Ancient Indian wisdom-SEX DETERMINATION

Ancient Indian wisdom- SEX DETERMINATION

SEX DETERMINATION

In the volume 75:152--154-1984 of The Journal of Heredity published by American Genetic Association, Alain F. Corcos of the Michigan State University has written an essay titled "Reproduction and heredity beliefs of the Hindus based on their sacred books".

In his essay Corcos has dealt with excerpts from Manusmriti, Varahmihir's Brihatsamhita and specially chapter from Brihadaranyak Upanishad related to reproduction. In this different diets have been prescribed for couples budding parenthood to get a son or daughter with specific qualities. For example, Brihadaranyak Upanishad says that to get a fair son with long life and knowledge of one Ved, a man and his wife should eat milk, rice with ghee. A man who desires to have a knowledgeable daughter with long life should make khichadi of til and rice and give it to his wife.

After describing the more details from other Hindu scriptures, the author questions as to whether there is any truth in these. And to this question he himself answers in the affirmative stating that the studies of physicians in France and Canada prove these to be correct. Magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium play an important role in determining the sex of the child. More of potassium and sodium and less of calcium and magnesium results in a boy child and vice versa results in a girl child. Stalwoski experimented this on 36 couples out of which 31, that is 86%, were successful. Lorrain experimented on 224 couples out of which 181, that is 81%, were successful.