Second Month Development of Fetus According to Ayurveda: Different Texts, Different Opinions
Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
AIAPGET Points
- Charaka – the garbha becomes GHANA. If it is of PINDA Akriti, it is male child, PESHI Akriti – female child and ARBUDA – hermaphrodite.
- Sushruta – Shita (kapha), Ushna (pitta) and Anila (vayu) act on the Panchamahabhuta Sanghata → GHANA is formed → Pinda = male, Peshi = female, Arbuda = hermaphrodite.
- Vagbhata – Following Charaka and Sushruta’s explanation, Vagbhata has mentioned GHANA in place of Pinda, the shape which defines male child, in the second month of fetal development. (A.Hr.Sha.1/49-50 & A.San.Sha.2/7). Other shapes are explained in a similar way.
- Kashyapa – ASTHI, MAMSA and SNAYU are formed from Shukra in the fetus in the first month.
- Harita Samhita – mentions formation of GARBHA ANKURAS by 50th day i.e. buds for the growth of hands, legs and head in the fetus in the second month.
- According to Garbhopanishad, the HEAD of the fetus is formed in the second month.
- Modern Embryology – Week 5 events – Quick rise in level of HCG which would → Signals ovaries to stop releasing eggs & → make more of estrogen and progesterone & also → fuel the growth of placenta. Embryo is made up of 3 layers – Ectoderm, Mesoderm and Endoderm.
- 3 Germ Layers – Ectoderm (top layer) – becomes the outer skin layer, nervous system, eyes and inner ears. Mesoderm (middle layer) – heart and primitive circulatory system are formed in this layer and so also bones, ligaments, kidneys and reproductive system. Endoderm (inner layer) – in this layer, lungs and intestines develop.
- 6th Week – Closure of neural tube begins. Brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs, ear and eye forming structures and buds for forming future arms form. The baby’s body starts taking a C-shaped curve.
- Week 7 – Growth of brain and face. Nostril-depression and beginning of formation of retina. Lower limb buds start appearing. The arm buds take the shape of paddles.
- Week 8 – Leg buds take the shape of paddles, fingers, upper lip and nose are formed. Eyes become noticeable. There is development of small swellings which outline the future shell-shaped parts of the ears. Straightening of the trunk and neck begins.
- 8th weekend – Baby is about ½ inch long, from the top of the head to the tailbone bottom. This measurement is called CROWN to RUMP.
In this article we shall have a look at different opinions of different acharyas regarding the development of the fetus in the second month of pregnancy, in Ayurveda treatises.
Development of Fetus in the second month of pregnancy – Different Opinions of Different Acharyas in Different Treatises
Charaka Samhita
द्वितीये मासि घनः सम्पद्यते पिण्डः पेश्यर्बुदं वा |
तत्र घनः पुरुषः, पेशी स्त्री, अर्बुदं नपुंसकम् ||१०||
Cha.Sha.4/10
The embryo, in the second month, becomes GHANA – i.e. takes the form of a solid mass. The sex of the child can be determined by seeing the shape of the ghana. It can be understood as below mentioned –
– Pinda Akriti – If the mass takes the shape of ghana – pinda i.e. oval shape – the born child would be a male.
– Peshi Akriti – If the mass takes the shape of peshi i.e. elongated shape, resembling a muscle – the born child would be a female.
– Arbuda Akriti – If the mass takes the shape of an arbuda i.e. tumour shaped (round, elevated) – the born child would be a hermaphrodite.
Sushruta Samhita
द्वितीये शीतोष्मानिलैरभिप्रपच्यमानानां महाभूतानां सङ्घातो घनः संजायते; यदि पिण्डः पुमान्, स्त्री चेत् पेशी, नपुंसकं चेदर्बुदमिति । (Su.Sha.3/18)
The compact mass of Panchamahabhutas (five elements – earth, wind, water, fire and ether) are acted upon by shita – cold (kapha), ushna – heat (pitta) and anila – air (vayu) and becomes Ghana i.e. gets condensed.
