Naming Ceremony In Times Of Corona: Know Rituals & Things To Keep In Mind

According to the Hindu Dharmashastras, from Sixteen Sanskars mentioned, Namkaran or Naming Ceremony For The Child is considered the fifth sanskar. All people who are born in this world are called by a name. A baby who is born is not named casually. According to Hinduism, a baby’s name is kept following certain rituals and beliefs. During the Namkaran Sanskar, the baby’s name is specially selected. Astrological assessments also play an essential role in this whole process of choosing a name for the baby. 

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Hence, it is important to conduct the Namkaran Sanskar or Naming Ceremony in the right way. However, such celebrations require a gathering of lots of people including family, friends and relatives, but since Corona Outbreak has been dominating the world and holding it in its clutches, any kind of social gathering is meanwhile a threat to your families and loved ones.

Today, through this article, we are going to tell you what is the special significance of organizing the Naming Ceremony of your baby, and what you should keep in mind while conducting this ceremony amid Corona Times.

Right Time To Commemorate Naming Ceremony

According to Hindu mythological shastras, the Naming Ceremony ritual is commemorated when the child is exactly ten days old. Usually, during the Naming Ceremony, two names are chosen for a child, of which one is kept secret as it is known by the parents of the child only and not by anyone else. The other name is the prevalent one which is used for official and social purposes. The secret name of the child is kept according to the placement of planets and nakshatra in the horoscope of the child. According to astrology, a child’s future and many astrological aspects are calculated with the help of his “secret” name.

Special Importance of Namkaran Sanskar

Particular importance is given to Namkaran Sanskar in Hindu Sanatan Dharma. It is the first ever Sanskar ritual performed immediately after the birth of the child. This is why its importance becomes quite relevant. It is also extremely significant to chant mantras and do puja during the Namkaran Sanskar as it brings positive changes in the life of the child. A child is named according to his kundali and on the basis of the first letter of his moon sign. A person’s name is linked with his existence, and that is why Namkaran Sanskar holds high importance.

All the mantras chanted during this ritual are considered quite impactful for the development of the child. It is a crucial responsibility of the parents to keep an appropriate name of their child by organising a Child Naming Ceremony. The importance of the ceremony increases when it is started with the blessings of the Kul Devta. Along with the blessings of goddesses and gods, it becomes precious for the child to get blessings from the elderly people of the house. This Sanskar also decides the future of the child.

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How to Prepare for Naming Ceremony

The ritual should be commemorated on the tenth day after the child is born. On this particular day, the child and parents should wear new clothes after taking a bath. After that, the parents should keep the child on their lap and sit down for the puja. The place where the puja is being conducted must be adequately cleaned. A Kalash or Urn should be established in that place. Do not forget to tie a red sacred thread around the urn’s neck and paint the swastika symbol.

However, due to the ongoing Corona Pandemic in the country, it is advisable to organize the ceremony for the baby in the normal way as of now without inviting much or no people. Once the situation gets normal, you can seek the blessings of the people by organizing a feast on the first birth anniversary of the child.

Mekhla Bandhan

After this, a colourful thread is tied around the child’s waist, which is known as Mekhla Bandhan. It is also known as Kondhni, Kardhani and Chuta in many places. All the relatives and loved ones attending the ceremony should have good wishes in their hearts for the child, and should pray for his/her well-being and success.

If all the members of your family live together, then you can conduct the Naming Ceremony for your child while following the safety guidelines, but if all of them live in different places, there’s no need for you to call them over amid the Lockdown period due to Coronavirus spread. This can make your new-born child directly prone to the deadly disease. Once the situation becomes normal, you can introduce the child to all family members.

The Mekhla Bandhan is tied around the waist so that the child can be lively, active and cheerful. These are considered to be the fundamental virtues inculcated in a human being. The Mekhla is tied around his waist during the Namkaran Sanskar ceremony so that the child possesses all these virtues.

”ॐ इयं दुरुक्तं परिबाधमाना, वर्ण पवित्रं पुन्तीम आगात। प्राणापानाभ्यां बालमादधाना, स्वसादेवी सुभगा मेखलेयम”

“oṃ iyaṃ duruktaṃ paribādhamānā, varṇa pavitraṃ puntīma āgāta। prāṇāpānābhyāṃ bālamādadhānā, svasādevī subhagā mekhaleyama” 

The above mantra should be chanted by the father while tying the mekhla around the child’s waist. The father should pray for the child to possess good qualities, awareness and patience.

