Garbhadhana Samskara

The first of the sixteen traditional
life-cycle ceremonies (samskaras)
performed at important moments
throughout one’s life. The Garbhadhana
Samskara was performed to ensure the
conception of a child. This rite was performed on a specific day following the
onset of the wife’s menstrual period,
although different sources specify different days. Although part of this rite
obviously involved sexual intercourse
between husband and wife, as a whole it
was meant to create a sacred context for
the act of procreation.