History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c23.270

v2.c23.270

Modern works like the Saṁskāraprakāśa (p. 237) say that four kinds of names may be given viz. devatānāma, māsanāma, nakṣatranāma and vyāvahārikanāma. The first shows that the bearer is the devotee of that devatā. The Nirṇayasindhu⁵⁶⁶ quotes a verse about twelve names derived from the month in which a man was born and adds that the Madanaratna laid down that the names specified in the verse were to be given to the months from Mārgaśīrṣa or Caitra. Such names (of Viṣṇu) are being given now, particularly in Western India, but without regard to the month of birth. So early as in the Bṛhatsaṁhitā of Varāhamihira the twelve names of Viṣṇu are associated with the twelve months.⁵⁶⁷