Watch the recording of this event here.
Indian spiritual traditions were never cut-off from life. The attempt of our ancient Indian seers and thinkers was rather to raise all areas of life in the light of the spirit. This included concerns of family life, parenting and even conception, pregnancy and prenatal education.
In their integral vision for the future of humanity and the world, both the Mother and Sri Aurobindo have also focused their attention on different dimensions of prenatal education. The Mother in particular has written and spoken much on this topic.
A conscious change in human birthing and parenting can be an important and undeniable way to enable the creation of a conscious humanity. Conscious parenting, starting with conscious conception and childbirth, has the potential to transform the essence of the human population in a matter of few generations. For this to happen, we need to have a deeper understanding of the entire process of conscious creation of a being – from pre-conception to pregnancy, from prenatal education to childbirth, and from postnatal care to conscious parenting.
Indian tradition has always maintained that pregnancy should be by choice, and not by chance. As per the Vedic tradition a child has to be the result of prayers and aspirations and not the product of mere entertainment and conjugal enjoyment. A number of samskaras or purificatory disciplines have been suggested in the tradition to prepare a couple psychologically and physically for this important work of bringing a child into this world.
In several Indian texts on Ayurveda we find elaborate discussion on ‘supraja-jananam’ (giving birth to a baby with healthy body, mind and soul). This involves the preparation of the couple planning pregnancy prior to conception. As the Mother also reminds us: True maternity begins with the conscious creation of a being, with the willed shaping of a soul coming to develop and utilise a new body (CWM, Vol. 2, p. 157).
Listening to a Personal Journey of Conscious Conception and Pregnancy
Inspired by these ideas, the September 2022 issue of our online monthly journal, Renaissance (journal.aurobharati.in) is focused on the theme of Conscious Parenting. As part of this work, for the September 21, 2022 session of Insightful Conversation we spoke with Ms. Vijayalakshmi C. about her own experience in consciously preparing herself for pregnancy and childbirth.
During the session, Ms. Vijayalakshmi addressed this significant topic of pre-conception preparation to facilitate a willed or conscious conception. She shared how she and her husband worked consciously upon themselves as they went through this process. A mother of two children, she also spoke about how they consciously involved their elder child when they were expecting their second child. The conversation further goes on to enrich our understanding of conscious pregnancy, significance of prenatal education, and maternity in general. Our guest also shares some key insights she has learned and practiced from the ancient Indian traditions as well as her reading of the Mother’s works on this area of prenatal education.
About our guest:
Ms. Vijayalakshmi C. is presently the Director for Human Resources & Operations with SECUDE India. She has over 23 years of experience in the entire gamut of Human Resource Management with large and reputed groups of IT companies in India. Her prior education includes an MBA in HR and Marketing and a B.Sc. in Mathematics.
Ms. Vijayalakshmi is deeply passionate about the area of conscious conception. She got into this area through her own self-study based on the writings of the Mother & our ancient practices of Sanatana Dharma. She has received training by a renowned child educationist in the area of Prenatal and Infant brain stimulation & education. She is also interested in holistic healing modalities and has learnt Varma Therapy, Reiki Healing – Level 1 & 2, Crystal Healing & a few other ancient Yogic techniques for healing.
