Pregnancy And Childbirth In Ancient India: A Study Of Medical And Cultural Practices In Maternal Healthcare

The Indian tradition of medicine is one of the world's oldest healthcare traditions. Its basic knowledge is recorded in the Ayurvedic literature. In the Vedic period, women occupied a position equal to that of men within society and therefore women's health received equal attention. As maternity constitutes an important aspect of a woman's life, ancient Vedic texts offer detailed guidance on pregnancy and childbirth. The area of study includes ancient India, covering Vedic and Buddhist maternal healthcare. The major texts of ancient India on medicine reveal that women's healthcare was a significant and crucial aspect of the medical tradition. The physicians of ancient India were not only concerned with disease but also addressed the psyche, consciousness, and the moral duties of a physician. In the colonial records it has been shown that the indigenous midwifery practices were unclean but Sushruta stressed on the importance of personal hygiene of midwives. The ancient Indians considered progeny as a sacred process and it required close attention from the very beginning, therefore, the Garbha Sanskaras involved numerous customs and practices to ensure the healthy and proper development of the foetus as well as the health of the expectant mother, reflecting their significance in pregnancy. This research paper will shed light on the significance of traditional methods of maternal healthcare in the present era of modern medicine. Along with Vedic literature, Buddhism emerged as an important contributor to healthcare practices in ancient India. Within Buddhist traditions, maternal healthcare was an important domain of moral responsibility and compassionate practice. Buddhist texts, particularly those of the Mahayana tradition, provide detailed explanations of treatments for pregnancy-related issues at various stages. This research paper will examine the role of Buddhism in maternal healthcare by comparing its teachings with their medical practices