A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.21

c12.21

The first of the sacraments is the *puṁsavana* or ceremony aiming at the obtainment of a son. The most common expedient prescribed is the pounded shoot of a banyan tree placed in the wife's right nostril. After the birth-rites (*jāta-karma*), the ceremony of giving the child its names (*nāma-karaṇa*) takes place, generally on the tenth day after birth. Two are given, one being the "secret name," known only to the parents, as a protection against witchcraft, the other for common use. Minute directions are given as to the quality of the name; for instance, that it should contain an even number of syllables, begin with a soft letter, and have a semi-vowel in the middle; that for a Brahman it should end in *-çarman*, for a Kshatriya in *-varman*, and a Vaiçya in *-gupta*. Generally in the third year takes place the ceremony of tonsure (*chūḍā-karaṇa*), when the boy's hair was cut, one or more tufts being left on the top, so that his hair might be worn after the fashion prevailing in his family. In the sixteenth year the rite of shaving the beard was performed. Its name, *go-dāna*, or "gift of cows," is due to the fee usually having been a couple of cattle.