Namakaranam is the sacred naming ceremony performed for a newborn, traditionally on the 11th or 12th day after birth (Ekadasha or Dwadasha). Some families perform it on the 101st day. The ceremony officially gives the child their Hindu name, which is then whispered by the father into the child's right ear. In Telugu tradition, names are often based on the birth Nakshatram.

Choosing a Name Based on Nakshatram

In Vedic naming tradition, each of the 27 Nakshatrams has four Pada (quarter) sounds. The child's name should ideally begin with the sound corresponding to their birth Nakshatram and Pada. For example, Ashwini Nakshatram Padas give sounds Chu, Che, Cho, La — a child born in Ashwini Pada 1 might be named Churamani, Chetan, etc. A family pandit or jyotishi provides the Nakshatram-based name sound.

Muhurtham for Namakaranam

The Namakaranam Muhurtham should fall in Shukla Paksha on an auspicious Nakshatram. Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Chitra, Rohini, and Shravana are excellent. Avoid Rahukalam for the actual naming moment. The 11th day after birth is preferred; if that day falls in Rahu Kalam or on an inauspicious Nakshatram, the 12th day is used instead.

The Ceremony

On the Namakaranam day, the father cleanses himself ritually, then holds the child and whispers the name into the right ear three times, followed by 'Atha tava naama [name]' (Your name is now [name]). The ceremony includes Navagraha Puja and recitation of the child's horoscope birth details (Jathaka Sravanam). A small feast follows for family.