Nwaran: Everything about Naming Ceremony in Nepal

 

Nwaran, the name-giving ceremony practiced in the Hindu community is a sacred ritual performed on the 11th day of the child’s birth.

Have you ever wondered how you were named, who named you, and why you have two names? The answer all lies in the word Nwaran. Yes, it does!!!

So, let’s find the answer to all your question and know the complete process of the name-giving ceremony i.e. Nwaran.

What is Nwaran?

Nwaran is the name-giving ceremony for the newborn baby. It is practiced in the Hindu community. After the child is born, on the 11th day this ritual is organized to name a newborn baby. The name is given by Pandit according to the date, day, and time of birth. And also by analyzing the positions of stars.

All the Nepalese following Hinduism follows this tradition so the process might slightly be different according to the region. But the theme is the same i.e. to name the newborn.

Things that are Considered during Naming Child

Since we know what Nwaran is, now we need to know on what basis the child is named after. Right? So, let’s learn the things that are considered during Naming a child.

According to Hindu culture, four things are considered while naming the child. They are Nakshatras, Time, Date, and Place of childbirth.

Let’s learn each term detailly, shall we?

Nakshatras

“Nakshatra” refers to the constellation that the moon crossed when you were born. Or, to make it easy and simple we can say it’s the position of the stars. There are 28 nakshatras (27 in some cases) in the sky and each nakshatra lasts for around 53 minutes.

Time

Time refers to the exact time you were born. It is recorded by the hospital where you were born and the information is given to your parents. The time you were born determines your Nakshatras.

Date

Date simply refers to the Date you were born. It is also considered while naming you.

Place of childbirth

The place of childbirth refers to the place where you were born.

Combining these four factors and analyzing them individually and together, your name is given during Nwaran by Pandit.

Ingredients Required during the Process of Nwaran

Of Course!! for Nwaran is a sacred ritual we need some of the important ingredients to complete this process. So, some of the Ingredients required during the process of Nwaran are listed below:

• Dry rice (चामल)
• Copper Utensils (तामा को भाडो) 
• Flowers (फुलहरु)
• Paddy (धान)
• Panchamrit (पन्चामृत) 
  • Sugar (चिनी)
  • Milk (दूध)
  • Honey (मह)
  • Jaggery (shakkhar/सक्खर)
  • Curd (दहि)
• Oil lamp (दीयो)
• Kalash (कलश)
• Tikas
• Sandalwood (रक्त चन्दन)
• White Sandalwood (श्रीखंड चन्दन)
• Sesame seeds (तिल)
• Popped paddy (लावा)
• Raw and ripe Coconut (नरिवल)
• Barley (जौ)
• Incense Stick (धूप)
• Half Grass/Kush (कुश)
• Ritual threads (जनै)  
• Areca Nut (सुपाडी)
• Firewood 
• Pancha Pallava (पंचा पल्लव)
  • 5 types of leaves include Peepal (पीपल), Banyan (वर) Mango (आँप), Chaap (चाँप), Bermuda Grass (दुबो)
• Ritual clothes (red, white, crimson, yellow, and black)
• Cooked Food (नैवेद्य)
• Camphor (कपूर)
• Rice Flour (चामल को पिठो)
• Duna, Tapari (disposable leaf plates)
• The mixture of different herbs (Sarv Aushadhi)
• Sapta matrika Soil of seven places (सप्त मात्रिका)
• Kurta  
• Suit for the brahman.
• Conch Shell (शंख)
• Ritual bell (घण्टा )
• A vessel to offer water (अर्घपत्र)

Process of Nwaran

The list of Ingredients looks lengthy, isn’t it? But don’t worry!! you don’t have to memorize it because Pandit Baje will give you the list and all you have to do is get it and hand it to Pandit Baje.

Nwaran word is simple to pronounce but unlike its simplicity to pronounce its process is long and complicated. But Good for us, we don’t have to dive in-depth into its process. It’s the job of the Pandit or Pujari.

So, let’s focus on its two alternate processes rather than the core process. In one process the assistance of the Pujari is required. On the other hand, in another process, the assistance of Pujari is not required.

Let’s discuss both processes briefly. Before discussing the alternative process, would you like to know a little about the Core process either? Is the answer Yes? Then Let’s go!!!

Short Description of the Core Process

The core process of Nwaran is more or less sacred and spiritual. Deities like Dip (The fire God), Kalash (The rivers and sea Gods), and Ganesh (A prime Hindu Deity) are worshipped during this process.

The core process of “Nwaran” can be categorized into five sections. They are:

Purification process

The purification process of a child is done to purify the newborn child with his/her past sins. The purification process is done through PanchaGavya.

PanchaGavya is done by worshipping the urine of a Cow and dripping the urine in the mouth of soon to be named baby. This process is completed by praying to the gods of water with flowers, barley, black sesame, dry rice, half grass (kush), and water in a copper bowl.

Hawan

Mandala is made and a fire is lit in the middle of mandala. Different gods and goddesses are worshipped to bless the newborn child.

Name Hearing

The father of a baby whispers the given name in the ear of the baby and the aarti is done.

Argha

The sun god is worshipped and the child is made to place his/her big toe on a mandala made from a Cow Dung

Completion

Different offerings and sacrifices are made and the gods are and thanks for the blessing. The process is completed.

The process that requires the Assistance of a Pujari

From the name itself, you must have guessed Pujari is required to complete this process. It is very similar to the Core process, the difference is: it is short than the core process.

We still follow the purification process but instead of worshipping all the gods and goddesses required for the Nwaran, we only worship Oil lamps (दीयो), Lord Ganesh, and Kalash (कलश). We do have to make the whole mandala and all though.

For we don’t worship all the deities and go through making the whole mandala, the process becomes shorter, less time-consuming, and for sure money-effective. Although the process is shorter in comparison to the core process where we have to worship all the deities like Dip (The fire God), Kalash (The rivers and sea Gods), and Ganesh (A prime Hindu Deity), this process is still complicated for us to understand.

The process that does not require the Pujari Directly

From the name itself, you must have guessed No Pujari is required to complete this process. It is vey short and simple process.

All you have to do is, collect the name, Rashi, the baby’s astrological starting letter from an astrologer who practices Vedic astrology, and a Peepal Leaf.

After that write down the name of the baby in the Peepal leaf. You can put the Peepal leaf under the baby’s pillow or you can let the Peepal leaf go with the flow of the river. The choice is yours. You can follow any of the two processes according to your favourability.

Now, call the Pandit and ask him to perform small puja on behalf of you. And, the process is completed.

How much does it cost for the “Nwaran” ceremony?

We can’t say the exact amount. What we can say is that it costs you according to how you choose to conduct this ceremony. If you invite lots of guests and make this ceremony extravagent, then for sure it is going to cost you more. But if you conduct this ceremony in presence of only family members, then it won’t cost you a lot.

All you have to bear is the cost of ingredients and give some amount to the Pujari.

Conclusion

Did you understand the process of Nwaran? And why it is important?

Nwaran is a sacred ritual where a newborn baby is named. And yes!!! the Nwaran name is supposed to be secret meaning you cannot say your Nwaran name to anyone.