Mode of Sattva: Scientific Explanation of Namakaran (Naming Ceremony of child) Sanskar

Category: Science in Ancient texts (Hindu Sanskar)

Hi Beautiful and Peaceful Soul,

In the series of blogs about sixteen sanskars, after discussing Nishkraman(https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/nishkraman-sanskar-outing-ceremony-of.html), Annaprashan(https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of-annaprashan.html), Mundan(https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of.html), Karnavedhana (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/08/scientific-explanation-of-karnavedhana.html) and Jaatakarma & SwarnaPrashan Sanskar (https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/09/scientific-explanation-of-jaatakarma.html) in my previous blogs, today I am going to discuss about Namakaran Sanskar.

What is Namakaran Sanskar and its Scientific Explanation?

It is a religious ceremony conducted by the family members to assign a name to the newborn child. This gives personal identity to the child and is required for socialization. Generally, this sanskar is performed on 10th day of life (Charaka) and can be performed any day from 10th day (Sushruta and Laghu Vagbhata) to 100th day (Vriddha Vagbhata) in special cases such as if mother or child is not well.

According to Acharya Charak, mother and child should take bath with water purified by herbs on this day, wear clean cloths, ornaments, touch auspicious things and worship God. Bathing of mother and baby with medicated water ensures hygiene and disinfection. Lodhra herb used for bathing is known to reduce inflammation and has wound healing properties apart from controlling excessive vaginal bleeding (3, 10, 11). Mother should sit with baby's head facing towards north or east direction depending upon where maximum illumination of sunlight is present. Sunlight makes any inflammation on head like cephalohematoma (collection of blood between baby scalp and skull when blood vessels are often damaged during labor and delivery) visible (3, 12). Father of the child then prays to God and proposes two names for the child - one name should be based on the location of moon in a particular Nakshatra (Constellations) during his birth and another name should be based on child's ultimate goal in life.

In this sanskar, name is given by parents, helps in developing a parental bond with baby and understanding parental responsibilities. During this ceremony, parents and other family members are taught to provide an atmosphere where the inherent qualities of child can be awakened.

Significance of naming on the basis of Nakshatra (constellations):

When the moon travels in the sky, it is believed to pass through 27 Nakshatras. The child's place and time of birth helps to locate the position of moon in specific Nakshatra at that time. Each Nakshatra has certain syllables that are considered lucky for the baby. Parents can select a name that starts with that particular sound or syllable. Astrologers believe that Nakshatra can give an insight into the baby's personality and attributes. Therefore, this helps in naming a child on the basis of his positive attributes which in turn will reflect in his personality. This is the primary reason why Indian parents consult an astrologer to find out their child's Nakshatra soon after the birth. Hindus believe that Nakshatra plays a significant role in shaping their baby's character, destiny and life.

What cautions should be taken while naming the child?

1. Name should be meaningful and depict the expectations from the child.

2. It should not be kept on the name of animals, birds and words with no meanings.

3. Name should reflect the nature, attributes and personality of child.

4. Name should reflect the ultimate goal in child's life.

5. It should be easy to pronounce and should not be distorted.

Why Namakaran Sanskar is performed after 10 days of child's birth?

In our scriptures, 10 days immediately after the birth of child are considered as Asauch or Sutak (Purification period). At this time, baby releases meconium, the earliest stool after birth majorly coming from what is consumed in the womb. It is also the time where there are high chances of child mortality. Baby can die within a week in case of major congenital abnormalities such as Rh incompatibility, severe birth asphyxia etc. The child bears maximum risk of infections, sepsis, neonatal jaundice, etc during this time. So conducting naming ceremony before the 10th day can result in bad emotional impact on parents/family in case of child's unfortunate death (4). Therefore, this sanskar should be done at least after ten days, when the child has successfully completed the vulnerable early neonatal period (birth to seven days).

After naming ceremony, Ayupariksha should be done. This means any diseased condition of the baby, such as persistence of jaundice, should be taken seriously. Further, baby weight and umbilical cord should be examined.

What is the importance of giving name to child?

