It has always been an issue of extreme interest as to how a baby develops week by week during pregnancy stages? Modern medical science has made it possible to track not only the monthly progress of fetus development during pregnancy but also weekly development of fetus in the womb. This is really a work of great help to human kind. However, week by week pregnancy stages can only give a clue about physical growth of a child that is still to born. It cannot explain why every child born has different traits- physical, mental as well as emotional! Some of you might argue that science gives the theory of genes being responsible for differences in human personality. There is no doubt about this fact but then a child also differs with its parents in many respects. A baby's body might respond differently to certain food, medicine or any other thing that comes in contact. What is the explanation for this? Ayurveda, perhaps, has something to say about foetus development during pregnancy and how the basic five elements of the universe (panchamahabhutas) play significant role in the traits a child acquires? Before reading the effects of the five elements on fetus, you might like to learn about pregnancy stages so that you may relate the growth of baby with the traits it acquires due to panchamahabhutas.
What are the Panchmahabhutas?
Ayurveda believes that each and every element of the universe, including human body, is made up of five elements or the Panchmahabhutas. These five elements are
- Vayu or Air;
- Agni or Fire;
- Jal or Water;
- Prithvi or Earth; and
- Akash or Sky, the Space or Ether.
How Panchmahabhutas Act on a Fetus?
Vayu or air grants the dosha body type to the fetus. It is this element that decides whether the child will have Kapha dosha type, Pitta dosha type or Vata dosha type body. Amount of 'vayu' in ones body or the capability of retaining or releasing it from body decides the dosha body type of any human being.
Agni or fire decides what will be the metabolism of the baby's body. Metabolism is defined by 'pachana shakti' or digestive capability of the body. How a person reacts to foods is decided in the pregnancy stages itself- if agni is high, the baby will have good digestion power and vice versa. It also decides about body temperature, light and lusture, sharpness, intellect, complexion, and also whether baby would have short temper or not?
Jal or water is called lifeline by Ayurveda. It is responsible for cleansing the entire bodily organs. It decides about the creation of rasa or taste, coldness, softness, moistening ability of the body, blood and semen characteristics, as also of fat, muscle mass and saliva.
Prithvi or earth is solid by nature. It decides on how strong the baby will be- physically as well as emotionally. It decides such structural attributes of the body as heaviness, stability, bones, nails, courage, skin, muscles, body hair etc. It also decides upon the stability and smelling ability of the baby.
Akash or sky is eternal and it represents growth. It is responsible for such attributes of the baby as lightness, observing power, psych, intelligence, pride as also for lethargy, hearing ability, sleep etc.
So, when an element is in excess or in lesser quantity in the fetus, they affect them in different ways and grant them the body as well as mental and emotional characteristics they have.
You might as well like to know about the pregnancy labor stages explained by Ayurveda and to have some tips on easy and smooth labour. If so, read Pregnancy Labor Stages- Ayurvedic Tips!
