Namakaranam

Significance

In the Hindu way, every child born is named and this ceremony is called the naamakaranam. This function is not just a religious one but also has the social and the legal aspects to it. This is the first ceremony in a baby’s life and so it helps to forge a good bond between the baby and his or her family. It is usually conducted after the 12th day of birth but this differs as per region and custom. The 12th day is chosen because the first ten days after a baby’s birth is thought off to be a period of impurity and so in a sense we can say that the ritual of naamakaranam is one to cleanse the baby and the mother as in some cultures both are given a good oil bath. The name for the newborn is chosen after consultations with the elders. The custom is to give a child a name that is significant for various reasons.

The guests present bless the child with good health, wealth and prosperity with a bright future so that he or she may follow the line of his or her great ancestors. This will also help the parents to understand the task of parenting that lies ahead of them. We can say that this ceremony is a reaffirmation of the importance and significance of the human life.

Auspicious Time

The naming ceremony is usually held on the 12th day, but if for some reason it cannot be held on the 12th day then it is done on the 101 day or on the first birthday. In some communities, the naming ceremony takes place only after three months from birth.

Appropriate Place

The naamakaranam ceremony can be held either at home or in a temple, where the prohit prays to the Gods, Agni the lord of fire, the five elements or Pancha bhoothas and to ancestors who are considered present in spirit. He invokes their blessings for the child and beseeches them to protect the newborn.

Participants

The father or the maternal uncle does the actual naamakaranam or the act of naming the child. The prohit offers prayers and invokes the blessings of the Gods for the child’s well-being and longevity if the naamakaranam ceremony is conducted in a temple.

Important Information

According to the Rig Veda, a child should be given a name that comprises four components. They are:

  • The name that starts with the sounds favourable to the nakshatra in which he or she was born
  • The name of the deity of the month on which the baby was born
  • The name of the family deity
  • The name by which the child is going to be called However, this system is not very popular. Some communities have the practice of naming the first child after the paternal grandparent or the father himself. The trend nowadays is to give a formal name and a shortened version by which the child will be addressed or to coin a name by combining the names of the parents. After the naming takes place the relatives present put a few drops of honey or a pinch of sugar to the baby’s lips and everyone rejoices if the child smacks his or her lips to taste it, as it is considered as a good omen. It is on the naamakaranam day that the child’s first horoscope is made and the sheet with the child’s horoscope is placed in front of the image of the deity for blessings.
    In some communities, during the naamakaranam, the child is placed in a sturdy piece of red or green cloth and in that cloth items such as nagarvel paan or chewing paan, supari or betel nuts, haldi or turmeric, lentils or moong dhal, coins with denominations of one and a quarter rupees are put. According to Hindu mythology, these items are considered to bring good omen. In other cultures, the paternal aunts hold the cloth in which the baby is placed and swing it gently as if to rock the cradle. And, the women present will sing songs that are specific to the occasion.

Method

At the auspicious time, the baby is first placed in the father’s or the maternal uncle’s lap and he whispers the selected Hindu name in the baby’s right ear. Traditionally, a betel leaf or its silver image, or leaves of Kusa grass is used guide the sound of the name into the child’s ear. With this, the ceremony is concluded and sweets are distributed among guests.

Finally, a feast is arranged so that everyone present can partake in the festivities for it is indeed a time to rejoice the new addition to the family.

Lord Sudarshana is the chief deity of this powerful Homa who uses his mighty weapon "Chakra" to grant immediate relief to the sufferings of his devotees. Also, your sins are abolished by his grace. Lord Sudarshana/Narayana is considered as the first step to be adopted in the concept of realization of God.

The "Sudarshana Chakra" contains healing characteristics. Therefore performance of Sudarshana Homa relieves you from afflictions of fever and unknown health sufferings. This is the appropriate Homa to perform to conquer your enemies and other evil eye castings. A legend has it that Sudarshana Ashtakam helped recovering people of a village stricken by the plague epidemic.

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