period for conception is from the fifth to the sixteenth day. Conception takes place by the union of the fecundating Retas (sperm) of the male with the Rajas (germ) of the female. It is believed that should the conception be on even days, — that is to say, on the sixth, eighth, tenth, or twelfth day, — the sex of the infant will be male ; if on an odd day the sex will be female. Some are of opinion that a male child is formed when the mixture has a stronger element of semen ; and that when "Rajas" or the germ predominates a female child is formed. If the semen virile is divided into two by the "local wind," twins result. The sex of the infant in the womb can be determined by certain signs. In the case of a male foetus the form of the uterus is round ; the right eye appears larger than the left ; the right breast begins to secrete milk before the left ; the right thigh becomes more plump ; the countenance looks bright and cheerful ; the woman desires food of a "masculine" *[1] kind, and dreams of mangoes and water lilies. In the case of a
- ↑ * In Sanskrit as well as in all the Vernacular dialects of India the gender of nouns is determined not by the distinction of sex only. Animate and inanimate objects are alike either masculine, feminine, or neuter. It is difficult to reduce the usage of the language on this point to fixed rules. Broadly speaking, things that convey the idea of largeness, strength, coarseness and firmness are masculine, and those that are smaller, weaker, finer and more delicate are said to be feminine.