It is said that name is the only thing that lefts behind after person's death. And how does a person ensures his name to be remembered even after death is through his good deeds. So, everyone wish to get remembered after death but the question is, how we can encourage our child to do good karma? One of the most crucial way of doing this is by giving him a meaningful name that reflects a dignified quality. Let's try to understand how this works:

There are countless current of energies in the cosmos, all of which are distinct from each other. Similarly, there are countless energy currents in human body. In yogic literature, these are called Nadis (energy currents) which affect the physical and mental state of body. Yogis through their spiritual powers captured the sounds of these nadis each represented as respective letter of Sanskrit language. At a more subtle level, the Sanskrit phonemes relate to the energy currents which lie deep inside the human body. The yogis have identified places in the body where two or more energy currents cross. The point where two energy currents intersect is called a Sandhi while the point where three energy currents cross is called Marma Shthana and the point where more than three energy currents converge is called a Chakra. At the chakras, the vibratory patterns of energy are significantly strong. At the center of each chakra a distinct sound predominates and other sounds are centered around it. That is why, in kundalini yoga, each chakra is represented as a particular letter at its center with a letter on each petal.

We know that each chakra is associated with respective endocrine gland in human body. These endocrine glands secrete hormones responsible for various physiological and psychological activities in body. Therefore, balanced chakra (energy is vibrating in a way that produce sound specific to that chakra) are required for good physical and mental health to perform sattvic karma.

In addition to this, these seven chakras corresponds to planets and constellations in our astral body. It means, the cosmic radiations emitted by various celestial bodies in universe are received by chakra representing that specific celestial body in our astral body.

All celestial bodies emit cosmic radiation but different people perceive it in different ways. It is our chakra which is responsible for receiving cosmic radiation in appropriate way from these celestial bodies. Chakras, if don't work properly could lead to different effects. For example, Root chakra which is responsible for our survival is represented by planet Saturn. Due to past karma, one may have this chakra blocked so either he does not receive any energy or receive erratic cosmic energy of Saturn. It is thus considered as weak in his birth chart and as a result problems related to Saturn are faced by such persons. On the other hand, another person survives very easily because cosmic energy of Saturn free flows in his Root chakra and thus considered as strong in his birth chart. The working of chakra depends on our karma from past or present lives. Previous life karma decides the date and time of our birth. Therefore, the effect of good and bad karma comes with new birth.

Thus, all these Sanskars are ways or processes to eradicate the effects of bad karma and simultaneously enhance the effect of good karma in present life. Therefore, by giving a name starting with the letter or sound that corresponds to or is in harmony with the vibrations of the Nakshatras (in which the child is born), helps to enhance the positive vibrations in child's energy body. This promotes a healthy psychology, physical and mental development of child. It also protects from the malicious effects of other planets and helps the child to perform good karma and in turn achieve Moksha.

The only thing responsible to make our name famous in life is our karma and it's our name that reminds us to do good karma. Therefore, meaningful name leads to meaningful life and meaningless name leads to meaningless life. While naming parents should be aware that they are not only giving beautiful name to the child but they also deciding the destiny of their child. I would recommend all parents to give only Vedic Sanskrit names to their child.

I hope you like it!

Take care all of you!!

Your's Sincerely

Purnima Ghai.

References:

1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273120728_THE_CHILDHOOD_SAMSKARAS_RITES_OF_PASSAGE_AND_ITS_SCIENTIFIC_APPRECIATION

2.http://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/3-2-98-953.pdf

3.http://interscience.org.uk/images/article/v8-i1/9ijahm.pdf

4.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322951080_International_Journal_of_Ayurveda_and_Pharma_Research_Review_Article_A_CRITICAL_APPRAISAL_ON_VARIOUS_SAMSKARA%27S_WITH_THEIR_SCIENTIFIC_AND_MEDICAL_IMPORTANCE_IN_PEDIATRIC_AGE_GROUP

5.https://www.ijam.co.in/index.php/ijam/article/view/142/143

6.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316883640_An_Analytical_Study_of_Bal-Sanskara_WSR_to_Physio-Anatomical_Changes_for_Assessment_of_Developmental_Milestones/link/5915f4d2aca27200fe501558/download

7.https://www.swaminarayan.faith/media/3688/sanskar-english.pdf