Why Do We Need a Naming Ceremony?

prakash.s.bagga · #37 (**permalink**) 30-Dec-2010, 23:35 PM

SPNADMIN,

I fully appreciate your point of view in selecting the first letter from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in naming of child.This way we get rid of so many BHARAMs of life as the events of life are being guided by THE DIVINE WORD of SATi GURU Ji.This is the first step towards accepting THE HUKUMu.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-rehat-maryada/33734-why-do-we-need-naming-ceremony.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33734
Therefore we must understand the significance of the guidance of GURBAANI in our life.
I believe one can lead wonderful life.

Prakash.s>Bagga
*

baljeet_singh · #38 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 00:41 AM

I do not believe that the entire SRM is made up of a load of mindless rules or anything else along those lines. I have always seen Sikhi as a very personal 'religion' and when it comes down to things like naming "ceremonies", euthansasia and all of those other topics, you should be able to make your own decisions. A Sikh should keep an open mind and try to come to an informed decision, with the help of the community. The SRM just seems to come about as slightly restrictive, and I can't come to terms with how people, normal Sikhs like everybody else, can have the authority to pass 'laws' on things like how to name your child, I don't see the point to be honest. I understand the power of the Akal Takht on temporal issues but I don't think the name of your child comes under that. But at the end of the day I'm 16, and this is simply the opinion of a teenager, I have got a lot more of my life to live and even more to understand.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33734
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33734

Once again, thanks for all the help everyone's been providing.

Randip Singh · #39 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aman Singh

I have seen people ridiculing others who do not take first letter from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and call it anti-gurmat...

If you pick a name of your chioce and do ardaas infront of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, even that should be sufficient in my prespective. Infact i did the same with my kid. We liked a name from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and named him and did a ardaas... but many people around us pointed fingers at us, which i feel was un-necessary.

I do not understand how it is anti-Gurmat!

My two cents!

Exactly what we did!!

We wanted names for our children with a Sikh historical signifance!!

Ambarsaria · #40 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randip Singh

Exactly what we did!!

We wanted names for our children with a Sikh historical signifance!!

To me the intent at times is more important than specified or action.

Your and Aman Singh's actions are laudible. However any true to the letter of the SRM interpretations could be of issue,

s. Thereafter, the Sikh sitting in attendance of the Guru Granth Sahib should take the Hukam. If anyone from amongst those who have received the ambrosial baptism had not earlier been named in accordance with the Sikh Naming Ceremony, he should renounce his previous name and be given a new name beginning with first letter of the Hukam now taken. (Reference below)

http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_six.html

I believe time may be coming when we need to give Sikh Rehat Maryada a test of time. As I read there appears to be a lot of flexibility of good thoughts to interpret elements.

However if someone wants to test everyone literally against the Sikh Rehat Maryada, I believe the list of fully compliant sikhs will be very small.

For example:

You must not associate with a Sikh who had uncut hair earlier and has cut it or a Sikh who smokes.

Ref: http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_six.html

In the above if the word associate literally means "any of talk to, communicate with, marriage into, eat food offered by, etc.", I know of no such sikh.

Sat Sri Akal.

jasbirkaleka · #41 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spnadmin

jasbirkaleka ji

From that a bright mind like yours can reason. You are too humble in calling yourself a "simple" farmer.

Definition for Ritual: A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers, or dictated purely by logic, chance, necessity, etc.

Definition for Superstition: an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear

Thus the matter hinges on whether the naming ceremony has no logic or necessity. Is it performed mainly for symbolic value? Do the performers choose their own actions at any time? Or is it prescribed by a religion? Or by traditions of a community? Is there any fear involved? What belief are we talking about here. Are you saying that the naming ceremony has no logic, is performed mainly for symbolic value, and the participants have no choice in their actions, or that fear is involved in some way?

Sat Sri Akal,

I think belief, wishful thinking and fear, all are invokved in this cercmony.

Has any evidence been found of our later Sikh Gurus or their childern, after

the instalation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, being named in this manner.

findingmyway · #42 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasbirkaleka

Sat Sri Akal,

I think belief, wishful thinking and fear, all are invokved in this cercmony.

Has any evidence been found of our later Sikh Gurus or their childern, after

the instalation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, being named in this manner.

Jasbir ji,
Please explain further. When the 1st letter of my sister's name was found this way none the the feelings you describe were felt by us. Conversely we felt thankful for the addition to our family and safety of my mum and sister considering earlier problems in the pregnancy. Fear, blind faith or wishful thinking didn't come into it. It was something we wanted to do as we have a deep regard for Guru Granth Sahib Ji's teaching's and this is another way of showing appreciation to Waheguru. If we didn't feel that or had set on a name then we would not be asking Guru Ji's guidance with a hukamnama. Hukamnama's are one of the most important ways of learning as long as people actually listen to them and pay attention. As has been said before, the mindset of the person changes a lot so if you are approaching with the mindset of fear then only you are missing out.
Respectfully,
Jasleen.

Ambarsaria · #43 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasbirkaleka

Sat Sri Akal,

I think belief, wishful thinking and fear, all are invokved in this cercmony.

Has any evidence been found of our later Sikh Gurus or their childern, after

the instalation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, being named in this manner.

With due regard, I submit that your statements may be actually cluttering the discussion. I have taken some of your words and relate to those in my comments below,

belief
- I think it is good to believe reason for doing something.
  - Support, thankfulness and participating in a collective sangat setting for the celebration of a child is not a fearful gathering
wishful thinking
- There is nothing wishful other than you having some names in mind and waiting for the hukam to select the letter
- There is anticipatory excitement but no fear from what I know
fear
- I don't know of any outcasts who did not participate in such a ceremony
- There is no penalty or assignment of the same
- The only time there is another reference to the name is at baptization when the child has grown up to be able to follow amritdhari sikh accountabilities
  - The question then being if one's name has been determined previously per Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM) and any corrective action is taken then

In terms of your last statement as follows,

Has any evidence been found of our later Sikh Gurus or their childern, after the instalation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, being named in this manner.
- I do not see the point of above
- I don't think people are saying that SRM was created in full by Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji
- In fact the following provides background into it,
  - http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/introduction.html
  - There are some incredibly knowledgeable, academic and religious participants in the period of developing SRM as can be seen in the above
  - The genuine efforts of these people to actually translate into words the sikhi panth started by Guru Gobind Singh ji and in light of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is admirable.

I do believe you have right to raise doubt, question or state your point of view. I do also believe that you need to not just question but provide some little deeper insights. I am as guilty as the next person as the saying goes, there are always more questions than answers for everything.

I humbly submit the above.

Sat Sri Akal.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #44 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 10:42 AM

The Installatiion of GURU GRANTH SAHIB took place as the FINAL ACT of the Final Human Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708 just before leaving this Earth. Since then there has been NO LIVING HUMAN GURU to need any Naming/ either for Himself or his children. The One and ONLY GURU is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

jasbirkaleka · #45 (**permalink**) 31-Dec-2010, 20:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gyani Jarnail Singh

The Installatiion of GURU GRANTH SAHIB took place as the FINAL ACT of the Final Human Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708 just before leaving this Earth. Since then there has been NO LIVING HUMAN GURU to need any Naming/ either for Himself or his children. The One and ONLY GURU is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

O.K.

I GIVE UP.
I STAND CORRECTED, THANKS TO YOU ALL.