Re: Taking a full hindu name/including last name
Namaste,
Originally Posted by
anablc
Hi, I just have questions about adopting names in Hinduism/Swaminarayan dharm for conversion. I have chosen a dharmic name in full(first, middle, last). I plan to change my name officially soon. I just wanted to know if taking the surname "Khanna"(meaning sword) is ok even if I'm not family or connected to them. How inappropriate would that be?
Is there a naming procedure for converts/can you just choose a name that you want? Thanks.
I don't think there is any harm. In fact, it is better because with a valid surname people will connect with you better. "Khanna" title is mainly used by Punjabis but they don't have sole rights over this surname. I met a person in Tamilnadu whose name was T. Rajesh Khanna. He kept that name because his father liked the name, "Rajesh Khanna". However, there are many surnames which are either available to anyone or at some point of time these were used by a particular community but now these are being used by anyone who wants to have them :
a) Kumar ==> pronounced as "Kumaar" ===> This means "young" and was used earlier by princes.
b) Sinha ===> Pronounced as "Sinhaa" ===> earlier used by a particular caste but now it has been taken by people of various castes and with this surname you can't make out the caste of that person.
c) Singh ===> Pronounced as "Sinha" ===> earlier used by the kshatriyas but now it is being use by many communities.
d) Mohan ===> Earlier not used by any caste but now you many find many people using it.
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Some surnames don't denote any caste or community but the name of place from where the person belongs, e.g. :
a) Amrapurkar ===> the place is "Amrapur"
b) Kolhapure ====> the place is "Kolhapur" etc.
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Some surnames are just another name e.g.
Sunanda Pushkar ===> Pushkar too is another name.
Madhulika Suman ===> Suman is another name.
Rajeev Ganapati ====> Ganapati is another name.
etc. etc.
So choose whatever suits you.
OM
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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