The Rite of Initiation and Naming Ceremony in Hindu Telugu Culture

Namakaranam and Annaprasana: In Telugu Hindu culture and tradition the naming ceremony of a baby is usually celebrated on the same day of the anna prasana (feeding the bay solid food for the first time).

Cultural Reasons and Understanding: This sanskar/ tradition/ ceremony is performed on or after the sixth or seventh month as per the gender of the child, sixth or seven months for the boy child and odd months for the girl child. This ritualistic ceremony initiates the introduction of solid food for the baby. When the baby gets solid food for the first time, Mantras are recited and pujas are offered to the various deities. It is believed that, with Annaprasana, the flaws that arise due to intake of impure food when as a foetus are removed. It is also believed that Annaprasana ceremony will help to propitiate speech. The meaning of Annaprasana is anna=rice and prasana= to enter. Annaprasana is done after the Namakaran ceremony.

The baby is given rice kheer or payasam fed with a golden ring in some temple or in the presence of a priest. From here on you can continue giving the baby solid items in small quantity. Some people believe that Annaprasana should be performed after the child's first teeth come out as this is a sure sign that he will be able to digest solid food. At the close of the function, different articles (books, fruits, toys, money etc.) are spread before the child. The baby is allowed to touch these items and it is believed that what the baby touches first will be his interest for the rest of his life.

Naming or Initiation Ceremony: The traditional ceremony of naming the baby in the Hindu way is known as the namakaran ceremony. This is a social and legal necessity and an important duty of the parents. The naming process creates a bond between the child and the rest of the family, and therefore is a highly auspicious occasion. This ceremony is usually performed on the 12th day after birth though it varies from region to region and custom to custom. The mother is specially honoured because she brought the child into the world. All the relatives and the guests who are present bless the child and offer gifts to the child and the parents. The blessings say that the child should grow into being a great person like his renowned forefathers. Though the infant, obviously, does not understand the meaning of the ceremony the parents do; and it helps them to understand the responsibility of bringing up and developing the child into a worthy human being. For others who are present it is a reassuring experience of understanding the dignity and value of human life! 

The Namkaran puja is either held at home or in a temple where the priest offers prayers to all the gods and to the Agni, the elements, and the spirits of the forefathers, and entreats them to bless and protect the child. The child`s horoscope if written is also placed in front of the image of the deity for blessings. Then the baby is placed in the father's (in some regions, maternal uncle's) lap to be blessed and then he whispers the chosen hindu name in the child's right ear, by using a betel leaf or its silver imprint, or a few leaves of kusa grass to direct the words in his ear. After the naming ritual is over, friends and relatives who have come for the ceremony bless the child and touch some honey or sugar to its lips. If the naming ceremony is not done on the 12th day, it can be done on the 101 day or on the first birthday. After the ceremony a feast is usually arranged to mark the holy occasion and vegetarian meals are prepared.

Tala neelalu theeyu Ceremony (baby’s first hair removal): Please note that Tala neelalu theeyu cermony is prescribed only boy babies but today with the changing times, it has become a practice to have the ceremony done for girl child too. A proper Tala neelalu theeyu ceremony involves three rituals of about an hour’s duration – the boy’s parents do a Ganesh puja (worship of the Hindu God Ganapati or Ganesh); a barber who shaves the child receives some honour; and a Havan (a purifying ritual with a fire ceremony) with devotional prayers known as the Ayushya Homa mantra and Arati concludes the ceremony. This is followed by a feast and the giving of presents which form the social aspect of the Mundan as a samskar. Shaving the head is termed as Ayushkarma in Sanskrit, It means enhancing the longevity or the life span of the child. Ayuh in Ayurveda also means this). The child's hair at the time of birth is not strong and the mundan ceremony ensures that hair roots are strengthened and strong hair is formed. The shaved head received Vitamin D from from exposure to sun and this has its own medicinal benefits. Little hair is left at the back known as Shikha, this is supposed to protect that part of the brain which helps in memory. The Shikha is also supposed to denote the place where, for a pious person, the soul leaves the body at the time of death. After this ceremony of Talaneelalu the boy child or the girl child is fully accepted as an entity of a society and a full-fledged member of a family. 

Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.   --Jawaharlal Nehru