Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 153 — Brahmacarya-āśrama-dharma
The Dharma of the Student Stage
अशौचे तु व्यतिक्रान्ते नामकर्म विधीयते शर्मान्तं ब्राह्मस्योक्तं वर्मान्तं क्षत्रियस्य तु
aśauce tu vyatikrānte nāmakarma vidhīyate śarmāntaṃ brāhmasyoktaṃ varmāntaṃ kṣatriyasya tu
અશૌચનો સમય વીતી ગયા પછી નામકર્મ (નામકરણ) કરવું. બ્રાહ્મણ માટે ‘-શર્મન’ અંતવાળું નામ અને ક્ષત્રિય માટે ‘-વર્મન’ અંતવાળું નામ નિર્ધારિત છે.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Guidance for timing nāmakarma after aśauca and prescribing socially recognized name-endings by varṇa for formal identity in rites and records.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nāmakarma after Aśauca; varṇa-specific name suffixes (-śarman, -varman)","lookup_keywords":["aśauca","nāmakarma","śarman","varman","varṇa naming"],"quick_summary":"Name-giving is done after the impurity period ends; brāhmaṇa names should end in -śarman and kṣatriya names in -varman."}
Concept: Ritual purity governs sequencing of saṁskāras; naming encodes varṇāśrama identity through conventional suffixes.
Application: Wait until aśauca concludes before public/ritual naming; choose suffixes consistent with community dharma to avoid ritual irregularity.
Khanda Section: Samskara-vidhi (Grihya rites and social dharma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formal naming ceremony after the impurity period: family gathered, officiant recites, father/mother announce the child’s name; a palm-leaf register or writing board symbolizes formal naming; suffixes -śarman and -varman indicated as exemplars.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal grouping of family and brāhmaṇa officiant, ritual lamp and kalasha, child in cradle, decorative script-like motifs hinting ‘śarman/varman’, serene palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold detailing on cradle and ornaments, officiant blessing the child, inscription panel showing ‘…śarman’ and ‘…varman’ as exemplars, rich temple-like backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing clarity: officiant, parents, child, and a small writing tablet showing name suffixes; soft colors, fine outlines, didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a household assembly, scribe recording the name, delicate textiles and architecture, marginal notes showing suffix conventions, naturalistic faces."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmasyoktaṃ = brāhmasya uktaṃ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on aśauca regulations and nāmakaraṇa procedure
FAQs
It prescribes the timing of Nāmakaraṇa—perform it only after the aśauca period ends—and gives varṇa-specific name-ending conventions: “-śarman” for Brāhmaṇas and “-varman” for Kṣatriyas.
By codifying practical Gṛhya/Saṃskāra procedure (household rites) alongside social-dharma conventions (varṇa-based naming), it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage of lived ritual law in addition to theology and myth.
Observing aśauca and performing Nāmakaraṇa at the proper time aligns the rite with ritual purity, supporting auspiciousness (maṅgala) and the intended saṃskāric sanctification of the child’s identity.