Shankar

Etymology

Shankar is a modern transcription of the Sanskrit name Shankara, which itself is composed of the elements śam meaning "auspicious, lucky" and kara meaning "maker". Thus, the name carries the meaning "maker of auspiciousness" or "giver of bliss". It is another name for the Hindu god Shiva, and also appears as an epithet of the Vedic storm god Rudra, who is later identified with Shiva.

Cultural and Religious Significance

In Hinduism, Shankar is commonly used as a name for Shiva, the deity of destruction and restoration. The name is popular across India, appearing in various forms in several languages: Shankar in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Nepali; Sankar in Bengali; and similar variants in South Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. The name also refers to the 9th-century philosopher Shankaracharya, who is widely credited with consolidating the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.

Notable Bearers

Many prominent individuals bear the name Shankar. Among them are Shankar Dayal Sharma (1918–1999), the ninth President of India; Shankar Mahadevan, a renowned Indian playback singer and composer; Shankar Balasubramanian, a British chemical biologist; and Shankar Nag, a celebrated Indian actor known best for his work in Kannada cinema. The name is also used as a stage name by Shankar Panikkar, an Indian film actor and director.

Key Facts

• Meaning: Auspicious, giver of bliss
• Origin: Sanskrit
• Type: First name
• Usage: Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu