Hinduism and Population Growth

1. Prayers for Multiple Off-springs

📚Rig Veda 10.85.45📚
O Bounteous Indra, make this bride blest in her sons and fortunate. Vouchsafe to her ten sons, and make her husband the eleventh man.”  (source)

📚Rig Veda 3.24.5📚
Grant, Agni, to the worshipper wealth rich in heroes, plenteous store, Make thou us rich with many sons.”  (source)

📚Sankhayana Grihya Sutra 1.19.6📚
Give birth to a male child; may after him (another) male be born; their mother shalt thou be, of the born, and (to others) mayst thou give birth…”  (source)

📚Chandogya Upanishad 1.5.4📚
Him I sang praises to, therefore art thou my only son,’ thus said Kaushîtaki to his son. ‘Do thou therefore sing praises to the breath as manifold, if thou wishest to have many sons.”  (source)

2. Instances of Gods Kings Having Multiple Progenies

2.1 King Sasabindu Begets Ten Thousand Lakhs of Children

📚Shrimad Bhagavatam 9.23.32📚
The famous Śaśabindu had ten thousand wives, and by each he begot a lakh of sons. Therefore the number of his sons was ten thousand lakhs.”  (source)

2.2 Krishna Begets Tens of Millions of Children

📚Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.61.19📚
My dear King, the sons and grandsons of Lord Krsna’s children numbered in the tens of millions. Sixteen thousand mothers gave rise to this dynasty.”  (source)

📚Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.61.1📚
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Each of Lord Krishna’s wives gave birth to ten sons, who were not less than their father, having all His personal opulence.”  (source)

2.3 Saubhari Muni Begets 5000 Children

📚Shrimad Bhagavatam 9.6.52📚
In the beginning I was alone and engaged in performing the austerities of mystic yoga, but later, because of the association of fish engaged in sex, I desired to marry. Then I became the husband of fifty wives, and in each of them I begot one hundred sons, and thus my family increased to five thousand members. By the influence of the modes of material nature, I became fallen and thought that I would be happy in material life. Thus there is no end to my material desires for enjoyment, in this life and the next.”  (source)

2.4 Daksh Begets 60 Daughters From a Single Women

📚Brahma Viavarta Purana Brahma Khanda 9.8📚
With the semen of Daksa, sixty daughters were born from the womb of Prasûti. Out of these sixty daughters, he gave away in marriage, eight to Dharma, eleven to Rudra one name Sati to Siva, thirteen to Kasyapa and twenty seven to the moon.”  (source)

2.5 Sage Marici Begets 60,000 Children From his Four Wives

📚Brahma Purana 1.195-198📚
Upadānavī was the daughter of Hayaśiras, Śarmiṣṭhā was the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, Puloman and Kālakā were the two daughters of Vaiśvānara. They were the wives of Marīci. They had great strength and they bore many children. They had sixty thousand sons who delighted Dānavas. Marīci who performed a very great penance, procreated another fourteen hundred sons who stayed in the city of Hiraṇyapura. The Dānavas named Paulomas (Sons of Pulomā) and Kālakeyas (Sons of Kālakā) were very terrible. Vipracitti’s sons were born of Siṃhikā. Due to the admixture of Daityas and Dānavas they became valorous and powerful.”  (source)

📚Brahmanda Purana 3.6.26📚
Vaiśvānara had two daughters viz. Pulomā and Kālikā. Nahuṣa was the son of Prabhā and Jayanta the son of Śacī. Śarmiṣṭhā gave birth to Pūru and Upadānavī to Duṣyanta. Vaiśvānara’s daughters were these two viz. Pulomā and Kālakā. Both these daughters had many children. They were the wives of Mārīca. Both of them had between them sixty thousand children. They were the leaders of the Dānavas.”  (source)

About This Article

The article “Hinduism and Population Growth” examines references related to family, procreation, marriage, household life, and population-related ideas as found in Hindu scriptures and traditional texts, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Smritis, Dharmashastras, Puranas, and Itihasas, This article does not attempt to justify, defend, promote, or oppose population growth or decline. It also does not interpret scriptures to suit modern demographic, political, or social arguments. The focus remains strictly on what is written in the scriptures, presenting verses and textual concepts as they appear in traditional sources and commonly used translations, The article aims to provide text-based clarity by documenting scriptural views on household duties (Grihastha Ashrama), progeny, lineage, and social order, without applying modern population theories, economic models, or policy perspectives, This content is intended for educational study, comparative religion research, and scriptural awareness, allowing readers to distinguish between ancient religious texts and modern population discourse.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What does “Hinduism and Population Growth” mean in this article?

It refers to examining scriptural references related to birth, family, lineage, and social duties found in Hindu texts, without connecting them to modern population policies.

2. Does Hinduism explicitly promote population growth?

The article does not make such claims. It only presents what scriptures state about family life, progeny, and societal roles, without drawing conclusions.

3. Are modern population issues discussed?

No. The article does not address modern demographics, census data, or population statistics. It focuses solely on scriptural content.

4. Which Hindu scriptures are referenced?

References may include the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, Manusmriti, other Smritis, Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, depending on relevance.

5. Does the article justify having more or fewer children?

No. The article avoids justification or prescription and only documents textual mentions of progeny and household responsibilities.

6. Are concepts like Grihastha Ashrama discussed?

Yes. The article may reference Grihastha Ashrama, as described in scriptures, without applying it to modern population arguments.

7. Does the article interpret scriptures symbolically?

No. The article relies on literal or commonly accepted translations, avoiding symbolic or apologetic interpretations.

8. Is this article religious or political?

The article is scriptural and educational, not political, ideological, or policy-oriented.

9. Can this article be used to support demographic arguments?

The article does not support or oppose any demographic viewpoint and leaves such usage outside its scope.

10. What is the purpose of this article?

The purpose is to provide source-based clarity, helping readers understand what Hindu scriptures mention regarding family and progeny, without modern assumptions.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only, It does not promote population growth, population control, or demographic ideology, Scriptural references are presented without justification, reconciliation, or theological defense, Interpretations may vary depending on text, translation, and historical context, Readers are encouraged to consult original Sanskrit texts and scholarly translations.