Namkaran Samskar (Naming Ceremony)

According Vedas, in Hindu religion, each occasion of a person’s life call for elaborate rituals. After the birth of a child, naming ceremony or the Namkaran Samskar is one of the most important event. This ceremony can be held any day after the tenth day after the birth of child but before first birthday. It is very auspicious day for the child. On this day a formal horoscope is drawn and accordingly a name is suggested by the priest.

First ten days after the birth of a baby are considered as the impure for both mother and the child. After tenth day, a ritual bath is performed for the baby and newborn is wrapped in new clothes and adorned with Kajal. He is then placed in lap of father or grandfather or mother. A havan is performed by the priest to purify the atmosphere at home. All the ancestors are called to bless the newly born in the family. Then horoscope of the baby is placed in front of the deity for its blessings.

Priest decides the first letter of child’s name according to the position of the stars when he was born. That he calculates according to the time of the child’s birth. The first letter of eth child is according to the ‘Rashi’ of the child.

After the first letter is given, parents can choose name according to their wish, starting from that particular letter. Name is the important part of one’s life so it should be chosen carefully. It is believed, name also affects the future of a person.

Name chosen is whispered in the right ear of a child but through things like beetle leaves or few leaves of Grass called Kusa.

According to Rig Veda, a child’s name should comprise of four components; nakshatra name, name of the deity of the month a, name of deity of family and the popular name. But nowadays a formal name and one short name is given.