The Sun of Auspicious Moments with the Beloved of the Sun Commentary

Su-Ma 12

...[The father] should perform the birth ritual Jatakarma: the ritual performed at the birth of a child, involving the father feeding the infant honey and ghee. The meaning is that the father's purification occurs through the pre-existing ritual impurity original: "ashaucha". This is a defining characteristic of the performer. At the end of the initial impurity period, he should perform the rite under "Swift" original: "Kshipra" and other favorable Nakshatras.

The Swift asterisms are: Ashvini, Hasta, Abhijit, and Pushya.
The Brahma asterisms are: Rohini and the three "Uttara" stars (Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, and Uttara Bhadrapada).
The Movable original: "Chara" asterisms are: Shravana, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, Punarvasu, and Swati.
The Soft original: "Mridu" asterisms are: Anuradha, Revati, Mrigashira, and Chitra.

The strength of the Ascendant original: "Lagna-balam" should be determined as previously described. It is also said: "Even during the birth-moment of the child, if there are many impurities, how can the birth rite be done? The Jatakarma must be performed after first worshipping the ancestors original: "pitri-pujana-purvakam". In the Swift and Movable asterisms, on the twelfth day or the first day, the Jatakarma is eternal," according to the sage Prajapati. The sage Samvarta adds: "When a son is born during a period of ritual impurity, the father attains immediate purification for that specific rite; he is purified by the pre-existing impurity."

When a son is born, the father is prescribed a bath while still wearing his clothes. According to Ajabali, this should be done with cold water: "One should perform the incidental original: "naimittika" bath with cold water." This must be done even if the birth occurs at night. On this, the sage Vasishtha says: "At the birth of a son, during a sacrifice, at the transit of the Sun original: "Sankranti", or at the sight of Rahu (an eclipse), a bath at night is highly recommended; otherwise, it is not." That bath should be performed facing North. Vasishtha also states: "Having heard that a son is born, the father should bathe with his clothes on, facing North, in a river or a natural pond."

Regarding the specific purification of water at night, Shankhyayana says: "If using water drawn during the day, one should put gold in it. If a night-bath is required, it should be done near a fire."

On the Naming Ceremony (Namakarma)

Now the naming ceremony is discussed. The different social classes Varnas: the four social orders—Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra should perform the naming after birth on the 12th, 16th, 20th, or 22nd day. Comm. 12

Specifically, the author means: After birth, the classes—starting with the Brahmanas—should perform the naming on the 12th (Sun), 16th (Ashti), 20th (Vimshati), or 22nd (Akriti) days. The Sanskrit uses numerical synonyms: Surya for 12, Ashti for 16, etc. This means: a Brahmana names on the 12th day, a Kshatriya on the 16th, a Vaishya on the 20th, and a Shudra on the 22nd day. This is confirmed by Brihaspati: "On the 12th day, or a lucky day from the father's birth, specifically on the 16th, 20th, or 22nd in order."

There are other options as well. The sage Vyasa says: "Some wise men prefer the 10th day for naming; others say the 12th; others when a full month has passed; and other scholars say the 18th day."

Regarding special circumstances even when the time is right, Garg says: "During a Vyatipata an inauspicious astrological yoga, a Sun-transit, an eclipse, or on a day dedicated to ancestors Pitru-tithi, a person should never abandon the ancestral offerings Shraddha, even if the proper time for naming has arrived. One should not perform the rite on the New Moon, during a transit, or during Vishti the Karanas/unlucky periods, even if it is the prescribed time." When there is a "blockage of time," there is no fault in delay. As it is said: "In any ritual where the time is fixed by months or days, there is no fault if Jupiter or Venus are combust or retrograde."

Regarding the procedure if the time is exceeded, the text says: "Using the birth asterisms..." If the time is missed due to local conditions or disasters, the rite should be performed when Jupiter and Venus are not set (combust) and during the Northern course of the Sun original: "Uttarayana". It should be done on a lucky day with the Moon and stars being strong, using Movable, Fixed, Soft, or Swift Nakshatras.

Regarding what should be avoided: "Movable sign..." original: "Charangam". One should avoid a "Movable Ascendant" original: "Chara-lagna", the Rikta lunar days (4th, 9th, 14th), the 8th lunar day, Tuesday original: "Ara", and Saturday original: "Manda". One should also avoid the 12th house and the afternoon (the third portion of the day). After abandoning these, the strength of the Ascendant is determined as before. Thus Brihaspati says: "The morning is considered best, and midday is considered middling."