Abortion is forbidden in Hinduism. It is permitted only if the mother’s life is in danger. In traditional Hinduism and many contemporary Hindu scholars state that abortion is an infringement of the duty to produce children in order to continue the family and create n members of society. However, in reality, abortion is practiced in India’s Hindu culture because the cultural preference for boys sometimes overrides the religious ban on abortion. Such an abortion that prevents the birth of a female baby is called “female foeticide”. According to the reincarnation doctrine, a fetus is not simply developing into an individual but is an individual at a early stage of its existence. It includes a soul and should be properly handled. So, if a fetus is aborted, a significant karmic setback is suffered by the soul within it. It has not the opportunity to become a human being and to earn good karma, and it returns immediately to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Therefore, abortion prevents the spiritual advancement of a soul.
