Dear Yang Qu.

As far as I know from India and western Samnyasins, at least the birthday or the horoscope is used on the side of the namesake. 

The nakṣatra provides the first (mūla) letter for the name.

Best

Heiner

Dear esteemed colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m currently seeking sources—scholarly or otherwise—that examine the practice and significance of name-bestowal in South Asian contexts. In particular, I’m interested in moments when ascetics, spiritual teachers, or even literati confer a new name—often Sanskritized or Indianized—on a disciple as part of a formal initiation process.

I’m especially curious about cases where Indian spiritual teachers give new names to foreign disciples, thereby ritually establishing a spiritual bond, such as the relationship of a “heart-son” or similar affiliation.

I would be deeply grateful for any guidance, references, or suggestions you may have.

Warmest thanks in advance,
Yang Qu

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Dr. R. H. Koch - Germany/Sri Lanka 
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