RE: Spiritual Names

01-10-2006, 12:14 PM

Dear Supriti,

Although my name was not given to me from a guru, it is a very spiritual
name for me. I'll share my story with you (and everyone).

Some of you may know, but I am Hispanic. When my mother was pregnant the
first time around, my grandmother (dad's mom) wanted to name me Bella, which
means "beautiful" in Spanish. She wanted it pronounced in English though,
as opposed to "beh-yah" as it would be in Spanish. My mother did not want
any of us to have Spanish names, so it was never thought much of.

By beautiful chance/fate... I was born on my grandma's birthday. I did not
live near her, but I always had a very tight bond with her. She was a
beautiful woman, inside and out. My dad even tells me that in all of his
years knowing her, she never once got mad... never. She was loving and
accepting of everyone. Her love and cheerfulness were her trademark, and
everyone adored her.

In 2001, I decided to change my name. I never liked my name growing up, as
it was an extremely common name, and it never felt like it suited me. I
immediately thought of Bella, but I did not like the way it looked, spelled
with 2 L's... plus I did not want people to pronounce it in Spanish, as that
seems vain to be named "Beautiful". I was also at a dilemma, as I wanted a
name that was Indian, to reflect me being Hindu.

I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad, and was telling him about
it. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means 'jasmine flower'". I nearly
hit the floor. Jasmine has always been my favorite floral scent. Also, my
grandmother used to have jasmine growing beneath her windows at her home.
Each morning, she would go out and pick a few sprigs, bring them in the
house, and lay them in the windowsill, with the windows open. The scent
from the flowers would permeate the air.

I smile every time I hear someone say my name. It holds so many different
meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to my heart!

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma

_____

From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On Behalf Of
Omenka Supriti Nnadi
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:19 AM
To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Re: [Ammachi] Digest Number 1875

Can someone(s) tell stories of how and when they got their spiritual names.
I especially notice beautiful names and love the stories of what they mean
to each person. My life changed each of the six times I have changed my
name....like the sound of Kalika it is so musical...

Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service,

Supriti Omenka Nnadi

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

01-10-2006, 12:31 PM

What a wonderful story! I love your "chosen" name.

Everyone at the ashram where I went had Sanskrit names but me. One
day I complained to my guru that "I didn't have a Sanskrit name." He
said "Thank God." So I did thank God and gave up desire for a Sanskrit
name.

In 2001 I moved to the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. I
was no longer able to visit the ashram on a regular basis, but kept in
touch with my gurus. One day, a good ten years after I asked him, he
named me Pahari Maa which means Mother of the Mountain. I love the
name. I treasure it. I love the sound of it and the meaning. I am
very grateful that my guru chose to name me after all these years.

Pahari Maa

On Jan 10, 2006, at 5:14 PM, Bela Gaytan wrote:

