When we are born, we all receive a name, one generally chosen by our parents.
It is our “civil name” which identifies us in our documents and with our peers and, though in some cases it doesn’t please us (sometimes even enough to change it), this name accompanies us for our entire life.
But other names also exist, that receive those that do a road of an interior growth thru different institutions, and they are considered as important as the one given to us when we are born.
It is the “spiritual name”.
For example, nuns and Christian monks are given a new name when they are consecrated. Even the Pope, upon being named, chooses another name that is different from his civil name.
The same thing happens in Buddhism and in yoga.
This doesn’t mean that the civil name is eliminated; instead it continues to have all of the legal attributes established.
In Yoga, the spiritual name is Sanskrit. The Vedic Yogis employ this name only within the schools, using their “civil name” outside of it.
For all yogis, the spiritual name is a way of calling upon our Being, to the Soul, to better identify us with them.
Just as our civil name identifies us with our physical body, the spiritual name identifies us with our spiritual body.
The spiritual name also helps us in meditations and prayers, reminding us that we are beings who want to evolve spiritually, reinforcing and accelerating that road to our most elevated destiny.
It is a powerful vibratory blessing, and we should only use our spiritual names with reverence and respect.