Avittam nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Avittam nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "ga" (க), pada 2 "gi" (கி), pada 3 "gu" (கு), pada 4 "ge" (கே).

Avittam: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	க	ga (ग)	Magaram
2	கி	gi (गि)	Magaram
3	கு	gu (गु)	Kumbam
4	கே	ge (गे)	Kumbam

Avittam padas 1, 2 fall in Magaram rasi, padas 3, 4 in Kumbam.

Source: Yajnavalkya Smriti with the Mitakshara, tr. Srisa Chandra Vidyarnava (Allahabad, 1918), pp. 38-39; Sat Kriya Sara Dipika of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the naming-ceremony section

Pada 1: names beginning with "ga" (க)

Kamalagirl · lotus
Kannanboy · Krishna
Kavithagirl · poem
Kathirboy · ray of light
Kalaivanigirl · Saraswati, goddess of the arts
Ganeshboy · Ganesha
Kayalvizhigirl · fish-shaped eyes
Karunakaranboy · abode of compassion

Pada 2: names beginning with "gi" (கி)

Krishnanboy · Lord Krishna
Kiruthikagirl · the Karthigai star (Pleiades)
Girijagirl · daughter of the mountain, Parvati
Giridharanboy · Krishna who held up the hill
Kirubagirl or boy · grace, compassion
Kishoreboy · youth

Pada 3: names beginning with "gu" (கு)

Kumaranboy · Murugan
Kumudhagirl · water lily
Gunasekaranboy · crown of virtues
Kuzhaligirl · one with lovely hair
Guhanboy · Murugan
Kurinjigirl · the kurinji flower

Pada 4: names beginning with "ge" (கே)

Kesavanboy · a name of Vishnu
Kedharanathanboy · Shiva of Kedarnath

These are only a few examples. The choice of name is your family's; follow what your family priest or elders advise.

Frequently asked

Which letters suit a Avittam nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Avittam nakshatraநட்சத்திரம்: One of the 27 star groups the Moon passes through, about one a day. The one at your birth is your birth star. takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "ga" (க), pada 2 "gi" (கி), pada 3 "gu" (கு), pada 4 "ge" (கே).

How do I know the pada?

The pada depends on the minute of birth. Give the date, time and place to this site's baby-name calculator and it gives the star, the pada and the letter. A horoscope also states the pada.

Must the name begin with the star's letter?

It is a family tradition, not a rule. Many families keep the star-letter name for ceremonies and call the child by another. The choice is the family's.