Sadayam nakshatra baby names: starting letters

By tradition, a baby born in Sadayam nakshatra takes a name beginning with: pada 1 "go" (கோ), pada 2 "sa" (ஸ), pada 3 "si" (ஸி), pada 4 "su" (ஸு).

Sadayam: pada and letter

Pada	Tamil letter	Sound	Rasi
1	கோ	go (गो)	Kumbam
2	ஸ	sa (स)	Kumbam
3	ஸி	si (सि)	Kumbam
4	ஸு	su (सु)	Kumbam

All four padas of Sadayam fall in Kumbam rasi.

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 "go" (கோ)

Gopalboy · protector of cows, Krishna
Gokilagirl · cuckoo
Govindhanboy · Vishnu
Kodhaigirl · a name of Andal
Gomathigirl · the Goddess Gomathi of Sankarankovil
Gokulboy · the village where Krishna grew up

Pada 2: names beginning with "sa" (ஸ)

In Tamil, names with this sound are usually written with "ச"; the ideas below are spelled that way.

Saravananboy · Murugan, born in the Saravana pool
Chandranboy · the moon
Saraswathigirl · goddess of learning
Sankarboy · Shiva, the giver of good
Sandhyagirl · twilight
Sakthigirl or boy · strength; the Goddess
Shanmugamboy · six-faced Murugan
Chandragirl · the moon

Pada 3: names beginning with "si" (ஸி)

In Tamil, names with this sound are usually written with "சி"; the ideas below are spelled that way.

Sivaboy · Shiva
Chithragirl · a picture
Sindhugirl · the Indus river
Sivagamigirl · Shiva's consort
Chidambaramboy · Nataraja's town, Thillai
Sivasankarboy · Shiva

Pada 4: names beginning with "su" (ஸு)

In Tamil, names with this sound are usually written with "சு"; the ideas below are spelled that way.

Subramanianboy · a name of Lord Murugan
Sundarigirl · beautiful one
Sudhagirl · nectar
Sumathigirl · one with a good mind
Sureshboy · lord of the gods
Suganthigirl · fragrant one
Sundaramboy · beauty
Suseelagirl · of good character

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 Sadayam nakshatra baby's name?

By tradition, a baby born in Sadayam 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 "go" (கோ), pada 2 "sa" (ஸ), pada 3 "si" (ஸி), pada 4 "su" (ஸு).

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.