Namakaranam refers to the traditional Hindu ritual of giving your baby a name. “Nam” refers to “name” and “karan” stands for “create” in Sanskrit. Namakaranam or Namkaran is one the most important of the 16 Hindu 'samskaras' or rituals celebrating “rites of passage” (the different stages in a person's life). Some traditions include 'Palanarohan' (Sanskrit: 'palana' = cradle; 'arohan' = onboard), as part of the Namkaran ceremony. Palanarohan is the cradle ceremony wherein the child is put into a cradle for the first time.
Formal naming of a new born under the Vedic tradition is done following astrological rules, generally held 11 days after the birth of the child. However, the 11th day is not a fixed day and may be decided by the priest, astrologer or the parents and family of the child. An auspicious date and time for the ceremony is planned based on the child’s birth star. As the child’s very first life ceremony, Namakaranam ceremonies are turning out to be traditionally grand events. Namakaranam ceremonies have moved on from being closed circle home events to grand affairs at auspicious venues such as a wedding hall or banquet hall, both for the convenience of the hosting family and the guests.
What does a traditional Namakaranam ceremony encompass? Let’s take a look.
The priest will start the naming ceremony with the ritualistic offerings and prayers to the Gods, the elements and, the spirits of the ancestors. The parents of the new born, guided by the priest, start the ritual with prayers and chanting of mantras. In some cultures, the father of the child will write the chosen name in rice grains spread on a bronze plate using a piece of gold and whisper the child’s name into its right ear. In other cultures, the father of the child will write the chosen name of the child on its tongue using a piece of gold and then whisper its name into its right ear, keeping the left ear closed using a betel leaf. The chosen name is then announced to everyone present at the ceremony. This is usually followed by the guests greeting the child using the name. Gifts and blessings are showered on the new born and his/her parents by everyone present. The family astrologer will also usually present the child’s horoscope at this ceremony.