Periyazhvar Naming a Child

How should you name your child – Do not ascribe odd and fancy names such as Nampee or Pimpee….Their freshness will last just 4 days

By naming after the Lord, everyone will have at least called out the Lord’s name every time they call out for this person in their life. While this may not amount to calling out the name of the Lord in the true sense of devotion, it will still be of some merit, says Periyazhvar

(This 500th blog story is dedicated to NS Ramnath ( Ex - The Economic Times and Forbes) who initiated me into blogging almost a decade ago)

 

What is in a name?  A lot…… Periyazhvar has dedicated an entire decad in the fourth canto on the significance of naming a child. There are many relevant options available to us and he wants us to explore these for he says that the result will be beyond one’s imagination.

He asks us to name the new born after the Lord. Repeatedly he says that a mother who names her child after Him will escape hell. Such is the importance Periyazhvar gives to the naming event.

Through this decad, in the first half of each verse he first provides the reason for many of us naming the child indifferently and then in the 2^nd half of the verse enlightens us on the benefits arising out of naming our children after HIM.

He cautions us about the risks involved in naming the child with fancy names.

Why indifferent names???

We succumb to the lure of gold coins and jewels and grains and name our child with MEAN names. He directs the ladies to call the children with names of the Lord. We opt for so many indifferent names when we have a beautiful choice from among the Lord’s various names.

காசும் கறையுடைக் கூரைக்கும் அங்கோர் கற்றைக்கும்

ஆசையினால் அங்க வைத்தப் பெரிதும் ஆதர்காள்

கேசவன் பேரிட்டு நீங்கள் தேனித் திருமினோ

நாயகன் நாராயணன் தம் அன்னை நரகம் புகாள்

Don’t fall for the lure of wealth

Periyazhvar describes the lure of material wealth in return for which mothers assign inappropriate names. In the temptation of rich oil for the head, beautiful ornaments for the forehead and bangles for the hand, she stays away from the many beautiful names of the Lord that are available as choices before her.

Instead of taking all these and naming inappropriately, it is even worth living by begging and naming your child after Him.

உச்சியில் எண்ணையும் கட்டியும் வளையும் உகந்து

எச்சம் பொலிந்தீர்காள் என் செய்வான் பிறர்பேரிட்டீர்

Human beings produce human being. And then we ascribe the name of a human being to this new born. But to reach abode of Lord, one has to assign HIS names.

மானிட சாதியில் தோன்றிற்று ஓர் மானிட சாதியை

மானிட சாதியின் பேரிட்டால் மறுமைக்கில்லை

No Salvation even in the next birth!!!!

Periyazhvar even goes to the extent of calling our bodies as filthy and polluted and hence is not in favour of giving such names to new born. Despite this, if we do so, there is no way for salvation even in our next birth.

Where as if the mother names her child after the Lord, she will escape hell even in this birth.

கண்ணுக்கினிய கருமுகில் வண்ணன் நாமமே

நண்ணுமின் நாரணன் தம் அன்னை நரகம் புகாள்

By naming him after well known people, we let the city and country become popular. But aren't we falling into a well known pit. We give such unpleasing names of human beings when the choice of loving Krishna is available to us. Refrain from giving petty names such as Nampee or Pampee. Their freshness will last just four days.

நம்பி பிம்பி என்று நாட்டு மானிடப் பேரிட்டால்

நம்பும் பிம்பம் எல்லாம் நாலு நாளில் அழுங்கிப் போம்

To derive benefits like nectar, name him after the Lord and sing and dance praising the name of the new born.

Benefits of having a Lord’s name

In the worst case scenario, everyone around the new born will have at least called out the Lord’s name every time they call out for this person in their life. While this may not amount to calling out the name of the Lord in the true sense of devotion, it will still be of some merit.