Why should a husband not shave (Kshauram) when his wife is pregnant? Vidwan’s reply Generally, during periods of Diksha (consecration/vow), certain rules are prescribed. Diksha is like a period of fasting or penance. There are many types of Diksha mentioned for various times, such as Yaga Diksha, the time of Upanayanam, and during marriage. It is stated that during these Diksha periods, one should not shave (Vapanam). In that same vein, when a wife is pregnant, it is considered a period of Diksha for her husband. This means he is effectively under a vow. Since it is a rule that one should not shave during periods of religious vows, he should not shave during this time.