# तारा (tārā)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/tara

तारा (tārā) is a Sanskrit word meaning carrying across, a saviour or protector, an epithet of Vishnu, high, loud, or shrill, a high tone or loud note, study or learning, shining, radiant. Its 51 recorded definitions are grouped into 23 contexts, among them Star or Celestial Body, Adjectival Qualities, Goddess or Divine Female Figure.

- **Root:** तॄ (tṝ)
- **SLP1:** `tArA`  **IAST:** tārā  **Devanagari:** तारा
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_%28Mahavidya%29
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/tara/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** तार (tāra), तर (tara), टार (ṭāra)

## Meanings by context

### Star or Celestial Body (8 definitions)
- mica  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > तार (tāra) ( m. n., L. ) = ° रा (°rā) भ्र (bhra), L. [ ID=84243 ]
- a star  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > तार (tāra) m. n. a star, L. [ ID=84244 ]
- a fixed star or asterism  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 443,3] तारा (tārā) a ( आ (ā) ), f. ( g. भिदा (bhidā) दि (di) ) a fixed star, asterism ( cf. स्तृ (stṛ) ), Yājñavalkya (Author) iii, 172; MBh. &c. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) )., Mṛcchakaṭikā (Title) iii, 10 ) [ ID=84248 ]
- A star or planet in general.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 0536-a ] तारा (tārā) 1 A star or planet in general; हंसश्रेणीसु तारा (tārā) सु (haṃsaśreṇīsu tārāsu) Raghuvaṃśa (Bombay) 4. 19; Bhartṛhari’s three Śatakas (the figures 1., 2., 3. after Bh. denoting Śṛṅgāraº, Nītiº, and Vairāgyaº) 1. 15
- A fixed star  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 0536-a ] तारा (tārā) 2 A fixed star; Raghuvaṃśa (Bombay) 6. 22
- 1. A star. 2. The pupil of the eye.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 108-3 ] तारा (tārā) tār-ā, f. [strewer, radiator], star; pupil of the eye : -dharma, m. N. of a prince; -adhipa, m. moon (lord of the stars); -pati, m. id.; Bṛhaspati; -patha, m. heavens (path of the stars); N. of a country; -pīḍa, m. N. of various princes; -pura, n. N. of a town; -maya, a. ( ī ) a. ( ī ) consisting of stars, starry. [ ID=8550 ]
- 1. A star or planet. 2. The pupil of the eye. 3. A pearl. 4. The wife of Brihaspati. 5. The wife of Vali.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > [Printed book page 308-11 ] तारा (tārā) f. 1. A star or planet, हंसश्रेणीषु तारा (tārā) सु कुमुद्वत्सु च वारिषु (haṃsaśreṇīṣu tārāsu kumudvatsu ca vāriṣu) R. iv.19, Bhartr. i.15; 2. the pupili of the eye, अधिकविकसदंतर्विस्मयस्मेरतारैः (adhikavikasadaṃtarvismayasmeratāraiḥ) M.M. i., K.S. iii.47; 3. a pearl; 4. name of the wife of Bṛihaspati, the preceptor of gods; 8. name of the wife of Vāli. [ ID=15500 ]
- star  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 163-b ] tārā, f. star. [form of transition to the a-declension (399) from tṛ́, see under stṛ́. ] [ ID=1755 ]

### Adjectival Qualities (5 definitions)
- 1. High, loud, or shrill. 2. A high tone or loud note.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > high (a note), loud, shrill ( mn. ) a high tone, loud or shrill note, Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa (Title) vii, 1, 7 ( compar. - तर (-tara) and superl. - तम (-tama) ), TPrāt. [ ID=84230 ]
- shining, radiant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ( fr. स्तृ (stṛ) ?) shining, radiant, Megh.; Amar.; Kathāsaritsāgara (Title) lxxiii; Sāh. [ ID=84232 ]
- clean, clear  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > clean, clear, L. [ ID=84233 ]
- good, excellent  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > good, excellent, well flavoured, L., Sch. [ ID=84234 ]
- 1. High or loud as a sound. 2. Shining. 3. Excellent.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तार (tāra) ा (tārā) [Printed book page 308-02 ] तार (tāra) (I) a. (f. रा (rā) ) 1. High, deep, loud, shrill (as a sound); 2. shining, radiant, उरसि निहितस्तार (tāra) ो हारः (urasi nihitastāro hāraḥ) Am.S. 28; 3. good, excellent. [ ID=15475.1 ]

