Namakaranam

Jata Karma, Namakarana and upanishkramana

“Samskara” means cleansing the bad things of someone and preparing him for the next phase in life. The Sanskars are performed for the Mental, physical, behavioral, and spiritual balance and progress of an individual. These ceremonies are vital for a human being to change his mind and means as well as fresh challenges.

Jatakarma, Namakarana, and Upanishkramana samskaras are three different ceremonies (samskaras) but performed together after the 10th day.  Actually, the Jatakarma Samskara ritual is to be performed at the time of birth, before feeding the child.

In the Jatha karma ritual, the father and mother welcome the baby by touching the baby’s lips with honey and ghee (clarified butter) mixed with gold. It improves the immunity power of the child. This ritual is performed with the recitation of Vedic hymns. The first sign of the hymns is to initiate the baby’s mind and intellect in the womb of the world after the baby’s body formation has been completed in the womb of the mother. The second part of the hymns wishes the baby a long life. JaatKarma Sanskar is done in order to keep the child in a clean atmosphere where the child may not incur any infections or physical or mental problems.

Namakarana samskara is done after the 10th day of childbirth. We followJatashwcha or Sootaka for 10 days. On11th day we perform Punyaha vachanam and Panchagavya Prashanam for the purification of the house and family. On the 11th or 12th day morning after the purification, jatakarma and Nama Karana samskara starts together.

As the identity of the child commences with name, the naming ceremony is having its own importance in a family. Parents celebrate the name-giving ceremony (Namakarana) by dressing the baby in new clothes.

The family astrologer announces the child’s horoscope (see Other Arts and Sciences). Traditionally the child’s name is chosen according to the position of the moon in the birth chart.

Generally, four to five names are suggested for a newborn baby

1. Kuladevata’s name (name of family deity) to get blessings of the family deity.
2. Masa Naama: The name suggested in Jyotishya shastra corresponds to the month (masa) in which the child is born.
3. Nakshatra Nama: This is the name suggested in Jyotishya shastra corresponding to the nakshatra (birth star ) in which a child is born.
4. Vyavahara Nama: Name which is continued for calling the child.
5. Gupta name: is a name which is kept secretly it is used in upanayana for Abhivadanam,

Some people keep their grandparents’ names also. These names will be written on rice or paddy spread on the silver plate. Then names will be uttered in the years of the child. Some people perform Jatakarma and namakarana rituals with Homa.

Upanishkramana samskara:

The child is taken out for the first time after two months. The child takes darshan of the sun, then the temple deity, and in the evening sees the moon.