Sagara

Sagara is a Sanskrit name meaning "sea, ocean." In Hindu mythology, Sagara was a legendary king of Ayodhya, an ancient city in India. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana and other Puranic texts, King Sagara performed a grand horse sacrifice, which angered the god Indra. The horse was stolen by the sage Kapila, and Sagara's 60,000 sons, guided by his grandson Anshuman, sought it out. They mistakenly accused Kapila of theft, who in anger burned them to ashes. This episode is recalled in the story of the goddess Ganga descending to earth to purify their souls, linking the name to sacred rivers and oceans.

Etymology and Cultural Significance

The Sanskrit word सागर (sāgara) linguistically derives from the root साग (sāga) meaning "sea." In Hindu cosmology, the ocean is seen as a primordial element, often symbolic of boundless depth and mystery. Kṣīra Sāgara (the ocean of milk) is a central concept in Hinduism, churned by the devas and asuras to obtain amrita (the nectar of immortality). The name Sagara thus carries connotations of vastness, depth, and mythological importance.

Notable Bearers and Usage

The name Sagara is used in Sinhalese and Hindu communities. In Sri Lanka, Sagara is a masculine given name. Its Punjabi variant is Sagar. The name also appears as a Japanese surname, derived from the kanji 相良, meaning "mutual goodness." In the 2010 United States Census, Sagara was the 83,541st most common surname, with 225 bearers, primarily of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage (64.89%), White (17.78%), and Mixed Race (13.78%).

Related Names and Variations

The name Sagara is directly connected to the modern Sanskrit-derived Sagar, common in Punjabi and other South Asian cultures. Other related words include the Hindi सागर (sāgar) meaning "sea." In Buddhist contexts, the name appears in the Lotus Sutra as a reference to a dragon king named Sagara, symbolizing the ocean of wisdom.

• Meaning: Sea, ocean
• Origin: Sanskrit
• Type: First name (also Japanese surname)
• Usage Regions: Sinhalese and Hindu communities; Japan as surname