### Goddess or Divine Female Figure (5 definitions)
- a form of Dakshayani  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a form of Dākṣāyaṇī (worshipped on the mountain Kiṣkindha, Matsya-purāṇa (Title) xiii, 46; protectress of the Gṛtsa-madas, Brahma-purāṇa (Title) ii, 18, 8; cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) p. 187 ) [ ID=84254 ]
- Name of a Buddhist goddess  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Buddh. goddess, Vāsav., 433 [ ID=84255 ]
- of a Shakti  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Śakti, Jain. [ ID=84258 ]
- A Shakti living in the midst of waters crossed by boats of various sizes.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 2-021 ] Tārā (IV) — also Toraṇeśvari and Tārāmbikā; a Śakti living in the midst of waters that could be crossed only by boats of different sizes. Br. IV. 35. 12-24, 58; 36. 16; 44. 80. [ ID=5436 ]
- the goddess enshrined at Kishkindhaparvata  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Tārā (V) — the goddess enshrined at Kiṣkindhaparvata. M. 13. 46. [ ID=5437 ]

### Other Specific Female Figures/Names (3 definitions)
- an epithet of the wife of Buddha Amoghasiddha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the wife of Buddha Amoghasiddha, Buddh. [ ID=84257 ]
- of a yogini  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Yoginī, Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi (Title) ii, 1, 710 [ ID=84259 ]
- a Brahmavadini  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Tārā (II) — a Brahmavādinī. Br. II. 33. 18. [ ID=5434 ]

### Pupil of the Eye (3 definitions)
- the pupil of the eye  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the pupil of the eye, L. [ ID=84245 ]
- the pupil of the eye  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the pupil of the eye (chiefly ifc. ), Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā (Title) lviii, 11 &c. [ ID=84249 ]
- The pupil of the eye or eyeball  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 0536-a ] तारा (tārā) 3 The pupil of the eye, the eye-ball; कांतामंतः प्रमोदादभिसरति (kāṃtāmaṃtaḥ pramodādabhisarati) मदभ्रांततारश्चकोरः (madabhrāṃtatāraścakoraḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 9. 30; विस्मयस्मेरतारैः (vismayasmeratāraiḥ) 1. 28, Kumārasambhava (Bombay) 3, 47

### Specific Male Proper Names (3 definitions)
- The name of Mani-rama, author of a commentary on Bhamini-vilasa  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of Maṇi-rāma (author of a Comm. on Bhām. ) [ ID=84238 ]
- A Daitya slain by Vishnu.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Daitya (slain by Viṣṇu), Hariv. [ ID=84239 ]
- one of Rama's monkey generals, son of Brihaspati and husband of Tara  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of one of Rāma's monkey generals (son of Bṛhas-pati, husband of Tārā), Mahābhārata (Title) iii, 16372; Rāmāyaṇa (Title) i, iv, vi [ ID=84240 ]

### Tārā, Wife of Bṛhaspati (3 definitions)
- carried off by Soma  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of Bṛhaspati's wife (carried off by Soma), Mahābhārata (Title) v, 3972; Harivaṃśa (Title) 1340 ff.; BhP. &c. [ ID=84256 ]
- wife of Brihaspati  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Tārā 2, wife of Bṛhaspati. § 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 117, 3972 ( reme…yathā…Bṛhaspatiś ca T°āyāṃ ). [ ID=10783 ]
- the wife of Brihaspati  
  *The Purana Index*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 2-020 ] Tārā (I) — the wife of Bṛhaspati, and abducted by Soma. Of this union was born Budha. Through Brahmā's influ- ence she was restored to her husband; (came back to Bṛhas- pati after a battle between the Devas and the Dānavas). Bhā. IX. 14. 4-8, 13-14; Br. III. 65. 29; M. 23. 30-47; 24. 3; Vā. 90. 28-35, 43. Vi. IV. 6. 10-33. [ ID=5433 ]

### Tārā, Wife of Vāli (3 definitions)
- a female monkey  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a female monkey (daughter of Suṣeṇa, wife of Bālin and mother of Aṅgada), Mahābhārata (Title) iii, 16110 ff.; Rāmāyaṇa (Title) i, iv, vi. [ ID=84260 ]
- wife of the monkey Valin  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 675-1 ] Tārā 1, wife of the monkey Vālin. § 531 (Rāmopākhyānap.): III, 280, 16108, 16110 ( tārādhipānanāṃ ), 16112 ( tārā- dhipaprabhā ), 16118, 16130, 16131 ( tārāpatimukhīṃ ). [ ID=10782 ]
- A daughter of Sushena and queen of Vali, whose son was Angada.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Tārā (III) — a daughter of Suṣeṇa and queen of Vāli; her son was Aṅgada. Br. III. 7. 219. [ ID=5435 ]