> Dear Supriti,
>
>
>
> Although my name was not given to me from a guru, it is a very
> spiritual
> name for me.Â. I'll share my story with you (and everyone).
>
>
>
> Some of you may know, but I am Hispanic.Â. When my mother was pregnant
> the
> first time around, my grandmother (dad's mom) wanted to name me
> Bella, which
> means "beautiful" in Spanish.Â. She wanted it pronounced in English
> though,
> as opposed to "beh-yah" as it would be in Spanish.Â. My mother did not
> want
> any of us to have Spanish names, so it was never thought much of.
>
>
>
> By beautiful chance/fate... I was born on my grandma's birthday.Â. I
> did not
> live near her, but I always had a very tight bond with her.Â. She was a
> beautiful woman, inside and out.Â. My dad even tells me that in all of
> his
> years knowing her, she never once got mad... never.Â. She was loving
> and
> accepting of everyone.Â. Her love and cheerfulness were her trademark,
> and
> everyone adored her.
>
>
>
> In 2001, I decided to change my name.Â. I never liked my name growing
> up, as
> it was an extremely common name, and it never felt like it suited
> me.Â. I
> immediately thought of Bella, but I did not like the way it looked,
> spelled
> with 2 L's... plus I did not want people to pronounce it in Spanish,
> as that
> seems vain to be named "Beautiful".Â. I was also at a dilemma, as I
> wanted a
> name that was Indian, to reflect me being Hindu.
>
>
>
> I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad, and was telling
> him about
> it.Â. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means 'jasmine flower'".Â. I
> nearly
> hit the floor.Â. Jasmine has always been my favorite floral scent.Â.
> Also, my
> grandmother used to have jasmine growing beneath her windows at her
> home.
> Each morning, she would go out and pick a few sprigs, bring them in
> the
> house, and lay them in the windowsill, with the windows open.Â. The
> scent
> from the flowers would permeate the air.
>
>
>
> I smile every time I hear someone say my name.Â. It holds so many
> different
> meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to my heart!
>
>
>
>
>
> Â¸..â€¢ Â´Â¨Â¨)) -:Â¦:-
> Â¸.â€¢Â´ .â€¢Â´Â¨Â¨))
> ((Â¸Â¸.â€¢Â´ ..â€¢Â´ -:Â¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
> -:Â¦:- ((Â¸Â¸.â€¢Â´.Â¸..â€¢`Â.Â.Â.Â.Â.Â.Â. ..::Bela::..Â.Â.
>
>
>
> "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The
> heart
> that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
> choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma
>
> Â. _____Â.
>
> From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On
> Behalf Of
> Omenka Supriti Nnadi
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:19 AM
> To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> Subject: Re: [Ammachi] Digest Number 1875
>
>
>
> Can someone(s) tell stories of how and when they got their spiritual
> names.
> I especially notice beautiful names and love the stories of what they
> mean
> to each person.Â. My life changed each of the six times I have changed
> my
> name....like the sound of Kalika it is so musical...
>
>
> Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service,
>
> Supriti Omenka Nnadi
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!
>
>
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
> â–ª Â.Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.
> Â.
> â–ª Â.To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Â.Ammachi-unsubscribe (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> Â.
> â–ª Â.Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

01-10-2006, 12:37 PM

An added note: I have also always loved jasmine. When I was married
and had my own home, I had a huge bush of star jasmine over my deck. I
used to go out there and lie on the deck and breathe in the jasmine and
"be in heaven."

On Jan 10, 2006, at 5:14 PM, Bela Gaytan wrote:

> Dear Supriti,
>
>
>
> Although my name was not given to me from a guru, it is a very
> spiritual
> name for me.Â. I'll share my story with you (and everyone).
>
>
>
> Some of you may know, but I am Hispanic.Â. When my mother was pregnant
> the
> first time around, my grandmother (dad's mom) wanted to name me
> Bella, which
> means "beautiful" in Spanish.Â. She wanted it pronounced in English
> though,
> as opposed to "beh-yah" as it would be in Spanish.Â. My mother did not
> want
> any of us to have Spanish names, so it was never thought much of.
>
>
>
> By beautiful chance/fate... I was born on my grandma's birthday.Â. I
> did not
> live near her, but I always had a very tight bond with her.Â. She was a
> beautiful woman, inside and out.Â. My dad even tells me that in all of
> his
> years knowing her, she never once got mad... never.Â. She was loving
> and
> accepting of everyone.Â. Her love and cheerfulness were her trademark,
> and
> everyone adored her.
>
>
>
> In 2001, I decided to change my name.Â. I never liked my name growing
> up, as
> it was an extremely common name, and it never felt like it suited
> me.Â. I
> immediately thought of Bella, but I did not like the way it looked,
> spelled
> with 2 L's... plus I did not want people to pronounce it in Spanish,
> as that
> seems vain to be named "Beautiful".Â. I was also at a dilemma, as I
> wanted a
> name that was Indian, to reflect me being Hindu.
>
>
>
> I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad, and was telling
> him about
> it.Â. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means 'jasmine flower'".Â. I
> nearly
> hit the floor.Â. Jasmine has always been my favorite floral scent.Â.
> Also, my
> grandmother used to have jasmine growing beneath her windows at her
> home.
> Each morning, she would go out and pick a few sprigs, bring them in
> the
> house, and lay them in the windowsill, with the windows open.Â. The
> scent
> from the flowers would permeate the air.
>
>
>
> I smile every time I hear someone say my name.Â. It holds so many
> different
> meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to my heart!
>
>
>
>
>
> Â¸..â€¢ Â´Â¨Â¨)) -:Â¦:-
> Â¸.â€¢Â´ .â€¢Â´Â¨Â¨))
> ((Â¸Â¸.â€¢Â´ ..â€¢Â´ -:Â¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
> -:Â¦:- ((Â¸Â¸.â€¢Â´.Â¸..â€¢`Â.Â.Â.Â.Â.Â.Â. ..::Bela::..Â.Â.
>
>
>
> "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The
> heart
> that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
> choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma
>
> Â. _____Â.
>
> From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On
> Behalf Of
> Omenka Supriti Nnadi
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:19 AM
> To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> Subject: Re: [Ammachi] Digest Number 1875
>
>
>
> Can someone(s) tell stories of how and when they got their spiritual
> names.
> I especially notice beautiful names and love the stories of what they
> mean
> to each person.Â. My life changed each of the six times I have changed
> my
> name....like the sound of Kalika it is so musical...
>
>
> Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service,
>
> Supriti Omenka Nnadi
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!
>
>
>
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>
> â–ª Â.Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.
> Â.
> â–ª Â.To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Â.Ammachi-unsubscribe (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> Â.
> â–ª Â.Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

