Bliss kundaliniyoga

Why take a spiritual name, and what happens when you find yourself having several names?

Two years ago, when I gave my head to the guru, I received a Sikh name; Parminder Kaur. I felt with the new birth that the Sikh baptism gives you, there was a new incoming power, like a lightning, that came at the same time. I was a bit conflicted as I already had a spiritual name that I received from 3HO ten years ago, Seetal Ram Kaur, and wondered what do I do with two “spiritual names?” I did feel that SRK already felt a bit tamer than before, and that I quite liked the power that came with my new name.

Having already changed my name in social media and the yoga scene from my legal name to SRK, this left me with a small dilemma. When I changed it, there were reactions, and I also understand it did make me more invisible to those who knew me from a long time. Changing it again, would not just be smooth. It would take time for me and others to get used to my new name.

Why take a spiritual name, I hear you wonder? I changed it in social media so that I could experience what a spiritual name is supposed to do; vibrate your destiny and because I was curious as to what my so-called destiny would be. Then when I received the name, there was a resonance, so I thought why not? Or rather it felt like the right thing to do.

Whilst my 3HO name came with a description and a described destiny, the amrit name did not come with any description. This made identifying with it somewhat difficult. Every Punjabi I asked had their own interpretation of the name.

So here is a literal one straight from google; param – meaning, supreme or first, and inder, referring to the God Indra, king of the Gods. So one meaning can be God of the gods/the highest. Which sounds like quite a destiny. Important to tell my ego to not get too carried away.

Seetal Ram on the other hand, meant that I was supposed to be a graceful embodiment of the sacred tranquility that flows from God in universal consciousness. Right. Easy peasy. Or not at all. Though at least this part is more concrete and tangible; “Seetal means calm and peaceful. Ram is God in universal consciousness.” Then, a more concrete explanation followed: “Use the power of your name, Seetal Ram Kaur, to reveal your gift of easily and gracefully personifying the celestial peace that is experienced from deep meditation on God’s universal consciousness”.

Right. Not a big feat at all.

Though I was in no way resonating with being very tranquil, that’s why I got into yoga in the first place. To calm down that overactive mind of mine. Though that was perhaps the challenge in this destiny.

So there I was with two spiritual names, or perhaps three. As my legal name also has quite a spiritual meaning to it. Elisabeth is a Greek transliteration of a Hebrew name. It was the name of the wife of Aaron, “the mother of all priests”. The first part, el, means God (not unlike the qualities of Ram or Indra). The second, Sheva, has several meanings, meaning seven or an oath.

The common meaning seems to be God is an oath, God is abundance, or God of seven. It sounds quite powerful, though a bit abstract still.

The 7 is interesting since I have two 7s in my numerology based on the Karam Kriya numerology. Having 7 as a seed and a fruit; meaning every project or all I do starts and ends with the 7 quality.

So what to do? I could have chosen to have my amrit name as a private one, however I felt it vibrated more strongly than my 3HO name. And why use a 3HO name when I have received a name from an institution such as Hazoor Sahib? Whilst not dismissing the destiny of Seetal Ram, I just chose to phase it out. It meant a time of transition for sangat to get used to it. In this process I found myself returning to my roots. So I added my legal name to my social media. Just in front of Parminder. And ending it with Kaur of course. And somehow that felt more like me. More inclusive of who I have been before amrit and also after. Integrating my past and future into one.

I truly feel my legal name that my parents named me, a name that they chose as it could be pronounced in various languages, also does carry quite a significance and meaning. Just as I think having been brought up mainly here in the north, in a country with a strong warrior influence from the vikings and love of nature; also is of importance on my Sikh journey. Having said that, I do prefer my amrit name to be used amongst yogis and Sikhs.

Some may say having two names will make one feel split. I think it is all about our intention. Though having reduced three to two names is at least a step in the right direction.