PJBQJO IN ANCIENT AND MEDIAEVAL INDIA

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ROBERT HEILIG MD„ MCfC, FAMS.. FNI.

Em. Professor of Medicine, Jaipur

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There should not be a fourth issue, even under BIRTH CONTROL IN adverse conditions; beyond this, a woman should be considered immoral; in case of five, she ANCIENT AND becomes a profligate, oh, learned one I You know the rules of conduct. How could you ask MEDIAEVAL INDIA me for an issue, as if by ignorance. MAHABHARAT, Adiparva, canto 123, V. 76. 77 ROBERT HEILIG AfD., MCP; FAMS., FNI. So sternly Kunti reproved Pandu, her husband, Em. Professor of Medicine, Jaipur father of the Pandavas, when he demanded a fourth son of her. The attitude expressed In

this sloka is certainly worth of our attention but not typical for ancient Indian society.

he claim that birth control was prac- T tised in the hoary past by the institu- tion of Brahmachari is true only by coincidence not by intent. Our attempts

to find the faintest hint of contraception

in the classical writings of Charak and Susruta were completely unsuccessful-no

trace of it anywhere. The Shankar- acharya of Puri, interviewed on my behalf by Pandit Devi Shankar Tiwari, stated that

the fact, that a Brahmachari, upto the age of 24. had to live in celibacy was dictated exclusively by the intention of keeping him concentrated on his studies, not diverting any part of his thinking to the

necessities of family life. Since Brahma- charis had to belong to one of the three high castes, and Sudras, the vast majority of the population, were excluded, this already would have prevented any effect

I of the Brahmachari’s late marrying on up by fasting, which, when not absolute, population control. Still more proof, at least strictly prohibited consumption that there was no intention of birth of cereals and of salt from Sambhar on control or population planning is the fact, fasting days. Only rock salt from Lahore that in the earliest scriptures, Smritis etc. could be used, which was scarce and the inviolable rule was laid down that a costly. Instead of cereals, water chestnut girl must be married before puberty. On (Singhara), lotus seeds (Makhana), tapioca attaining of puberty her natural urges (Sabudana) etc. were permitted. In this must be met by her own husband; an way the Ekadashi, every eleventh day, unmarried girl at this stage would become Chaturthi, the 4th day and Pradosh, the the victim of temptations far too powerful 13th day of every Hindu month, Nauratri, resisted, to be says the Shankaracharya. the 9 days of fast before Dassehra and explanation, that The the of girls Chaitra, helped in conserving provisions before puberty developed after the Muslim that were in short supply. In the same conquest with a view to protect the girl sense worked the injunction that Brahmins children, is absolutely untenable since and Brahmacharis should eat once a day times a from immemorial most sacred only. Many people, even to-day, are the householder duty of was to secure fasting once a week according to an astro- for all his daughters before they loger’s advice to placate a particular plan- became mature. et or,in the case of wives, to protect the Just as Brahmacharihood might have husband’s life. Thus, by various customs somewhat reduced the size of families by and rituals, India, always aware of her raising the marriage age of men to 24, limited means of livelihood, worked out the prohibition of widow remarriage had methods, anchoreds in religion, to make a similar effect, especially in the case of both ends meet without resorting to inten- child-widows. tional birth control by contraceptives,

abstinence in married life etc. Population was controlled effectively by “natural means” or “acts of God” Since population remained more or only. Incessant warfare, periodically, less constant, living space was freely almost every ten years recurring famines, available and unemployment no problem floods and, especially, epidemics took in a rural society based on the joint such a heavy toll, that, as far as we can family system, population planning by guess, the population remained constant birth control was not a vital social pro- centuries; years ago the for about 200 blem as it is today ; therefore, no provi-

population was estimated at 60 million, sion was made for it in Vedic times while roughly one tenth of today’s figure. And food scarcity was tackled on an all- yet, according to the Shankaracharya, Hinduistic basis, as discussed before. It India always was a country of scarcity, should also be remembered that children,

deficient, especially, in cereals and salt. especially sons, were an asset in a joint These chronic deficiencies had to be made family, particularly as an old age insu-

