21/01/24

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

Hi, I’m pratignya. My name is a Sanskrit word meaning oath/promise. Not the everyday pinky ones we swear on. But one of those lofty ones that if you break the mouths of hell will open and swallow you kinds.

The name/ word originated in the Mahabharata, where bheeshma took the ‘pratigya’ to remain unmarried and celibate for the rest of his life. Read the Mahabharata for details, but ever since bheeshma made this vow, the word pratigya (Hindi) similar to pratignya (Sanskrit) has added weight.

Growing up, every time I introduced myself, everyone would enquire if I had also taken a pratigya like bheeshma pitamah . Truth be told, this was one of ‘the most’ irritating questions I’ve ever been asked. I used to stutter through the explanation, but practice makes perfect and eventually I got the answer right. I would introduce myself and then wait for the question, knowing that it was their way to try to lighten the situation or break the ice would respond, ‘ and yes, my oath is to try to avoid those people, who cannot accept a name for what it is, just a name.’

It’s a query worth asking if you address it to my parents, as they gave me the name. But asking me, is foolish, I was a newborn, and much like most newborns, my vocabulary was restricted to heart rending wails of ‘ingaaaaa’ or ‘waaaaaa’ . And nowhere is the name ‘pratignyaaaaa’ coming forth.

Of course through this entire phase of stuttering and explanations, the one thing that’s been a constant, is the spelling. Once I finished the explanation, my name was always spelt wrong. We got to watch the Mahabharata in Hindi, where the word is pratigya rather than pratignya. And one of the versions of my spelling has always been pratigya. How ever if the person who was making note, had a prathima or a prathiba as a friend, then my name would be spelt prathignya. Now, when I did find a reason to meet a gynaecologist, she started spelling my name.. you guessed it, pratigyna. 🤷‍♀️ just one of those things! For the longest time, I was the only pratignya in the city. I got the email ids rather easily. Now, I’m glad to have found a few floating around, so my name is picking up in popularity. But I can honestly say, it’s nowhere as popular as Prarthana or Pavithra.

The funniest story related to my name happened after my son was born. When agastya (my son) was around 2, I put him in a play school, where I also went to qualify and complete my ECCEd certification. This place had a ‘didi’ who used to help Agastya a lot and he grew fond of her. Her name was ‘prathibha’ and once he learnt to say her name, is when he learnt to say mine properly. Until then it used to roll out like he had a few marbles in his mouth. It is what it is right!! Wondering what you would ask my parents about the names they selected for their kids? Get in line, I haven’t found a suitable response from them so far. But hey, it is one unique name, and it did make for a crazy write up. So, honestly I can no longer complain.