### Class of Deities/Divine Beings (2 definitions)
- a class of gods in the twelfth Manvantara  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > pl. a class of gods in the 12th Manv-antara, Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) iii, 2, 33 [ ID=84241 ]
- one of the ten branches of the Harita group of deities  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Tārā (VI) — one of the ten branches of the Harita group of Devas. Vā. 100. 89. [ ID=5438 ]

### Pearl or Clearness of Pearl (2 definitions)
- the clearness or transparency of a pearl, or a clear pearl  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > तार (tāra) m. [ n. & ( आ (ā) ), f., L. ] the clearness or transparency of a pearl, clear pearl, Suśruta (Title) v, 3, 19; Gīta-govinda (Title) xi, 25 [ ID=84242 ]
- A pearl  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 0536-a ] तारा (tārā) 4 A pearl

### Saviour, Protector, or Saving Syllable (2 definitions)
- carrying across, a saviour or protector  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 443,3] तार (tāra) mfn. (√ तॄ (tṝ) ) carrying across, a saviour, protector (Rudra), Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title) xvi, 40; ŚiraUp. [ ID=84228 ]
- saving, or a mystical monosyllable such as om  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ‘saving’, a mystical monosyllable (as ओम् (om) ), RāmatUp.; ŚikhUp.; Sarvad.; Tantr. [ ID=84236 ]

### Epithet of Viṣṇu (1 definition)
- an epithet of Vishnu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (Viṣṇu), Mahābhārata (Title) xiii, 6986 [ ID=84229 ]

### Grammatical Note (Feminine Form) (1 definition)
- see the masculine form  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 444,1] तारा (tārā) b f. of ° र (°ra), q.v. [ ID=84346 ]

### List of Mythological Women Named Tārā (1 definition)
- 1. The wife of Vali, king of the monkeys. 2. The wife of Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods. 3. The wife of Harishchandra.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तारा (tārā) [Printed book page 0536-a ] तारा (tārā) 5 ( a ) N. of the wife of Vāli, king of the monkeys, and mother of Aṅgada. She in vain ( pb ) tried to dissuade her husband Vāli from fighting with Rāma and Sugrīva, and married Sugrīva after Vāli had been killed by Rāma. ( b ) N. of the wife of Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods. She was on one occasion carried off by Soma (the moon) who refused to deliver her up to her husband when demanded. A fierce contest then ensued, and Brahmā had at last to compel Soma to restore her to her husband. Tārā gave birth to a son named Budha who became the ancestor of the Lunar race of kings. ( c ) N. of the wife of Hariścandra and mother of Rohidāsa; (also called Tārāmatī)

### Meteor (1 definition)
- a kind of meteor  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a kind of meteor, vli, 86 and 94 [ ID=84250 ]

### Musical Term (Rāga) (1 definition)
- Name of a raga of six notes  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in music) N. of a Rāga of six notes [ ID=84252 ]

### Perfume (1 definition)
- a kind of perfume  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a kind of perfume, L. [ ID=84253 ]

### Philosophical Concept (Siddhi) (1 definition)
- one of the eight perfections in Samkhya philosophy  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in Sāṃkhya phil. ) one of the 8 Siddhis, Tattvas. [ ID=84251 ]

### River Bank / Descent to River (1 definition)
- descent to a river, bank  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > तार (tāra) n. descent to a river, bank ( cf. तीर (tīra), तीर (tīra) ्थ (tīrtha) ), Atharva-veda (Title) iv, 37, 3; Pāṇini (Author) vi, 3, 109, Vārtt. 1 [ ID=84246 ]

### Silver (Metal) (1 definition)
- silver  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > silver, Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) iv, 6, 27; Bhāvaprakāśa (Title) v, 26, 43 [ ID=84247 ]

### Specific Plant (Andropogon bicolor) (1 definition)
- Andropogon bicolor  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Andropogon bicolor, L. [ ID=84237 ]

### The Act of Crossing (1 definition)
- crossing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > तार (tāra) m. ‘crossing’, see दुस् - (dus-), सु - (su-) [ ID=84235 ]

### Śikṣā (Work or Concept) (1 definition)
- Study or learning  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Śikṣā, Mahābhārata (Title) vii; Mṛcch. &c. [ ID=84231 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546