Searching for a Hindu to interview on 6 month miscarriages

[UEV]

Hello, my name is UEV and I am a former undergrad from University. Yet currently, I am enrolled with an online graduate program with John F. Kennedy University and am looking for an individual to interview for my World Spirituality class. I am searching for someone who is Hindu to ask a series of questions related to 6-month miscarriages from the perspective of their religious tradition and was curious if anyone would be interested to participate.

In addition, yes this is for an assignment but the intention is not to bash or politicize Hinduism.

Thank You.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Let us see if we have any word on that in our books. You are welcome to ask your questions.

Hindus will generally consider as it "Bhāgya" (fate), "Ishwar Ichchā" (Will of the God), result of our "Karmas" (actions) in previous births. But nothing that should get one down. "Hotā hai" (It happens), get on with it.

 

[UEV]

Let us see if we have any word on that in our books. You are welcome to ask your questions.

Hindus will generally consider as it "Bhagya" (fate), "Ishwar Ichcha" (Will of the God), result of our "Karmas" (actions) in previous births. But nothing that should get one down. "Hota hai" (It happens), get on with it.

Thank you for the response and willingness to answer the questions I have written. Enclosed I have attached 8 questions I would greatly appreciate you answering related to 6-month miscarriages and through the lens of Hinduism:

1) What do Hindus call the problem of mis-carriages at 6 months of pregnancy?

2) What do Hindus believe cause this problem?

3) Why do Hindus think 6-month mis-carriages occur?

4) What do Hindus believe related to traumatic experiences? How does it work?

5) How severe do Hindus think a woman’s sickness from a 6-month mis-carriage will be and I speak in the context of mental, physical, spiritual. Do Hindus think it will last for a long or short time?

6) What kind of treatment do Hindus believe the woman should receive? What are the most important results Hindus hope she receives from this treatment?

7) What do Hindus believe the chief problems of this condition are?

8) What do Hindus fear most for this woman in the future?

 

[Aupmanyav]

1. That is a misfortune and not a problem. In olden times, there were many rites of passage to be conducted before and during pregnancy (Sanskara (rite of passage) - Wikipedia). Most people do just one or two now. These days we observe just one 'Samskara" (that is the correct spelling) and it is known as 'Godh Bharanā' (filling the lap). This is equivalent to what is mentioned in Wikipedia as 'Sīmāntonnayana'. The other rite is 'Jātakarma', after the birth of child. The later rites are performed even now.
2. and 3. Already answered, Bhagya, Ishwar Ichcha and Karmas of the previous lives.
4. A person has harmed some one in a previous life. The child is the harmed person who is allowed to take revenge. In one of the cases (as mentioned in stories by my grandfather) the person had cheated another of Rupees 20,000. A child was born and when the expenses for the child totalled Rupees 20,000, the child died. Moral of the story: Don't cheat anyone. You may have to repay it in a future life. Of course, as an atheist Hindu, I do not believe in the story.
5. In India, there are many children (or used to be). One miscarriage was not considered a calamity. People took it in their stride. As I said in my first post - get on with it. My sister lost her first born in six months (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS). She mothered two children later. My grandmother lost her first daughter in infanthood then mothered my uncle and father.
6. Medicines if required or family support. Perhaps some rituals also in case of those who believe in them.
7. Health, psychological support.
8. They don't fear anything. It is a mishap which affected people have to take in their stride.
Are you disappointed that Hindus do not take recourse to Voudoo?

 

[Vinayaka]

Thank you for the response and willingness to answer the questions I have written. Enclosed I have attached 8 questions I would greatly appreciate you answering related to 6-month miscarriages and through the lens of Hinduism:

1) What do Hindus call the problem of mis-carriages at 6 months of pregnancy?

2) What do Hindus believe cause this problem?

3) Why do Hindus think 6-month mis-carriages occur?

4) What do Hindus believe related to traumatic experiences? How does it work?

