Simmantonayana translates to parting the hair upwards. In this ritual the husband parts his pregnant wife’s hair upwards three times in the presence of friends and family. This ritual is symbolic of the husband and other members of the house taking on the household chores and letting the woman rest during her last months of pregnancy. The Sanskara is performed during the seventh of eighth month of pregnancy. Mainly observed to give her rest, this Sanskara originated in the Yåjñavalkya Smriti verse 3.79 which asserts that all the cravings of a pregnant woman should be satisfied during the last months of pregnancy for the birth of a healthy baby and she should take ample rest.
The importance of this Sanskara also goes on to state the importance of maternity leaves beginning a month or two before the birth of the child in various organizations.
The more common version is that of a baby shower where friends and family gather to celebrate the expectant mother and shower her with gifts for the child and herself, and good food to satisfy her food cravings. She is expected to not travel or overexert herself after this ritual as these are the most crucial months before child birth. The mother is advised to start meditating and look at happy pictures and movies and think happy thoughts during this time.
This Sanskara is also important because most modern mothers fall into prenatal depression and this Sanskara prevents it.
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