Birth and naming ceremony
Sikhs believe that the birth of an individual is a special gift from God and should therefore be celebrated. They also believe that a person has many reincarnationThe religious belief that existence is a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and that the soul survives physical death and is reborn in a new body..
Naam Karan
Sikhs celebrate the birth of a child through a naming ceremony called naam karanA Sikh ceremony for naming a newborn child. This is a special ceremony that happens at the gurdwaraSikh place of worship. Literally, the 'doorway to the Guru'. around two weeks after the birth of the child.
The ceremony usually includes the following elements:
- everyone makes an offering to the Guru Granth SahibThe Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru., such as donations of money for the langarThe kitchen and place where food is eaten in a Sikh Gurdwara. Often volunteers provide and cook food that is served to all as an act of sewa (charity). and the upkeep of the gurdwara
- the parents make Karah PrashadSanctified food ( a sweet pudding made from wheat flour, sugar, clarified butter and water) distributed at Sikh ceremonies. or give a donation for it to be made
- the family offer the gurdwara something special, such as a rumallaBeautiful cloths or coverings which cover the Guru Granth Sahib when it is not being read. 鈥 a special cloth used to cover the Guru Granth Sahib
- the Mool Mantra(Mool Mantar or Mul Mantra) The basic statement of belief that appears at the beginning and throughout the Guru Granth Sahib. is said to thank God for the precious gift of life
- the sangatCongregation in a Sikh gurdwara. say prayers of thanks
- when the name is given to the baby, the congregation shows its approval with a cheer and the baby is given a spoonful of amritNectar. Sanctified (holy) liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation ceremonies. (a blessed mixture of sugar and water)
- the ceremony ends with the distribution of karah parshad and the congregation then eats together in the langar
Naming the child
During the ceremony, the granthiReader of the Guru Granth Sahib, who officiates at ceremonies. This can be a man or a woman. opens the Guru Granth Sahib at random. This is known as Hukam The order or command of God, referred to as Waheguru.. The granthi then reads the first line of the opened page. The first letter of the first word on the page decides the first letter of the child鈥檚 name. The parents then choose the name, which is announced by the granthi to the congregation.
The True Guru has truly given a child. The long-lived one has been born to this destiny. He came to acquire a home in the womb, and his mother鈥檚 heart is so very glad. A son is born 鈥 a devotee of the Lord of the universe.
Question
How do Sikhs choose the name of a child?
Sikhs use Hukam (where the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random). The first letter of the first word of the opened page becomes the first letter of the child鈥檚 name.