2 oldest source of contraceptive ranee; they, as a matter of course, main- The advice, that we could trace, is dating some tained their parents and other members of 1200 years back to the VIII century A.D. the family who were past the age of provi- The time is that of the Rashtrakutas,ruling ding for themselves. They were both, Central India including the Bombay area, working capital during the active phase the time also when the Kailash temple of their parents’ life and guarantee of a was cut out of the rock in Ellora. The carefree existence after retirement, none of source, to which we refer, is the Bridhad- which could have provided. yogtarangini, a collection of extracts Such considerations are even today power- from older works. The following means ful obstacles to family planning and will of contraception are there to be found : remain so until old age pensions will be

granted to everybody as a matter of right 1. One tola of powdered palm leaf

as is the case in most- developed countries. and ochre taken with cold water on the 4th day af menstruation causes sterility. Later on, in mediaeval times India Acharya Dr. Shriniwas Shastri, on manifested a vivid interest in sexual acti- checking these recipes with the original vities in all their varied forms, laid down Sanskrit text, found instead of “palm in the (IV cent. A.D.) and leaf”, “Taleespatra tree” which R. N. depicted to perfection on many mediaeval Chopra (1933) identifies with Abies temples, of which the best known are webbiana, a kind of fir tree, growing in Khajuraho (X-XI cent. A.D.) and the Himalayas. The needles contain Konarak (XllI cent. A.D.) These immor- essential oils; a decoction of them is used tal creations of literature and sculpture in chronic3. bronchitis, asthma and phthisis. prove beyond doubt that sex culture or 2. The seed of the Palasha tree mixed the art of loving had developed such with honey and ghee and smeared inside complicated rites as are not suitable or the vagina during the menses causes even applicable to the relatively simple permanent sterility. Palasha or Palas is relationship of one man and one wife — Butea frondosa or Flame of the Forest. united by marriage. Mistresses or prosti-

The J. Ind. Med. Assoc. 55 : 1970 tutes are required for such love feasts or 60, published a paper by K. Kapila a.6. orgies, and, where unstable relations are who showed that Butea has actually some involved, creation of children is undesir- antifertility effect; the crystalline as well able. Thus, we find contraceptive lore as the alcoholic fractions were found not in Susruta and Charak, these sages in rats, of highest ethical and moral standards, fairly effective in reducing fertility although less so than the “pill”. but in the rich mediaeval literature on , produced for those living at A woman who has intercourse courts or near them or those attempting after menstruation, after treating the to live in courtly style with concubines vagina with the smoke of Neem wood,

or courtesans; the latter polite designa- does not conceive.—This, of course, fits tion points to their professional origin. well our knowledge of the “safe period”.

3 which comprises the days following within three centuries, the period reaching menstruation. from the finishing of the temples of 4. A prostitute, who has inserted Khajuraho (1050 A.D.) to the construction into the vagina a piece of rock salt dipped of the Sun temple at Konarak (1250 A.D.). Jyotirishvara into oil, never conceives.—This again is Kavishekhara gives the a rational method, since sodium chloride following advices. "The woman who drinks, on an auspicious is a good spermicide, an 8% solution kills day, palas, and spermatozoa rapidly, while oil fixes them, fruits as well as flowers of the Salmali preventing their further penetration, a tree, together with ghee** will certainly method still popular in Poona. become sterile.”—Palas, we have encoun-

tered before; it is Butea frondosa 5. The root of the Tanduliyaka tree, (Kapila et al.; 1. c.). Salmali is Salmalia ground with rice water and taken for three malabarica and might be worth-while days at the end of menstruation, causes investigating. Other recipes found in sterility.—Tanduliya (amarantus spinosa) — the “Five Arrows” are a decoction of is recommended for menorrhagia, gonor- the root of the pavaka tree and sour rice rhoea and snake bite (Chopra, 1933.) water; taken for 3 days after the end of An interesting light at the social indi- menstruation, this will make unfruitful cation of contraception in those days until death. Pavaka tree has been tenta- throws the following quotation: “A tively taken as Semecarpus anacardium, woman who has lost her husband or the “marking nut” tree which contains whose husband has abandoned her, may 3 different powerful irritants in the black at her ease have intercourse with anyone, juice of the pericarp, causing blisters provided she inserts into her vagina a within 12 hours of contact. Dhobis use contraceptive tampon of Ajowan seeds the juice for indelible marking of laundry and rock salt, ground in oil.* —What- and so cause in allergic people the “Dhobi ever the effect of Ajowan seeds, topically mark dermatitis”.—An alternate possibi- applied, might be, rock salt and oil have lity is that Pavaka stands for Pavak- their merits. Ajowan (Carum copticum), kashedi, the Madrasi name of Momordica an anthelminthic and carminative, con- charantia (cucurbitaceae), used, according tains thymol (Chopra, l.c.). Ajowan to Chopra (l.c.), as emetic, purgative and water is used even today as abortifaciens. in snake-bite. —Another contraceptive