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Anointment or Abhishek

Whenever a child is born, it is believed that he ventures through many worlds or yonis and is finally born in the human form. That is why the influence of the previous life can be seen on the child, which must be eliminated. But it is quite strange that the influence of previous life remains intact, which decreases the importance of birth in human form. Hereby, to get rid of any malefic factor pertaining to the past life, anointment or Abhishek is done immediately when the child enters the ceremonial place.

After this, some water or Gangajal from the urn must be sprinkled on people initiating the ceremony and relatives present while mantras being chanted. During this time, the below mantra should be chanted.

“ॐ आपो हिष्ठा मयोभुवः, ता ना ऊर्जे दधातन, महे रणाय चक्षसे। ॐ यो वः शिवतमो रसः, तस्य भाजयतेह नः। उशतीरिव मातरः। ॐ तस्माअरंगमामवो, यस्य क्षयाय जिन्वथ। आपो जान यथा च नः।

“oṃ āpo hiṣṭhā mayobhuvaḥ, tā nā ūrje dadhātana, mahe raṇāya cakṣase। oṃ yo vaḥ śivatamo rasaḥ, tasya bhājayateha naḥ। uśatīriva mātaraḥ। oṃ tasmāaraṃgamāmavo, yasya kṣayāya jinvatha। āpo jāna yathā ca naḥ।” 

Madhu Prashan or Tasting of Honey

The ceremony of Madhuparashan or Tasting of Honey is commemorated during Naming Ceremony so that the child always talks pleasantly and grows up and behaves politely. The newborn child is tasted honey with a silver spoon, ring or coin during the ceremony and the mantra is chanted.

“ॐ प्रते ददामि मधुनो घृतस्य, वेदं सवित्रा प्रसूतम मघोनाम। आयुष्मान गुप्तो देवताभिः, शतं जीव शारदो लोके अस्मिन”

“oṃ prate dadāmi madhuno ghṛtasya, vedaṃ savitrā prasūtama maghonāma। āyuṣmāna gupto devatābhiḥ, śataṃ jīva śārado loke asmina” 

It is believed that the child must speak politely and in a courteous manner, which is why s/he is given sweet honey. Make sure to provide the honey to the child when the mantras are being chanted. Also, pray to God so that the child’s way of talking becomes pleasant, righteous and decent.

Worshipping the Land or Bhoomi Poojan Sparshan

The child should not touch the ground immediately after being born. According to Hindu Mythology, only after the Naamkaran ceremony, the child is allowed to touch or be kept on the ground. The mother and father sit with the child on the ground during the Sanskar ceremony and flowers, akshat and incense are used to perform the puja on the ground after which the child is made to sit there. This is the first time for the child to touch the ground after his/her birth.

During this time, the child is introduced to the Motherland or Devbhoomi, Birthland or Janmabhoomi and Earth or Prithvi. During this time, chant the mantra:

“ॐ मही धौः पृथिवी च ना, इमं यज्ञं मिमिक्षाताम। पिपृतां नो भरिमभिः। ॐ पृथिव्यै नमः। आवाहयामि, स्थापयामि, पूजयामि ध्यायामि”

“oṃ mahī dhauḥ pṛthivī ca nā, imaṃ yajñaṃ mimikṣātāma। pipṛtāṃ no bharimabhiḥ। oṃ pṛthivyai namaḥ। āvāhayāmi, sthāpayāmi, pūjayāmi dhyāyāmi”

While chanting this mantra, the mother must place the child on the ground and along with other relatives, must pray for his/her well-being, health and prosperity. In such a way, they pray to Mother Earth to take care of the child as its mother.

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Changes After Birth

The mother nourishes a child with her flesh and blood. When the baby is born, it is only the mother who takes care of him/her while feeding him/her her milk. It is often said that after God, a mother takes care of not only the child’s growth but also his security. However, as the child starts growing old, it is the responsibility of the other members of the family to contribute towards his growth and development. It is not the responsibility of the mother but other family members also to keep an eye on the child’s future and do their part in fulfilling his/her development so that s/he becomes successful in every aspect of life. During the sanskar, this mantra must be chanted:

“ॐ अथ सुमंगल नामानथ्यायति, बहुकार श्रेयस्कर भूयस्करेती,एवं वन्नामाभवति, कल्याणमेवेतनमनुष्ये वाचो वदति”

“oṃ atha sumaṃgala nāmānathyāyati, bahukāra śreyaskara bhūyaskaretī,evaṃ vannāmābhavati, kalyāṇamevetanamanuṣye vāco vadati।”

While chanting the mantras, the mother hands over the child to the father to hold and after that other relatives take a turn to hold the child. During this whole time, all the relatives hold the child with a sentiment of love and then acknowledge their respective responsibilities towards the child.

