Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 196

156
CEREMONY ON NAMING A CHILD
of a month.
Until that time has elapsed she must live
apart and have no communication with any one l
.
Nam A- KARMA.
On
the twelfth day after the birth of the child they give
This is the nama-karma ceremony. The house
it a name.
having been duly purified, the father of the child invites
his relatives and friends to be present at the ceremonies
and at the feast which follows them. The guests go all
together to perform their ablutions.
On their return they
first of all offer the sacrifice to fire called homam, in honour
Then the father of the child, holding
of the nine planets.
it in his arms, seats himself on the little raised platform of
earth and performs the sam-kalpa.
By his side is a copper
dish full of rice.
With the first finger of his right hand,
in which he holds a gold ring, he writes on this rice the day
of the moon, the name of the day, that of the constellation
under which the child was born, and finally the name that
he wishes to give him. He then calls the child three times
this name in a loud voice.
This ceremony ended, he gives a present to the presiding
-purohita, distributes betel to all the Brahmins present, and
then all take their places at the feast which has been pre-
pared.
As soon as it is finished the master of the house
again offers betel to his guests, and also presents, if he is
rich enough.
The mother of the child does not appear at this cere-
mony for the reason mentioned at the end of the preceding
by
section.
Anxa-prasana.
As soon as the child is six months old he is weaned.
Then the anna-prasana takes place. The name of this
ceremony expresses the idea of feeding the child on solid
1
This custom closely resembles that which Jewish women were
obliged to follow under similar circumstances (Leviticus xi), but the
Hindus pay no attention, as did the Israelites, to the difference in the
sex of the child. As regards the time during which the uncleanness of
the mother lasts, it is just the same with the Hindus whether a boy or
a girl is born.
Dubois.
This is wrong. When a mother gives birth to a girl, pollution lasts
for forty days
in the case of a boy, only thirty days.
Ed.
;