The naming of a child is a religious event and I have no issue with that. However renaming a person when he or she converts from one religion to another is something I fi
The naming ceremony of a child in the Hindu religion is called “namkaran sanskar”. On the auspicious day, the officiating priest whispers the Gayatri mantra into the child’s ear and announces the name. A later development is that the priest only indicates the first letter of the child’s name according to the horoscope and the parents decide a name beginning with that letter. Today even that restriction is being dispensed with and the parents choose the name they think is best. My view is that parents should have the final call. If they want to follow the orthodox path they are free to do so but if they want complete freedom in selecting a name then so be it.
Ever since the influx of Islam and Christianity to the Indian subcontinent, there has been the practice of Hindus converting to Islam or Christianity. Accompanying the process of conversion is the change in the given name. The idea is to ensure as complete a break with the past as possible. The message that goes out is that the life to date of the person undergoing conversion has been worthless and irreligious and a host of other adjectives I do not wish to state. This goes beyond condemning his past religion because the name is identified with more than a person’s religious make up. This however fits the character of Islam and Christianity, which are both exclusive religions and do not accept any belief other than their own.
Today there are cases of people wanting to convert to Hinduism. At other forums where I interact the issue of change of name has been raised. “Should I change my name?”, “Do I have to change my name?” and “can you suggest a Hindu name?” are frequent questions. My answer has always been “Please do not change your name!” I believe that God is interested in our deeds and not in our names. A person is changing his religion. He is not erasing his past life. His name is identified with his family and friends and larger community. Whereas he can get his passport changed, he cannot go back to his university and asked them to change the certificates he has been awarded for meritorious performance. Hinduism is an inclusive religion. It espouses that different faiths are different paths to the same God. There is absolutely no need to change one’s name.
I will go one step further. I will say that there is no need to convert to Hinduism. If you like certain aspects of Hinduism then adopt them, without forsaking those aspects of your existing religion that appeal to you. Join the chanting of bhajans in your neighborhood temple on Saturdays and attend the service in your parish church on Sundays. You will be doubly blessed. Conversion is not the need of the day. Coexistence is.
