This article discusses the procreation of gods and sages in ancient India, which is contrasted to the ordinary way of procreation among human beings. It is sporadically mentioned in the classical Sanskrit literature, but more systematically in the commentary literature. The divine beings could dispense with sexual contact for bringing about their offspring and produce offspring by such acts as touching (śparsa), thinking (samkalpa), addressing (ullapana), smiling (upahasana), etc., some of which are also found in a list of the so-called dohadas of plants and trees for bringing about flowers (puspa).
