The White Hindu
The well respected Himalayan Academy and their guru Subramuniyaswami put out a book several years ago called How To Become a Hindu. Over the next few weeks I’ll be reading the chapters and discussing each one individually. Today we’re looking at the eighth chapter: Choosing a Hindu Name
(Book can also be downloaded free here:
A whole chapter is devoted to the subject of Hindu names and the author makes some very good arguments for a name change.
I can’t argue that it does show one’s commitment to a Hindu path. Subramuniyaswami claims that if one has a Hindu name on a passport, even those temples in India that refuse entrance to westerners (making the assumption that they are not Hindu) would allow you in. I wonder how true that is.
“The change of name, and using it under all circumstances, and this means all circumstances, is an important sign of religious sincerity to the Hindu community. It shows the willingness of the newcomer to stand up and be counted as a Hindu…Western Hindus have been criticized in India for bearing Hindu names when it suits them in day-to-day circumstances, but maintaining a Christian or Jewish name on their passport, among relatives, and for legal matters. Mature Hindus consider such deception noncommittal, immature and unacceptable.”
Yet I am still afraid that I’d be laughed at.
I think there are already people who roll their eyes at me behind my back. I think there are people who find my life ridiculous. I’ve seen some of the scorn that devotees of ISKCON receive and I know I’m seen in the same way. I am the same way.
I shouldn’t care what they think. Yet it is some of the people I love most in the world that I think feel that way. And so I have leaned towards not caring what the people who think I should change my name think.
I’m afraid that even in Hindu communities, I’ll be seen as trying way too hard. And that is embarrassing. That’s an embarrassment that I shoulder a lot already!
Why shouldn’t I show pride in my Hindu identity?
Hiding as I do behind my western name gives more ammunition to those who see this country as purely Christian. If we saw more Hindu names in our day to day experience, it would help the visibility of Hinduism in America.
I’ve never actually felt any attachment to any of my names. It’s weird. I don’t feel like I’m “Carolyn” even though that’s my given name and what I was called throughout growing up. In my mid-twenties I began publishing fiction under the name Ruth and there are many on the Internet who know me only as Ruth. Then I started the White Hindu blog and at first I wanted it to be anonymous so I reached back to the Sanskrit class that I had as a preteen and used the name I had for the purposes of those classes: Ambaa.
Some of Brad’s friends who read my blog call me Ambaa, but it doesn’t feel any more like me than Carolyn does. None of the names I’ve used for whatever purposes have really felt like me and it feels strange and awkward when people refer to me by name, any name.
I’ve held on to Carolyn mostly out of respect for my parents, who thought long and hard about what to name me and selected what they felt was just right.
I’m tempted to start using Ambaa more in day to day life. It would help with my problem of feeling like I’m assumed to be Christian. I don’t know how one starts using a new name, though. I’ve never even had a nickname!
The other issue with names is making sure that you pick one that matches your Hindu tradition. Often moving within sects of Hinduism requires a change of name because names are distinctly related to the form of Hinduism you practice. Vaishnavas converting to Shivism need a new name too. What names are Advaitan? I don’t know.
Another tradition is to pick a name based on certain syllables depending on your birth star. The book actually has a list of birth stars and syllables to help you out! “Why choose a name based on nakshatra? The first reason is that it vibrates in harmony with the nature of the individual in this particular incarnation.” I feel like that’s missing in my life. A name that actually resonates with me.
You can use sites like this one http://www.astrojyoti.com/calculator to tell what your nakshatra is. We did this when I was getting married because the priest needed to know mine and Brad’s (and our parents’) for the ceremony.
At this point I feel rather stuck with Ambaa, but at least that name is more indicative of who I am than my given name.
I wouldn’t consider changing my last name. Having Brad’s family name is very important to me. It is a name with a lot of pride behind it and I am happy to join that legacy.
One thing is for certain: my children will have Hindu names.
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