Talk:Dharma sastra-Saṃskāra-Nāmakaraṇaṃ
By Jammalamadaka Srinivas, Jammalamadaka Suryanarayana
Sometimes transliterated as: Naamakaranam, Namakaranam
Nāmakaraṇaṃ[1], is the saṃskāra in which both the parents or just the father gives a name to the newborn child. The primary purpose of giving a name is for better communication. According to the traditional belief, giving a good name to the child would give him a good fortune. A name can also help one in becoming famous.
Nāmākhilasya vyavahārahētuḥ, śubhāvahaṃ karma saubhāgyahētuḥ| Nāṃnaiva kīrtiṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ, tataḥ praśastaṃ khalu nāmakarma||[2]
Process of Nāmakaraṇaṃ[edit]
Traditionally, a child is named after their Kuladēvatā/Household god, Ancestors or Āchārya/Teacher. The name can also be chosen according to Jyōtiṣhyaṃ/Astrology. According to the birth time, date and place some letters are prescribed favorable for beginning and ending the name. This saṃskāra is performed according to one's tradition, which may differ from house to house. In the Dharma śāstraṃ, many days are suggested to perform Nāmakaraṇaṃ. It can be performed on the 10th or 11th or 21st or 100th day from the birth. Father is considered to be the main performer, but if the child's father is dead or not available due to any inevitable reason, it is instructed that any elder of the house should perform nāmakaraṇam ritual.
Jananāddaṣarātre ṣatarātre saṃvatsare vā nāmakaraṇaṃ [3]
Yadvā piturabhāve ayogyatvamathāpi vāǀ anyo vā kulavṛddho vā jātakarmādi kārayetǁ [4]
Rules for Names[edit]
Some rules regarding the names are given in Āśvalāyana Gṛhya sūtras[5]- The name should begin with a sonant, with a semivowel and a visarga at the end. The name should have two or four syllables. If the parents desire to have firm worldly position for his son, then they should name him with a word which has two syllables. If the parents are desirous of spiritual eminence for his son, then they should name him with a word which has four syllables. But if it is a male child then the name should consist even number of syllables and if it is a female child then the name should consist uneven number of syllables.
Karṇavedha[edit]
After nāmakaraṇam, there is a small saṁskāra ritual called as karṇavedha. Karṇavedha means piercing the ears. The ears are normally pierced by a sharp golden wire, which appears to be an ornament. It is advised to perform the saṁskāra before the new born gets his/her first teeth. It is advised to perform the saṁskāra on an auspicious day in the lunar month of kārtīka, puṣya, chaitra and phālguna that too in the śukla pakṣa.
Kārtike pouṣa māse vā chaitre vā phālgunepivāǀ karṇavedhaṁ praśaṁsanti śukle pakṣe śubhe dineǁ śiśorajātadantasya māturutsaṁgasarpiṇaḥǀ sauciko vedhayet karṇau sūchyā dviguṇasūtrayāǁ[6]
Niṣkramaṇam[edit]
After nāmakaraṇam, there is one small saṁskāra called as 'niṣkramaṇam'. Niṣkramaṇam means coming out. In the present context, bringing the newborn child from the place of his/her birth is called as niṣkramaṇam. This saṃskāra is instructed to be performed on the twelfth, third or fourth month after the birth. On this day, the child should be shown to the Sun and the Moon.
niṣkrmaṇam candra-sūryadevatādarśanaṁ ca dvādaśehani tṛtīye chaturthe vā māsi kuryāt.[7]
References[edit]
- ↑ Nāmnaḥ karaṇaṃ, assigning a name
- ↑ Vīramitrōdayaṃ by Bṛhaspatiḥ
- ↑ bahvṛca pariśiṣṭa, smṛti muktāphalaṁ, p.81
- ↑ smṛti ratnaṁ, smṛti muktāphalaṁ, p.81
- ↑ Āśvalāyana Gṛhya Sutras - 1-15-4 to 10 (https://archive.org/details/AsvalayanaGrihyaSutraWithCommentaryRamanarayanaVidyaratna1866bis_201804/page/n75)
- ↑ sāyaṇīya, smrti muktāphalaṁ, p.82
- ↑ Smṛtyarthasāraḥ, smṛti muktāphalaṁ, p.82