnivesa 1974 Charaka Samihita, Nirnaya Sagar press,

Mumbai.

2. Bhavamishra 1961 Bhava Prakash, Chowkambha Sanskrit Series,Varanasi.

3. Bhagawan Dash 1975 Embroylogy and Maternity In Ayurveda,Delhi Diary Delhi.

4. Chaterjee 1988 Human Physiology, Medical Allied-Agency Bombay.

5. Manu 1938 Manusmriti, Kala Press Prayaga.

6. Pitinn Sokrow 1961 Sansex Order, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,Bombay.

7. Ramrao, A.V.S.S. 1993 A Text Book of Bio-Chemistry, Visha-kapatnam.

8. Sambsivasatry 1931 Hara Mekala Oriental manscripts, Trivandrum.

9. Sharma, K.V. 1987 Ayurveda Itihasa And Ayurveda Parichaya,A.P. Ayurvedic Literature Improvement Trust,Hyderabad.

10. Sharma, P.V. 1955 Dravya Guna Vignan Chowkhamba SanskritSeries, Varanasi.

11. Subbarao, V 1954 Kaumara Brithya Tantra, VOL.lI PublisherV. Subbarao, Guntur.

12. Vagbhata 1979 Astanga Sangraha, Telugu AcademyHyderabad.

13. Vagbhata 1953 Rasa Ratna Samuchchaya V.R. Swamy & Sons,Madras.

14. Vidya Lakshmi Pati Shastri 1973 Yoga Ratnakara, Chowkhamba SanskritSeries, Varanasi.

15. Vidyaratan 1986 Hand Book Of Social And PreventiveMedicine, J.P.B. Publishers, Delhi.

40 Bull. Ind. Inst.Hist. Med. Vol XXX - 2000

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