Note that the below details have been captured by Lewis Rice in the 19th century. The customs in general may have undergone changes and hence everyone is welcome to leave comments which identify noticeable deviations.
In the olden days it was believed that the birth of a child rendered not only the mother of the new born babe but the whole house unclean, and every one who may have come in contact with them. This ceremonial uncleanness (sutaka) lasted for seven days, be the babe male or female. The mother was confined for two months to the house and not expected to engage in any work, but to recover her strength and to devote herself entirely to her child. This singular custom no doubt greatly contributed to the general good health and vigour of the Coorg women. Daughters were not much valued. They were to be brought up and yet were destined to be entirely alienated from the house by their marriage. Boys were the stay of families. As soon as a Coorg boy was born, a little bow, made of a stick of the castor-oil plant, with an arrow, made of a leafstalk of the same plant, is put into his little hands, and a gun fired at the same time in the yard. He was thus, at taking his first breath, introduced into the world as a future huntsman and warrior. This ceremony, however, has almost lost its meaning, and ceases to be generally observed.
On the 12th day after birth, the child is laid in the cradle by the mother or grandmother, who on this occasion gives the name, which in many instances is both well-sounding and significant: thus for boys - Belliappa (silver-father), Ponnappa (gold-father), Mandanna (brother of the village-green); for girls - Puvakka (flower-sister), Muttakka (pearl-sister), Chinnavva (gold-mother).
Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice
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