The Indian-Hindus have 16 rituals that celebrate rites of passage in a person’s life. When a child is born, there are two important rituals that take place to give them a proper, formal entry into the world. The birthing ritual is called the Jatakarma and the traditional formal naming ceremony is the Namakaran. Both ceremonies have been and continue to be practiced by Indian-Hindus even today as they are auspicious occasions, each creating a strong bond between the child and the family.
Jatakarma is designed to welcome the child’s arrival into the world as well as to arouse sensory organs. This ritual or ceremony consists of five steps: entry, when the newborn is brought into the world; preparation, where the child is given a spoon with a mixture of honey, curd and clarified butter to lick while the family present whispers mantras over the right ear of the child – the intention of this step is to speak long life upon the child; the climax is the third step where the father touches the child’s shoulders while chanting verses from the three Vedas (religious texts which inform Hinduism as a religion) then breathes five Brahmanas (are tied to the Vedas) over the child; fourth is the celebration where the mother breastfeeds the child while the father bends to touch the spot on the earth where the child was been born while still chanting the mantas.
The Namakaran or the naming ceremony is performed to select a newborn’s name using traditional methods while following the astrological rules of naming. This ceremony takes place on the 12th day after the Jatakarma but is said to vary in different regions and customs. Therefore, sometimes, the ceremony takes place 101 days after the child is born or on the child’s first birthday. However, one thing that’s constant is the ceremony’s location: it is held either at the child’s home or in a temple. Mother and child are the honorable people of the event because one brought the child into the world and the other has lived through the first days since his/her entry into the world. Guests present are often relatives and close friends of the family who bring gifts and offer blessings. A priest presides over the occasion, offering prayers to all the gods, the elements, and the spirits of the forefathers entreating them to bless and protect the child.
Thereafter, the child is placed in his/her father’s or maternal uncle’s lap to receive another blessing from his father or uncle who then whispers a chosen Hindu name into the child’s right ear. A Betel leaf is often used to direct the name into the child’s ear. This marks the end of the official ceremony.
Finally, the guests get a chance to bless the child. A feast of vegetarian meals follows as a celebration.
Indeed, the Hindu birth and naming ceremonies show how rich tradition is… but this is all just a summary, and now we’d like to hear from you. Tell us more about these ceremonies and how important they are. Perhaps there have been changes over the years, you are welcome to share.
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