my sister is pregnant, can i grow my beard and will it help in her child birth.
I need the wellness of my sister and child.
or only husbands should grow beard
my sister is pregnant, can i grow my beard and will it help in her child birth.
I need the wellness of my sister and child.
or only husbands should grow beard
Initially when I saw this thread, I thought this person must be joking!
But then, obviously this is a serious question, judging from the number of replies.
If this is tradition, why did this come about? Seems to me that it may be grounded in two reasons: 1. To discourage the man spending time with a barber at the time of birth, when his availability is necessary 2. To make the man unattractive, may be for obvious reasons. 3. Somehow there is a connection between the health and well being of the child to the shearing of the father's facial hair.
Any of you know what the tradition is and the reason for it? Sri Sangom sir seems to know a bit.
Interesting!
Regards,
KRS
Dear Shri KRS,
To the best of my knowledge this custom (of husband growing a beard during the wife's pregnancy) has no basis in the Dharmasastras. It was, however, observed by the more orthodox families generally during the last one or two months of the pregnancy. It appears to me that this might have been more as a constant reminder to the husband about the delicate health of the pregnant wife and the need for him to adopt "brahmacharyam" temporarily, for obvious reasons. Indirectly, therefore, this voluntarily imposed self-control on the part of the husband was thought to facilitate safe delivery too. (We have been somewhat euphemistic in such matters traditionally; instead of plainly saying "don't disturb your wife with all your sexual demands and jeopardise her health", this was a signal, that's what I guess.)
It is exactly for the same reason that a girl's brother (younger or elder) or even father growing a beard during pregnancy of sister/daughter will not be an acceptable gesture. If the brother or father are very concerned about the woman, they can make any other of the hundreds of "vendutals" available instead of encroaching on what is proper for the husband to do in the case of pregnancy. For example the brother/father can make a "venduthal" to perform "angapradakshinam" of some temple.
sangom: It appears to me that this might have been more as a constant reminder to the husband about the delicate health of the pregnant wife and the need for him to adopt "brahmacharyam" temporarily, for obvious reasons. Indirectly, therefore, this voluntarily imposed self-control on the part of the husband was thought to facilitate safe delivery too.
kunjuppu: it is often said, that in third world countries, we have women who deliver the baby in the morning, and back in the fields in the afternoon. may not be true, but definitely an ode to the resiliency of the womenfolk.
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