meaning of seemantham or valaikappu?

Answer 1

Seemantham -

This is performed during the period between the fifth and the eighth months of pregnancy. The specific materials used during this Samskara, that are for the lady only, are, the quill of a porcupine, an ear of ripe paddy and some Udumbara leaves. The deity invoked is Rika, the presiding deity of the full-moon.

Their implications are: that the pregnancy should be fruitful; the child should be endowed with sharp and penetrating intellect (like the sharp quill of the porcupine). The child should be beautiful like the full-moon. The gist of the Mantra is: "I beseech the goddess Raka. May she make this ceremony blameless. May my son be endowed with sharp intellect."

The woman is dressed in new clothes and jewelry used for such occasions. Among some Nairs of Malabarm two local ritualistic additions called ariyidal and Garbha Prashnam are performed. In the ariyidal the seated pregnant lady is given rice and appams in her lap. In the Garbha Prashnam, an astrologer prescribes ritualistic remedies (if needed) for the protection of the mother and child as well as for smooth child birth in the event of any astrological obstacles. Afterwards, the pregnant lady visits four temples, including her own ancestral temple and prays to the deities for a healthy child and for a smooth delivery. After this she begins to observe Pula or birth pollution, which extends up to 15 days after childbirth. The family then holds a feast for all the relatives. Medicines and routines are prescribed for the woman, which are to be followed till childbirth. Ladies are asked to sing: "Be a mother of heroic sons" thus creating a heroic atmosphere. The mother fasts and keeps silent after the ceremony till night time when the stars become visible. At the close of the ceremony she touches a male calf, symbolizing a son.

At the time of pregnancy this is performed for the health and wealth of to born Baby and also for normal delivery.

Valaikappu :

This ceremony is performed during the odd months of pregnancy mostly during the seventh month for the expectant mother in her mother's house. Prayers are invoked for the well-being of the mother-to -be and the foetus. Mostly women are invited for this function.

The expectant mother is made to wear a lot of bangles mostly glass ones of red and green colors and the sound of these bangles are supposed to reach the womb. The bangles are removed only during delivery and given to the midwife at the birth of a child. Arti is performed.

The mother of the girl presents her silk saris and gold and silver bangles. The invitees give gifts for the mother-to -be and they are given a feast. -

Answer 2

Seemantham is a ceremony that marks a woman’s passage into motherhood and celebrates her fertility. Another name for it is a baby shower.

A Valaikappu is a ceremony it is held in the seventh or ninth month of pregnancy, when the pregnant women is presented with new sets of glass bangles and the sound of these bangles is supposed to reach the womb.Her mother-in-law or sister-in-law leads her to the temple and to a bangle shop where she selects the bangles of her choice.

Answer 3

Valaial means bangls in Tamil . Valaikaapu is done when the lady is pregnant for the first time.It is usually done in the mother in law's house and she is shifted to her mothers house for the delivery.
My personal experience for my valaikaapu was that i enjoyed all the fuss made on that day, enjoyed the food.
The 2 dozen or so glass bangles which I was not allowed to remove till the delivery served more to alert my family as to where i was than anything else.

Answer 4

During the first pregnancy of the mother, ‘Valaikappu’ is celebrated. It is a ritual for the protection of women. During this period, a woman is taken to her parents’ house where she is looked after until she delivers.

Among Hindus, a ceremony is performed on the 9th day after a child was born. The child is adorned with silver anklets and gold or silver bangles. This is a ritual to protect the child.

Answer 5

i believe seemantham means baby shower. im not entirely sure what valaikappu means.

Answer 6

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