DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0382
CHAPTER XIV.
The Hindu Religion in Modern Family-life.
Turn we now to the daily life of the modern householder.
And here I must make it clear that what I shall have to say-
will have reference only to those persons of the higher castes
who have the right to the title 'twice-born,' and have gone
through the chief Sanskaras or ceremonies supposed to purify
the child from the taint contracted in the womb of an earthly
parent.
Of the twelve Sanskaras described in the last chapter only
a few remain still in force. Passing over the first four, which
are rarely if ever performed in the present day, we come to
the fifth, or Name-giving ceremony (Nama-karana), which
takes place about the tenth or twelfth day after birth.
It is worth while to take note here of a superstitious idea
which prevails very generally throughout India, that on the
sixth day after birth the Creator writes the child's future
destiny on its forehead. Yet I know of no special ceremony
instituted to mark this particular day, or to propitiate the
deity on so momentous an occasion.
With regard to the present custom of Name-giving, the
ceremony is performed in some parts of India on the day
when the child is first fed with a little rice1. Then it is
thought essential to secure good fortune that a boy should
be called after some god2, for example Krishna, Gopala
1 This appears to be the custom in Bengal.
a In former days people were not so superstitious,
names as Panini, Patafijali, Saunaka, Asvalayana, etc.
Witness such
The Hindu Religion in Modern Family-life.
Turn we now to the daily life of the modern householder.
And here I must make it clear that what I shall have to say-
will have reference only to those persons of the higher castes
who have the right to the title 'twice-born,' and have gone
through the chief Sanskaras or ceremonies supposed to purify
the child from the taint contracted in the womb of an earthly
parent.
Of the twelve Sanskaras described in the last chapter only
a few remain still in force. Passing over the first four, which
are rarely if ever performed in the present day, we come to
the fifth, or Name-giving ceremony (Nama-karana), which
takes place about the tenth or twelfth day after birth.
It is worth while to take note here of a superstitious idea
which prevails very generally throughout India, that on the
sixth day after birth the Creator writes the child's future
destiny on its forehead. Yet I know of no special ceremony
instituted to mark this particular day, or to propitiate the
deity on so momentous an occasion.
With regard to the present custom of Name-giving, the
ceremony is performed in some parts of India on the day
when the child is first fed with a little rice1. Then it is
thought essential to secure good fortune that a boy should
be called after some god2, for example Krishna, Gopala
1 This appears to be the custom in Bengal.
a In former days people were not so superstitious,
names as Panini, Patafijali, Saunaka, Asvalayana, etc.
Witness such