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The Sĭmantonnayana (Hair parting)
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The third Samskara of the embryo was Samantonnayana. That rite
was called Samanta, in which the hairs of pregnant woman were
parted.
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The purpose of this Samskara was partly superstitious and partly
practical. People believed that a woman in her pregnancy was
subject to attacks of evil spirits and some rite should be
performed to ward them off. The Ašvalayana –Smritis has
preserved this belief. it says, Evil demons bent on sucking the
blood, come to woman in the first pregnancy to devour the foetus.
In order to remove them, the husband should be should invoke the
goddess Sri, as the lurking spirit leave the woman protected by
her. These invisible cruel flesh-eaters catch hold of the woman
in her first pregnancy and trouble
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her. Therefore, the ceremony named Samantőnnayana is prescribed.
The religious intention of the Samskara was to bring about
prosperity to the mother and long life to the unborn child, as
it is indicated by the verses recited. Physiological knowledge
of hindu was also responsible for instituting this rite. From
the fifth month of pregnancy the formation of the mind of the
would be child begins. So the pregnant woman was required to
take utmost care to facilitate this process, avoiding any
physical shock to the foetus. This fact was symbolically
emphasized by parting her hair. Another purpose of the Samskara
was to keep the pregnant woman in good cheer. To address her as
Raka or full moon night,” Supĕsa, or “of beautiful limbs” and
parting and dressing the hair by the husband himself were
methods used for it.
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The Gruhyasũtras, the Smritis and the astrological works discuss
the proper time of performing this Samskara. The Gruhyasũtras
favor the fourth or the fifth month of pregnancy. The Smritis
and astrological books extend the period up to eighth month or
up to the birth of the child. Some writers are even more
liberal. According to them, if delivery took place before this
Samskara was performed, it was celebrated after the birth of the
child, placing it on the lap of the mother or putting it into a
box. The later periods indicate that the original sense of the
Samskara was being lost and it was becoming a farce
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