01-10-2006, 12:49 PM

>
> I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad,
> and was telling him about
> it. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means
> 'jasmine flower'". >
>
> I smile every time I hear someone say my name. It
> holds so many different
> meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to
> my heart!
>

And I thought you were named after the
Hungarian-American actor
Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula (1931)!

Keval

__________________________________________________
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01-10-2006, 12:54 PM

Dear Bela,
My niece is expecting her second child. Since she named the first child,
her husband claimed the right to name the second - he's Hispanic also.
The name he chose was Isabel(le). I was really hoping it would be
Isabella, so she could be called "Bella" - I have always loved that
name. You made a good choice. Your grandmother sounds wonderful!
Jai Ma!
Prasadini

Bela Gaytan wrote:
> Dear Supriti,
>
>
>
> Although my name was not given to me from a guru, it is a very spiritual
> name for me. I'll share my story with you (and everyone).
>
>
>
> Some of you may know, but I am Hispanic. When my mother was pregnant the
> first time around, my grandmother (dad's mom) wanted to name me Bella,
> which
> means "beautiful" in Spanish. She wanted it pronounced in English though,
> as opposed to "beh-yah" as it would be in Spanish. My mother did not want
> any of us to have Spanish names, so it was never thought much of.
>
>
>
> By beautiful chance/fate... I was born on my grandma's birthday. I did not
> live near her, but I always had a very tight bond with her. She was a
> beautiful woman, inside and out. My dad even tells me that in all of his
> years knowing her, she never once got mad... never. She was loving and
> accepting of everyone. Her love and cheerfulness were her trademark, and
> everyone adored her.
>
>
>
> In 2001, I decided to change my name. I never liked my name growing up, as
> it was an extremely common name, and it never felt like it suited me. I
> immediately thought of Bella, but I did not like the way it looked,
> spelled
> with 2 L's... plus I did not want people to pronounce it in Spanish,
> as that
> seems vain to be named "Beautiful". I was also at a dilemma, as I wanted a
> name that was Indian, to reflect me being Hindu.
>
>
>
> I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad, and was telling him
> about
> it. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means 'jasmine flower'". I nearly
> hit the floor. Jasmine has always been my favorite floral scent. Also, my
> grandmother used to have jasmine growing beneath her windows at her home.
> Each morning, she would go out and pick a few sprigs, bring them in the
> house, and lay them in the windowsill, with the windows open. The scent
> from the flowers would permeate the air.
>
>
>
> I smile every time I hear someone say my name. It holds so many different
> meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to my heart!
>
>
>
>
>
> ¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
> ¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
> ((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
> -:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..
>
>
>
> "Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
> that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
> choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma
>
> _____
>
> From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On
> Behalf Of
> Omenka Supriti Nnadi
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:19 AM
> To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
> Subject: Re: [Ammachi] Digest Number 1875
>
>
>
> Can someone(s) tell stories of how and when they got their spiritual
> names.
> I especially notice beautiful names and love the stories of what they mean
> to each person. My life changed each of the six times I have changed my
> name....like the sound of Kalika it is so musical...
>
>
> Om Namashivaya - In Amma's service,
>
> Supriti Omenka Nnadi
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> * Visit your group "Ammachi
> " on the web.
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Ammachi-unsubscribe (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service .
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

01-10-2006, 02:19 PM

LOL, Keval. My brother teases me and calls me “Lugosi” sometimes. If you
join him… I may have to start sending you hate mail and e-noogies! (*^_^*)

Actually, a lot of people label me as “goth”, simply because I have pale
skin, black hair, prefer darker shades of lipstick, and happen to like to
wear black. So most people who label me as such think I “call” myself Bela
to be like Mr. Lugosi… some weird attempt to be dark and creepy. Annoying,
to say the least, LOL.

