https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=17.66.188.96Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-18T21:26:19ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=N%C4%81makara%E1%B9%87a&diff=462045Nāmakaraṇa2025-07-17T08:54:18Z<p>17.66.188.96: general corrected citations per sources additionally and improved wording as per guidelines</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Hinduism}}<br />
{{Short description|Hindu rite of passage of a naming ceremony}}<br />
{{for2|the naming ceremony in Sikhism|Naam Karan|the Indian TV series|Naamkarann}}<br />
'''Namakarana''' ({{langx|sa|नामकरणम्|translit=Nāmakaraṇam|lit=name-giving}}) is the [[naming ceremony]] in [[Hinduism]] and a [[Samskara (rite of passage)|samskara]] (rite of passage) to name a baby.<ref>Pandey, R.B. (1962, reprint 2003). ''The Hindu Sacraments (Saṁskāra)'' in S. Radhakrishnan (ed.) ''The Cultural Heritage of India'', Vol.II, Kolkata:The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, {{ISBN|81-85843-03-1}}, p.392</ref><br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
According to the [[Grhya Sutras]], ''Namakarana'' ceremony is typically performed on the tenth or the twelfth day after birth. Some texts suggest the naming ceremony be done on the first new moon or full moon day after the 10th day of birth.<ref name=kanenama/> Alternate opinions range from the tenth day to the first day of the second year.<ref name="pandey">Pandey, Rajbali (1969, reprint 2006) ''Hindu Saṁskāras: Socio-Religious Study of the Hindu Sacraments'', Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|81-208-0434-1}}, pp.78-89</ref><br />
<br />
On the day of this samskara, the infant is bathed and dressed in new garments.<ref name=marynama/> Their formal name, selected by the parents, is announced. The naming ritual solemnizes the child as an individual, marking the process by which a child is accepted and socialized by people around them. The rite of passage also includes a gathering of friends and relatives of the baby's parents, typically with gifts and for a feast.<ref name=marynama>Mary McGee (2007), Samskara, in ''The Hindu World'' (Editors: Mittal and Thursby), Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415772273}}, pages 342-343</ref><br />
<br />
The ancient Sanskrit texts provide numerous and divergent guidelines to the parents for choosing names.<ref name=kanenama/> A boy's name by ancient conventions is typically of two or four syllables, starting with a sonant, a semivowel in the middle, and ending in a [[visarga]]. A girl's name is typically an odd number of syllables, ending in a long ''ā'' or ''ī'', resonant and easy to pronounce.<ref name=kanenama>PV Kane, [https://archive.org/stream/historyofdharmas029210mbp#page/n295/mode/2up Samskara, Chapter VI], History of Dharmasastras, Vol II, Part I, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, pages 238-254</ref> Unpleasant, inauspicious, or words that easily transform into bad or evil words must be avoided, state the Gryhasutras, while the preferred names are those affiliated with a deity, virtues, good qualities, lucky stars, constellation, derivatives of the name of the father, or mother, or the place of birth, or beautiful elements of nature (trees, flowers, birds).<ref name=kanenama/><ref name=marynama/><br />
<br />
Five names can be given to the new born as per [[Hindu astrology|rashi]], [[nakshatra]], [[Hindu calendar|masa]], family deity, and worldly name.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*[[Barasala]]<br />
*[[Twelve Auspicious Rites]]<br />
*[[Naam Karan]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
== Sources ==<br />
* {{cite book|last=Asoke Kumar Majumdar|title=Concise History of Ancient India|date=1983|volume=3|isbn= 978-81-215-0176-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zt-1AAAAIAAJ&q=Namakarana}}<br />
<br />
{{Hindu samskaras}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Samskaras]]<br />
[[Category:Naming ceremonies]]</div>17.66.188.96