Garbhopanishad is one of the minor Upanishads and is ranked number 17 in the current compilation of 108 Hindu Upanishadic texts. Written in Sanskrit, it is regarded as a Vedantic Upanishad that belongs to the Atharvaveda by some researchers[1] and as the Krishna Yajurveda by others[2]. It is one of the 35 Samanya (generic) Upanishads[3].The Upanishad's final verse assigns the text to the sage Pippalada.
The notion of the genesis and development of the human embryo and human body after birth are topics covered in the Garbha Upanishad, a text that focuses almost entirely on commentary on medical and physiology-related matters of foetal development.
The text is noteworthy for its attempt to list and provide a relative measurement of human anatomy from the foetus to adult stage of human existence. This Upanishad on the garbha or human embryo to be more like "a manual on physiology or medicine" than a spiritual text. [4]
But in the modern era of science, it is impossible to ignore the literature that dates back a thousand years, where Acharyas with their profound understanding of knowledge beautifully described human embryology in terms of Garbhadhan Vidhi (method of conception), maasanumasik Garbha vriddhi, and other aspects of Garbha shareera (embryology) even in the absence of modern diagnostic tools/aids. Samhitas provide a thorough explanation of Garbhavkranti (fertilisation) and the monthly development of Garbha. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the applicability of the notion of human embryology as it is presented in the Garbho Upanishadh.
Introduction
The principles of conception, zygote and foetal formation, the inheritance of diverse attributes, the construction of distinct organs and systems, and the monthly development of the foetus have all been subtly, thoroughly, and interestingly explained in garbha Upanishad . Despite the fact that the age, thousands of years ago, lacked such current scientific norms and techniques to conduct out study to uncover new facts and figures, Garbha Shareera (embryology) is proof of the extraordinary knowledge the Acharyas had regarding the embryology.
Garbhopanishad perspective of organogenesis.
ऋतुकाले संप्रयोगादे करात्रोषितं कलिलं भवित Iसप्तरात्रोषितं बुदबुदं अर्धमासाभ्यन्तरेण पिंडो II भवति मासाभ्यन्तरेण कठिनो भवति मासद्वयेन शिरः I संपद्यते मासत्रयेन पाद प्रवेशोभवति I
The Upanishad describes in depth how the conception occurs in the womb and how it develops over a period of nine months .when conception takes place during ritukaal, It is called ritukaala because during this phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, if her Garbhashaya receives the seeds (sperms), there are chances of conception. After conception takes place kalal is formed which means product of fusion of shukra and stree beej which takes place on day 1. It becomes a "bubble" or budabuda Awastha , after seventh night. After 15 nights it becomes a "lump" or pinda Awastha, in a month's time the embryo becomes hard and by the end of two months, head is formed and after three months parts of the feet appears.
The kalala awastha can be correlated to zygote formation. The word "zygote" is derived from a Greek word that means "yoked," "joined," or "junction," and it was similar to the consistency and texture of zygote are comparable to a structure that resembles a sukshma pinda, or "kalala."
If we think about the budabuda awastha we can compare it to the morula stage in modern embryology. Morula is a solid ball of cells known as blastomeres in the zona pellucida that represents an early stage embryo. It is created through a succession of early embryonic cleavage divisions, beginning with the single-celled zygote. The morula gets its name from the embryo's beginning to resemble a mulberry once it has divided into 16 cells [5]. Both the morula and budabuda structures are quite similar to one another. This fact is further reinforced by data from the study titled "Time sequence of early events in fertilisation in the medaka egg [6]," which used light microscopy to examine each stage of early embryonic development.
Pinda Awastha can be compared to blastula and blastocoels. The word Pinda in Sanskrit means to pile up or gather into a mass. A blastula is a sphere of cells surrounding a fluid –filled cavity called the blastocoels.During this stage,the zygote begins to divide in a process called cleavage .A blastocyst is then formed and then implants in the uterus.During the fourth week of gestation ,the head mesenchyma develops to form the base of ectomeningeal capsules ,which is the earliest evidence of skull formation [7].during the fifth week of gestation ,the mesenchyme that give rise to the membranous neurocranium is first arranged as a capsular membrane around the developing brain [8]this is the first sign of cranial vault which appears around the 30th day of gestation.Around third month of gestational age ,hands ,feet, fingers and toes are fully developed .the finger nails and toe nails are starting to grow.
Conclusion
The conclusion drawn from the current study is that the profound understanding, keen observation, and priceless wisdom stated in Garbhoupanishadh hold quite truth and correctness as is discovered and investigated by contemporary embryologists, that too with the aid of cutting-edge equipment and aids.But in the modern era of science, it is impossible to ignore the literature that dates back a thousand years, where Acharyas with their profound understanding of knowledge beautifully described human embryology in terms of Garbhadhan Vidhi (method of conception), maasanumasik Garbha vriddhi, and other aspects of Garbha shareera (embryology) even in the absence of modern diagnostic tools/aids.
References
1) Prasoon, Prof.S.K. (1 January 2008). Indian Scriptures. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 978-81-223-1007-8.
2) Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 2, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814691, page 567
3) Carlos Alberto Tinoco. Upanishads. IBRASA. p. 87. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.
4) Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 2, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814691, pages 640-644
5) Sherman Lawrence S.et al.,eds.(2001).Human embryology(3rd ed.).Elsevier Health Sciences.p.20.ISBN 978-0-443-06583-5
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