A few centuries later, we find the recommended here is Kadamba fruit of Panchsayaka or “the Five Arrows” (of Nauclea cadamba.—Chopra (l.c.) men- the God of Love) by Kavishekhar, dating tions Kadamba bark as a source of a from XI-XIII centuries; although the tonic, a febrifuge and an astringent in author is known, the date of compilation snake-bite; the active principle is similar cannot be fixed more precisely than to cinchotannic acid. —Yet another recipe.

* Bridhadyogatarangini. Adhyaya, ch. 143 verses 53-61, Anandashram Sanskrit series.

*• Dr. Shastri found in the original text “wine” instead of "ghee”.

4 rice will be barren.” — The which we mention because it remained sour water is meant agni tree popular for centuries, is molasses. usual guesses what by “If a woman eats or drinks continuously vary between Semecarpus, Plumbago and for half a month a large pala of three Citrus acida. To me it seems much more years old molasses, the greatest of probable that meant here is Ammania its vernacular the poets (Kavishekhar) says that she baccifera, since among find agnigarva, agnivednapaku surely will be unfruitful to the end of names we aginbuti. Similar to Semecarpus, her life.” and the juice from the bruised leaves is a Quite different from all preceding strong irritant used in indigenous ones are methods of contraception advi- medicine to raise blisters, though in- sed by Koka in the Ratirahasya or “The tensely painful ones. —Against my read- secret of Sexual Desire” antedating the ing of agni tree should be mentioned that XIV century. This author described Ammania is not a tree but a herb, that several ways how to prevent seminal grows upto a height of 24 inches; but emission; the most rational is given here. then, plumbago is also not a tree but a “If one, at the time of sexual enjoyment, shrub. With the Anangaranga we have presses firmly with the finger on the reached Moghul times and so left what forepart of the testicle, turns his mind could be called mediaeval India. to other things and holds his breath while doing so, a too rapid of the Clearly superstitious or magic prac- semen will be prevented”.—It seems that tices have been omitted, such as tying such a method was meant when Rhazes, Datura root round the waist or drinking the great Persian physician (died 924 A.D.) the flowers of the Japa tree at the time of enumerates among the ways of preventing delivery, so as to cause future fetuses to the semen from entering the uterus, coitus disappear. obstructus in addition to coitus interrup- Most of the contraceptive methods tus, which he mentions first. quoted here have been taken from Finally, we find contraceptive advice N. E. Himes, Ph.D., “Medical History in the Anangaranga or the “Stage of the of Contraception”, first published in God of Love,” a collection of erotic 1936 and reprinted in 1963 (Gamut poetry by Kalyanamalla, dating probably Press, N.Y.) from the XVI century. Here we encounter again the 3 year old molasses, prescribed The plants mentioned in those recipes exactly in the same way as in the “Five have been identified as far as possible, Arrows”; here also the fruit of Kadamba, by consulting R. N. Chopra, “Indigenous but enriched by the feet of flies, drunk with Drugs of India” (Calcutta, 1933), the hot water for 3 days. New is the following unmatched and inexhaustible mine of recommendation. “The woman, who, at information on Indian Medicinal plants; the end of her period, drinks daily for they are amenable to pharmacological 3 days the root of agni tree cooked in and clinical investigation. Whether any

5 useful results could be obtained remains acharya of Puri, to Pandit Devi Shanker to be seen. Tiwari as well as to Acharya Shriniwas Sincerest thanks are offered to Shri Shastri, M.A. (Sanskrit), who S.L. Kakar, to whom I owe the quotation confirmed most of the recipes by checking from the Mahabharat, to the Shankar- with the original Sanskrit texts.

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