5) How severe do Hindus think a woman’s sickness from a 6-month mis-carriage will be and I speak in the context of mental, physical, spiritual. Do Hindus think it will last for a long or short time?

6) What kind of treatment do Hindus believe the woman should receive? What are the most important results Hindus hope she receives from this treatment?

7) What do Hindus believe the chief problems of this condition are?

8) What do Hindus fear most for this woman in the future?

1) It wouldn't be considered a problem, but just what happened. The reaction emotionally would vary from person to person. Normally Hindus just accept what happens.
2. There is no cause. It happens. Some might think that the incoming soul changed it's mind.
3. Stuff happens. Floods happen. Lightning strikes.
4. It's the individual's karma.
5. It varies by person. Generally the more inner you are, the less of an emotional reaction.
6. Go to a doctor, friends come by, all the normal stuff.
7. There are no problems, just karmic challenges.
8. Nothing. There is naught to fear.

 

[UEV]

1. That is a misfortune and not a problem. In olden times, there were many rites of passage to be conducted before and during pregnancy (Sanskara (rite of passage) - Wikipedia). Most people do just one or two now. These days we observe just one 'Samskara" (that is the correct spelling) and it is known as 'Godh Bharanā' (filling the lap). This is equivalent to what is mentioned in Wikipedia as 'Sīmāntonnayana'. The other rite is 'Jātakarma', after the birth of child. The later rites are performed even now.
2. and 3. Already answered, Bhagya, Ishwar Ichcha and Karmas of the previous lives.
4. A person has harmed some one in a previous life. The child is the harmed person who is allowed to take revenge. In one of the cases (as mentioned in stories by my grandfather) the person had cheated another of Rupees 20,000. A child was born and when the expenses for the child totalled Rupees 20,000, the child died. Moral of the story: Don't cheat anyone. You may have to repay it in a future life. Of course, as an atheist Hindu, I do not believe in the story.
5. In India, there are many children (or used to be). One miscarriage was not considered a calamity. People took it in their stride. As I said in my first post - get on with it. My sister lost her first born in six months (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS). She mothered two children later. My grandmother lost her first daughter in infanthood then mothered my uncle and father.
6. Medicines if required or family support. Perhaps some rituals also in case of those who believe in them.
7. Health, psychological support.
8. They don't fear anything. It is a mishap which affected people have to take in their stride.
Are you disappointed that Hindus do not take recourse to Voudoo?

Lol. I'm not disappointed about the absence of voodoo. More intrigued. Could you please elaborate more on the ceremonies Sanskara, Samskara, Godh Bharanā, Sīmāntonnayana, and Jātakarma. What is significant about these particular rites?

 

[Aupmanyav]

There were and are ('Sīmāntonnayana' and those after it) as I said, family occasions, when the families (extended families of the woman and her husband, could add up to dozens of people, even hundreds) would gather up. There will be gifts and feasts. There may be priests, chanting and fire-rituals in which the woman and her husband will participate, flowers and sweets, perhaps much smoke in the gathering place, but we weather it bravely.

Gode Bharai (filling the lap): Woman to be careful after this. No exertion. Perhaps no bathing till after the tenth/fortieth day of the birth (varies from one community to other) of the child when the child is allowed to be taken out of the room.
Communal Gode Bharai for economically weak sections of the society perhaps in a village school.

Gode Bharai for the rich and famous
Jatakarma, "rite of a new-born infant". It is the first post-natal rite of passage of the new born baby. Father applying honey to the child's lips.
Namakaran: Naming the child. Father whispering the name of the child in her ear.

Annaprashan: First cereal meal of the child in the sixth month - eldest relative to offer the first morsel.

Chudakarma: Frist tonsure of the child, much weeping for him but fun for others

Vidyarambha (Beginning of education) or Yajnopavita (Sacred Thred Ceremony)

Final: Vivaha (Marriage) and he/she is no more a child. Must assume responsibilities of the household.

Bengali Wedding
Each region of India has its own traditions, styles for marriage, but going around fire seven times and the seven vows are common.
Cycle completed. A new one starts.