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma

_____

From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On Behalf Of
Mike Brooker
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:49 PM
To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Re: [Ammachi] RE: Spiritual Names

>
> I was talking with a good pal of mine, Indian lad,
> and was telling him about
> it. He said, "You know, Bela, in Hindi, means
> 'jasmine flower'". >
>
> I smile every time I hear someone say my name. It
> holds so many different
> meanings for me, all of them very near and dear to
> my heart!
>

And I thought you were named after the
Hungarian-American actor
Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula (1931)!

Keval

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

01-10-2006, 02:20 PM

Thank you, Prasadini! I forgot to mention in my initial e-mail that my
grandmother, bless her soul, passed away in 2004. I am so thankful she was
able to see me change my name before she left us. So that makes my name
even more special... along with my birthday, as we share the same day.

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma
-----Original Message-----
From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On Behalf Of
Michele Doane Greenstein
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:54 PM
To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Re: [Ammachi] RE: Spiritual Names

Dear Bela,
My niece is expecting her second child. Since she named the first child,
her husband claimed the right to name the second - he's Hispanic also.
The name he chose was Isabel(le). I was really hoping it would be
Isabella, so she could be called "Bella" - I have always loved that
name. You made a good choice. Your grandmother sounds wonderful!
Jai Ma!
Prasadini

01-10-2006, 02:22 PM

Isn’t the smell of it pure bliss? One of my Indian pals (actually, same lad
that told me of the meaning of ‘bela’) sent me a vial of jasmine perfume
oil. It’s quite a treasure for me… and always makes me feel so peaceful and
calm. I certainly long for the day when I can have a home and be able to
grow an abundance of jasmine!

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma

_____

From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On Behalf Of
Ardis Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:37 PM
To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Re: [Ammachi] RE: Spiritual Names

An added note: I have also always loved jasmine. When I was married
and had my own home, I had a huge bush of star jasmine over my deck. I
used to go out there and lie on the deck and breathe in the jasmine and
"be in heaven."

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

01-10-2006, 02:26 PM

Dear Pahari Maa,

Thank you! I love being able to share that story with others. I looked at
my grandmother as my mother, and my grandfather as my father. I felt more
of a bond and closeness to them.

I’m actually memorializing them permanently on my body. I have a tattoo of
a sun on my left shoulder. I am having it changed a bit, reworked, and am
going to have my grandfather’s name above it, and my son’s below it. On a
later date, I am placing a moon, in the same style, on my right shoulder,
with my grandmother’s name above, and my daughter’s name below. I love the
four of them so much… I’d be delighted to have their names on me! (*^_^*)

Your story is touching! I can only imagine the joy (and love) you felt when
your guru thoughtfully gave you your spiritual name! Aren’t surprises
grand?

¸..• ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.•´ .•´¨¨))
((¸¸.•´ ..•´ -:¦:- ..::Brightest Blessings::..
-:¦:- ((¸¸.•´.¸..•` ..::Bela::..

"Like nectar in the fresh morning flower, let goodness fill you. The heart
that unfolds all its petals spreading the fragrance of goodness is the
choicest offering at the altar of God" - Amma

_____

From: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com] On Behalf Of
Ardis Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 8:32 PM
To: Ammachi (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
Subject: Re: [Ammachi] RE: Spiritual Names

What a wonderful story! I love your "chosen" name.

Everyone at the ashram where I went had Sanskrit names but me. One
day I complained to my guru that "I didn't have a Sanskrit name." He
said "Thank God." So I did thank God and gave up desire for a Sanskrit
name.

In 2001 I moved to the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. I
was no longer able to visit the ashram on a regular basis, but kept in
touch with my gurus. One day, a good ten years after I asked him, he
named me Pahari Maa which means Mother of the Mountain. I love the
name. I treasure it. I love the sound of it and the meaning. I am
very grateful that my guru chose to name me after all these years.

Pahari Maa

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]