Post No. 15,269
Date uploaded in London – 13 December 2025
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Periyalvar is one of the 12 famous Tamil Vaishnavite saints known as Alvars (aalvaar). He lived in Sri Villipputtur in Tamil Nadu about 1200 years ago. He is advising Hindus about naming children. He is against using meaningless words in the names just for the sake of rhyme and rhythm. He is also warning us about using names of living human beings just to get some money and garments. He says that if we name our children after God Vishnu, that will prevent us from falling into hell. He also assures us that such naming will take us to Vaikunda, the abode of Lord Vishnu. Another famous poetess and saint Andal (aandaal) was his foster daughter.
(Translation was done by Mrs Kausalya Hart; For more poems, please go to Project Madurai website)
Advising the devotees about naming children with the names of God.
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381. O poor ones!
You gave your children mean names of the rich
because you wanted to get money,
clothes with decorations and other things from them.
If you give the name of Kesavan and live worshipping him,
the god Nāraṇan will not send
the mothers of your children to hell.
382. O poor ones!
You name your children the names of people
even if they are not good,
because you wish them to give you some clothes.
If you call your children,
“O lovely-eyed Neḍumāl, O Sridhara,”
Nāraṇan will not send
the mothers of your children to hell.
383. Why did you name your children
with the names of those who give you oil
to put on your children’s hair, and give ornaments
and bracelets to decorate them?
Even if you have to live by begging,
you should give your children the divine name of our god Nārāṇan.
If you do, Nāraṇan will not send
the mothers of your children to hell.
384. You will not be blessed in your next birth
if you give that child the name of another person than god.
If you call your child,
“O Madhava, king of heaven, Govinda,”
Naraṇan who is in all hearts will not send
the mothers of your children to hell.
385. You will not be blessed in your next birth
if you give the name of another human
born from an unclean womb.
If you call him, saying, “O Govinda, Govinda!
You have been born in a good family!”
Nāraṇan who does only good things for all
will not send the mothers of your children to hell.
386. Do not give human names to your children
like others joining with the people
of your country and town and celebrating with them
the name ceremony for their children.
Do not fall in the ditch like them.
If you approach the god and worship him saying,
“O Nāraṇa, you destroyed the Asuran when he came as a cart.
You are our chief, O Damodara!”
he will not send the mothers of your children to hell.
387. O, ignorant ones!
Your children are human
and they were born from unclean bodies
and will return to the earth.
You gave them the name of people
and do not realize what you have done is not good.
Think of giving the name of the dark cloud-colored one
who is sweet to the eyes.
Approach Nāraṇan.
He will not send the mothers of your children to hell.
388. If you give your children the names of village people
such as “nambi, pimbi,” those “manbu, pimbu”
will be forgotten in a few days.
If you give them the name of the lovely lotus-eyed lord,
O friends, Nāraṇan will not send the mothers of your children to hell.
389. Giving the name of the dark cloud-colored god
to your children born in an unclean body
is like pouring nectar into a dirty ditch.
But if you wear the nāmam
and dance and sing the praise of Nāraṇan
who is never false to his promises,
he will not send the mothers of your children to hell.
390. Vishṇuchithan from the ancient village of Veeraṇai,
is praised by all, always,
and he worshipped the divine name of Thirumāl.
He composed ten beautiful Tamil pāsurams about how people
should name their children with the names of the god.
If devotees recite these ten beautiful pāsurams
they will go to the divine splendid Vaikuṇṭam
and stay there happily forever.
–suham—
Tags- Perialvar, naming, children, Hell, Vaikund, Vishnu , Vaishnavite
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