Naamakaran

Naamkaran Sanskar or Naming ceremony is done on the 11th day after the birth of the child. According to astrology, the Brahmins visit house at this day for deciding the child’s name. From that day the child is called by his/her name. On account of it, the first identity of that newborn child becomes his name that has been allotted by Brahmins.

Significance of Sanskar:

After the birth of a baby, the second sacrament can be called of Naam karan Sanskar. Jaat-Karm Sansakar is not in practice now days, people perform only Namkaran Sanskar right after the birth of the infant. Jaat-Karm is conducted along with Namkaran Sanskar with rituals. Through this ritual, it is used to give the benefit of the welfare sacrificial environment to the living soul in infancy form. At the time of naming ceremony- Naamkaran Sanskar, it is necessary to input basic welfare trends within the infant as well as the establishment of aspirations is considered very important. It is required to create an environment according to the present life scenarios and surroundings. The born infant is a boy or a girl; this discrimination should not be given entertained. There is no as such discrimination anywhere in Indian culture. Shilvati daughter is said to be equal to ten sons. Shilvati daughter is said to be equal to ten sons.

“दश पुत्र-समा कन्या यस्य शीलवती सुता”

In contrast, the son may also be the destroyer of total religion.

जिमि कपूत के ऊपजे कुल सद्धर्म नसाहिं।

Hence, naming ceremony- Naam karan Sanskar should be done with the view of creating a flow in the direction of the best, by eliminating the undesirable ethics within the child whether the infant is a male or female.

When is Namkaran Sanskar takes place:

Naam karan Sanskar is usually done after ten days of birth. In fact, sutak begins after the child’s birth whose period is different according to the Varna system. According to Parashar Smriti, sutak are for ten days in Brahmin, in Kshatriyas for 12 days, 15 days in Vaishy and a month has been considered for Shudra. Due to the irrelevance of the varna (caste) system, it is usually done on eleventh day. The Paraskar Grahsutra says - “दशम्यामुत्थाप्य पिता नाम करोति”। That means, the Namkaran is done on the tenth day by the father. But for this, the yagna is arranged and purification of the Sutra is done. Namkaran Sanskar is performed after 100 days or even after one year has passed. Gobhil Grahsutrakar writes:

“जननादृशरात्रे व्युष्टे शतरात्रे संवत्सरे वा नामधेयकरणम्”।