Life-cycle rituals
(samskaras) undertaken by a husband before to the birth of his kid, as mandated
in dharma literature, or religious responsibility writings.
There were three such ceremonies, according to this
literature: Garbhadhana, which assured conception; Pumsavana, which insured
that the newly conceived kid would be a male; and Simantonnayana, which was
conducted late in the pregnancy to secure the child's good health and the
mother's smooth delivery.
Although these ceremonies are prescribed as mandatory in the
dharma canon, they are presently only done by the most orthodox brahmins.
