Nam Karan
Sikhism
Wei Chen 5:30PM
Word Count: 703
This paper is about the naming ceremony of Sikhism. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world and its adherents believe there are certain ceremonies that pertain to merging with “god.” The naming ceremony, Nam Karan, is one such ceremony that Sikhs observe. Every Sikh is required to start any function, project, ceremony, or any other opening in life by performing Ardas (Sikh prayer).” (Birth and Naming of Child) In America, names are decided solely by the parents but it is completely different in the Sikh culture.
In the Sikh culture, the Nam Karan is observed when a child is to be named. “There is no special ceremony at the time of the birth of a child except that the blessings of God are sought through Ardas” (Birth and Naming of Child). “As soon as the mother and child are able to travel, the family visits the Gurdwara” (Ceremonies and Festivals). The number of days is not set in stone but usually as soon as possible (Sikh Reht Maryada). At the Gurdwara, the family recites thankful hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib to celebrate the birth of the child. Karah Prashad, a sacred pudding that is made for all occasion, is prepared by the family along with Amrit, sweet water, for the ceremony. The Amrit is given to the child and the mother. The Karah Prashad is given to everyone attending. Next, the holy Hukam, sometimes called Vak, (command) is taken by the Sri Guru Granth Sahib by opening it at random. The Granthi first reads the entire hymn then the child’s name is decided based on the first letter of the hymn. “A name starting with the first letter of the Shabad of the Hukam (command) should be proposed by the Granthi (the man in charge of the Guru Granth ...
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...anak Dev says, "This body is made from blood and semen and shall be consigned to fire" (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, p.63). Based on that statement, Sikhs consider all life sacred and are vehemently opposed to abortion. Sikhs cannot be biased on the gender of their child because of the principles of their faith. “To rejoice on the birth of a son but feel sad or inferior on the birth of a girl is against principles of Sikh faith.” (Birth and Naming of Child)
Works Cited
Birth and Naming of Child. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from Sikh Missionary Society: http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smssikhism/ceremonies/birthandnamingofchild/
Ceremonies and Festivals. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from Sikhs: http://www.sikhs.org/fest.htm
Sikh Reht Maryada. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from Sikh Religious Ceremonies: http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/birth-and-name.asp
"Sikh Awareness." Sikh Awareness. © 2002-2012 THE SIKH COALITION, 12 Oct. 2001. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
What is even more intriguing is that, in the Dagara culture, when a baby is born he or she is not considered a new being, as it is believed in Western culture and religion. He or she is considered a being from the other world who has entered this world, as a human, in order to carry out a mission. The name has taken on a great spiritual significance in Dagara culture.
1.) Intro: I decided to focus my Religious Ethnography on a friend whom I recently have become close with. Adhita Sahai is my friend’s name, which she later told me her first name meant “scholar.” I choose to observe and interview Adhita, after she invited me to her home after hearing about my assignment. I was very humbled that she was open to this, because not only was it a great opportunity for this paper, but it also helped me get to know Adhita better. I took a rather general approach to the religious questions that I proposed to the Sahai family because I didn’t want to push to deep, I could tell Hinduism is extremely important to this family. Because this family does not attend a religious site where they worship, I instead listened to how they do this at home as a family instead.
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"WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADOPTION." Pakistan Adoption. PakistanAdoption.com, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. .
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Levi, J. (1998, Mar). The embodiment of a working identity: Power and process in Ramamuri ritual healing. American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 23(3), 13-46.
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Fisher, Mary Pat. "HINDUISM." Living Religions. 1991. Reprint. Upper Saddle River: Person Education, 2011. 73-120. Print.
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