Naming Ceremony

When Lord Ghanshyam was three months old, a sage called Markandaya Muni came to Dharmadev’s house. Dharmadev received him warmly and asked a favour, “Markandaya Muni, you are a renowned and learned astrologer. Would you kindly give my son a name and foretell His future?”

Markandaya Muni therefore opened his book of astrology and began to study it. After some time, he smiled and said, “Your son is born under the sign of Cancer in the Zodiac (Kark Rashi), so His name will be Hari. Since He has a dark complexion, He will also be known as Krishna. These two names shall be combined and He shall also be known as Harikrishna. Many people will also call Him by the name of Ghanshyam. Your son possesses all five great virtues of renunciation, knowledge, piety, morality and asceticism, like those found in Shivji. Therefore, He shall also be named Nilkanth. He has great powers of meditation and will one day renounce the world. Your son will restore true religion and relieve the miseries of thousands of people, and by such actions His fame will spread throughout the country. He will help people to attain the state of trance and lead them to salvation.”

Dharmadev was overjoyed at hearing this great news. He gave Markadaya Muni many gifts and bade him farewell.