– Pinda – if this mass shows up like a lump-like appearance, it indicates the male-sex of the embryo
– Peshi – if this mass appears as an elongated shape (resembling muscle), the embryo will group up to become female
– Arbuda – if this mass appears like a tumour-like shape, it indicates that the embryo will be a hermaphrodite
Ashtanga Hridaya & Ashtanga Sangraha
Ashtanga Hridaya
द्वितीये मासि कललाद्धन: पेश्यथवाऽर्बुदम् ॥ ४९ ॥ पुंस्त्रोल्कीबा: क्रमात्तेभ्यः(Ref – A.Hr.Sha.1/49-50)
From Kalala one of the below mentioned is formed –
- Ghana – hard mass – depicting that the embryo will be born as male
- Pesi – muscle like mass – depicting that the embryo will be born as female
- Arbuda – tumour or ant-hill like – depicting that the embryo will be a hermaphrodite / eunuch
Ashtanga Sangraha
द्वितीये घनः पेश्यर्बुदं वा तेभ्यः क्रमात् पुंस्त्रीनपुंसकानि ।(A.San.Sha.2/7)
The explanation is the same as Ashtanga Hridaya.
According to experts, Ghana also means a club or mace, Pesi also means bud or an egg and Arbuda means serpent-like shape.
Kashyapa Samhita
Below mentioned structures are formed from Shukra during the second month –
– Asthi – bones
– Mamsa – muscles
– Snayu – tendons
The gender shapes have been explained as in other texts.
The explanation of the first and second month of development of Garbha is the same. The prana (jiva) divides the bijadhatu (zygote) . Immediately after its entry into the body, the bija is enveloped by rakta.
Asthis – bones are formed from Shukra (semen, sperms). Mamsa i.e. muscles are derived from Asthi. Snayu (tendons) and all other major and minor body parts of the body along with indriyas (sense organs) from both i.e. asthis and mamsa. (Ka.Sam.Sha.Stha.Asamana Gotriya Sharira Adhyaya)
Harita Samhita
Acharya Harita has mentioned forming the Garbha Ankuras by the 50th day i.e. in the second month. Ankuras are buds depicting growth of hands, legs and head of the fetus in this month.
Garbhopanishad
According to Garbhopanishad, the head of the fetus is formed in the second month.
Modern Embryology – Fetal Development in the second month
Week 5
We need to remember that the fifth week of pregnancy is the same as the third week after conception. Herein, there is a quick rise in the level of HCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (pregnancy hormone). This hormone signals ovaries to stop releasing eggs and also would make more of estrogen and progesterone hormones. The menstrual periods stop with availability of higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. The same hormones would also fuel the growth of placenta.
Now, the embryo is made up of three layers.
- Ectoderm – is the top layer. It would become the outer layer of skin, nervous system (central and peripheral), eyes and inner ears.
- Mesoderm – comprises the middle layer of cells. In this layer, the heart and primitive circulatory system will be formed. Bones, ligaments, kidneys and most of the reproductive system originate from this layer itself.
- Endoderm – is the inner layer of cells. It is in this layer that the lungs and intestines develop.
Week 6
– The neural tube along the baby’s back is closing.
– The brain and spinal cord develop from the neural tube.
– The heart and other organs also start to form.
– Ear and eye forming structures develop.
– Small buds which would become future arms appear.
– The baby’s body starts taking a C-shaped curve.
Week 7
– The brain and face of the baby are growing.
– Nostril-depressions become visible.
– The formation of the retina starts.
– The lower limb buds that will become future legs start appearing.
– The arm buds take the shape of paddles.
Week 8
– The leg buds take the shape of paddles.
– The formation of fingers begins.
– Development of small swellings which outline the future shell-shaped parts of the ears take place.
– Eyes become noticeable.
– The upper lip is formed.
– Nose is formed.
– The trunk and neck start to straighten.
– The baby might be about half inch long at the end of week 8 (top of the head to the tailbone bottom) – called ‘crown to rump’.
