A girl or a boy!

As per hinduism there are 16 series of sanskaar(rituals) has to be performed from the birth till death. They are
1)Garbhadhaan
2)Punsavan
3)Seemanta
4)Jatakarma
5)Namakarana
6)Nishkramana
7)Annaprasana
8)Chudakarana
9)Karnavedh
10)Vidyarambh
11)Upanayan
12)Vedarambh
13)Kesantha
14)Samavartan
15)Vivaham
16)Antim sanskaar

The first 3 sanskaar are pre-natal sanskaar which are vital for the good health of child..The life begins from the first step of conception. The “Garbhadhaan” sanskaar involving some religious mantras and muhurat ensures the birth of a healthy and virtuous child. It removes all the impurities linked with conception. Child is not only produced from the physical body of parents. This is the reason that in our shaastra there are certain days and auspicious timing of union which ensures birth of a virtuous son. It is scientifically proved that the thoughts prevailing in the minds of mother and father at the time of conception has a huge impact on the child. The lagna,the zodiac sign rising in the east direction at the time of conception gives complete information about the gender and health of child. It is clearly written in our sacred texts, how to calculate the muhurat for the birth of a child of a desired gender.For example, to get the female child ,in muhurat proper taken is care that the Venus or Moon (both female planets) should aspect the lagna. The second sanskaar called “Punsavan” sanskaar is very important for getting a male child and to prevent the abortion and to overcome any defect in feotus.. Generally it is performed in male nakshatras and in masculine days of Sunday,Tuesday or Thursday(condition apply). The 3rd pre-natal sanskaar is “Seemant” sanskaar. The purpose of this ritual is to protect mother from evil forces. A detail calculations are required to select the best muhurat for each ceremony. Some times these calculations are too complex than calculations required to launch a satellite!

Saat Phere

Now a days it is a fashion in modern society for a person to be late. Same is the case in marriages also. Parents applies tremendous efforts on match making of horoscopes but rarely found interested in the muhurat of marriage, which holds the ultimate key. At the time of marriage , the most important ceremony is “SaptaPadi” which means seven steps. In this ceremony, the bride and groom take seven round around the pavitra agni. Even as per Hindu marriage act it is the saptapadi ceremony which grants legality to a marriage. This ceremony begins from the direction of Dhruv Tara(the Pole Star). Every round starts with the right foot first. In the first 4 rounds the groom leads the bride and in the last 3 rounds bride leads. With each step, groom recites a mantra addressed to bride. The idea behind this is to pray to Lord Vishnu, the protector of life, for his blessings in marital life. Following prayer is done in each round
1) For plentiful of pure food
2) For good physical and mental health
3) For spiritual strength
4) For happiness and harmony
5) For begetting noble children
6) For all seasons to be beneficial
7) For the understanding, loyalty and peace and fulfilling religious duties
So, it is very important that in marriage, the saptapadi should be performed with utmost care in proper muhurat .

Adhik Maas- the month of spiritual importance

Hindu calender is based upon lunar movement which has 354 days where as Gregorian calender which is based upon movement of sun has 365 days(approx) . To accomodate this difference exactly after 32 months and 16 days (approx) an additional month is added in lunar calender which is called  Adhika  maas. The word 'adhik' means 'more' and 'maas' means 'month'. To put it another way,we know that the sun transit into next zodiac sign after 30 days (apprx). The lunar month in which no solar transit occur would be 'adhik maas'. It is considered very auspicious from the point of view of religious significance. This month is termed as "Purushottam Maas" or " Mal Maas". In hindu religion, every month has a ruling deity. The sages assigned the name "Mal Maas" to this extra month which means unclean month. Because of being an unclean month, naturally no festival would take place during this month.This was very disheartening for the 'Adhik Maas", so he reached Lord Vishnu.HE had pity on him and assigned Adhik Maas to Himself and it was named as Purushottam Maas. Lord Vishnu blessed him " Whosoever shall  worship me during the month of Purushottam, will be specially blessed " Adhik Maas got very happy to hear this and never got sad after that.
It is believed that the Adhik Maas Vrat is capable of excusing all the sins of the followers.Since then  fasting, recitation of mantra, readings of scriptures, Lakshmi-Narayan is worshipped with Sodashopachara puja and charity done in this month is considered as auspicious. Eating of other's food and taamsik food is forbidden. All the auspicious activities related to sanskaars as well as sale and purchase of new articles are suspended till the whole month is over. The first day of this month is more significantly important.