The Fifth Samskara - Nam Samskar (name giving ceremony)
In some Hindu families, 40 days after birth, the baby is taken to the community mandirThe word many Hindus use for a place of worship - a shrine or special place in the home or a building used by the community for worship and other events. for a naming ceremony. The father offers gheeClarified, purified butter.-soaked wood on the fire. After announcing the baby’s name, the priest pours holy water onto the baby’s head and puts a few drops of amritNectar. Sanctified (holy) liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation ceremonies. on the baby’s tongue.
Other Hindus perform the naming ceremony on the 12th day of the baby’s life. Sometimes the father whispers the baby’s name into his or her ear.
Many Hindu parents decide on the first letter of the child’s name by reading the astrological signsHindu astrology, using a special calendar or by consulting a Hindu astrologer. at the time of the birth and choosing a name that matches these signs. A priest or religious leader may give advice on this, or even choose the name.
In some families, the father might seek blessing from the family god or goddess by placing the baby’s horoscope before the murtiA statue of a god or goddess which has been made holy through a special ceremony; a term for any statue of a god or goddess.. In others, the father’s sister has the job of choosing the name from a selection the parents have written down.
In the past, most names were either names of gods and goddesses or reflected important qualities, eg Shanti (meaning 'peace'). While many Hindus continue this tradition today, it is also becoming more popular in both the UK and urban India to invent a name or to use Western names.