However, these rules are carried out during normal times. At this time, it is advisable for you not to put your child in people’s laps and must refrain from any kind of close-body contact. Only the parents of the child should carry out this action with complete caution and hygiene.

First Glimpse for People

During the Namkaran Sanskar, the elders of the family carry the child in their arms and take him to the courtyard of the house. The child will eventually grow up and come in contact with the whole world; that is why he is given an introduction. The person who is carrying the child chants, 

“ॐ हिरण्यगर्भ: समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जात: पतिरेक आसीत्। स दाधार पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम”

“oṃ hiraṇyagarbha: samavartatāgre bhūtasya jāta: patireka āsīt। sa dādhāra pṛthivīṃ dyāmutemāṃ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema” 

and introduces him to the outer world. During this time, the Gayatri Mantra is also chanted while performing an oblation.

Amid Corona Times, avoid taking your child out for a walk or a meet-and-greet. You can take your newly born kid out on the balcony but with proper precaution. However, after situations become normal, you can conduct the ceremony in a rightful manner.

Gayatri Mantra:

ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः। तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं।

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ। tat saviturvareṇyaṃ।

bhargo devasya dhīmahi। dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ॥

Child Care

It is extremely important to stimulate the child’s mind towards language along with showing him love and affection. It is only through language that human beings can communicate and understand each other’s feelings. Because of this fact, the child is introduced to the concept of language during the Namkaran Sanskar ritual. During this time, the child sits on the lap of the priest, and he chants the following mantra in his ear. 

“ॐ शुद्धोसि बद्धोसि निरंजनोसि संसारमाया परिवर्जितोसी। संसारमायां त्यज मोहनिंद्रा त्वां सद्गुरुः शिक्षयतीति सूत्रम”

“oṃ śuddhosi baddhosi niraṃjanosi saṃsāramāyā parivarjitosī। saṃsāramāyāṃ tyaja mohaniṃdrā tvāṃ sadguruḥ śikṣayatīti sūtrama”

Along with the priest, the mother and father of the child also bless the child, thereby chanting 

“हे बालक! त्वमायुष्मान वर्चस्वी, तेजस्वी श्रीमान भूयः”

“he bālaka! tvamāyuṣmāna varcasvī, tejasvī śrīmāna bhūyaḥ”

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Important Rules To Keep In Mind

• Reasoning while Naming the Child

In this modern era, many people name their child according to their wishes. During the Naming Ceremony, the parents should always select such names for their children which have a specific meaning.

• Time Period

According to Hindu Sanatan Dharam, the ritual of Namkaran Sanskar should be conducted when the child is exactly ten days old. It is very important to conduct the ceremony on an auspicious day and name the child according to his zodiac sign.

Names Which Should Not Be Selected

The child should not be named after any God or Goddess. God is very pious and possesses unlimited powers, but they are incomparable when it comes to any human being. Every person has surely done something in their life for which they get cursed. When a child is given the name of a God or Goddess that does not nullify his chances of getting cursed. This would inherently mean that God is being disrespected.

Important Reminder

Keep in mind that the child should not touch the ground before the Namkaran Sanskar ceremony is conducted. Other than that, it is the prerogative of the parents to look after the fact that the food is prepared at home and the child is in the mother’s lap during this whole time.

Apart from this, if you are thinking of inviting a Pundit to conduct the Naming Ceremony for your Child, then you must take special care of some points since any kind of gathering or meet-and-greet is strictly prohibited. However, it would be a better option to carry out this ceremony without any assistance from the Pandit. In case any priest resides nearby your house, then cleanliness and rules regarding proper distance must also be taken into account. If possible, avoid calling anyone home now or exposing your new-born to anyone new.

If you feel it is very important, then you can give the priest a video call for any kind of assistance.

Through this article, we have given some intricate details about the Namkaran ceremony which should be known by everyone. Hope that this article proves to be very helpful for you.

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