Significance and procedure of Namakaranam
Namakaranam is one of the important samskaras or rituals of Shodasha Samskaras. Namakaranam is a Sanskrit word in which nama means name and karanam means to make. It is called Barasala in Telugu. Traditionally the namakaranam should be done either on the 11th or 21st day of the newborn child or in the third month. The significance and procedure of Namakaranam are explained in detail in this article.
As per Vedas and Sutras, a few guidelines are to be followed while doing namakaranam.
- Nakshatram
- Deity of the month
- Family deity
- Popular name by which the child will be called
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The procedure of Namakaranam:
- The child was given a head bath and dressed in new clothes. Kajal is applied to the baby’s eyes and a beauty mark on the cheek is made.
- The baby is put in the father’s lap.
- The priest then starts the Pooja which is followed by a homam and offers prayers to all gods, the Pancha bhootas (the five elements), and the spirits of the forefathers and prays them to bless and protect the child.
- The priest places a clean new piece of red cloth on which betel leaves, turmeric, lentils, and moong dal are kept along with the child’s horoscope in front of god.
- The parents decide the name of the newborn child and the father whispers the name in the right ear of the baby using a betel leaf.
- The Namakaranam ceremony finishes with relatives blessing the child and touching a little bit of honey to the lips of the newborn baby.