Shashank (also spelled Shashanka or Śaśāṅka, Sanskrit: शशाङ्क) is a masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, widely used in the Indian subcontinent. Beyond its use as a personal name, Shashank functions as a poetic and mythological epithet of the Moon in Hindu religious and literary traditions.
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Sanskrit |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Sanskrit |
| Meaning | "Hare-marked" (referring to the Moon) |
| Region of origin | Indian subcontinent |
| A poetic epithet of the Moon in classical Sanskrit literature | |
The name derives from the Sanskrit words śaśa (शश, 'hare') and aṅka (अङ्क, 'mark' or 'spot'), reflecting the ancient Indian belief that the Moon bears the image of a hare.
Etymology and mythological significance
editIn Hindu cosmology and literature, Shashank refers to the Moon as “the one marked by a hare”.[1] The association appears in Vedic hymns, epic poetry, and Shaiva theological texts. The deity Shiva is often depicted with a crescent moon on his matted locks, earning him the epithet Shashankashekhara (शशाङ्कशेखर), or 'He who wears the Moon (Shashank) as a crest'.
Scriptural references
editScriptural references include:
- Rigveda 10.85.4: चन्द्रं हि प्रथमजा ऋतावरी दधाति शशाङ्कं वसुधां प्रवाहम्। ('She, born of cosmic order, sets Shashank in motion across the earth').[2]
- Rigveda 10.85.18: अपश्यदस्य शशाङ्कस्य नीलोत्पलध्वजस्य च। ('He beheld Shashank, bannered with the blue lotus').[2]
- Atharvaveda 10.2.31: शशाङ्को देवदेवानां दिवः पतिः पृथिव्याः पतिः। ('Shashank, lord of the gods, ruler of heaven and earth'.)[2]
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva 42.8: नीलोत्पलध्वजः शशाङ्कः शितेन्दुः पुण्यशालिनः। ('Shashank, bearer of the blue lotus emblem, radiant and auspicious'.”[2]
- Rāmāyaṇa, Sundarakāṇḍa 15.28: सीता चन्द्रप्रभा यथा शशाङ्कं शोभयत्यपि। ('Sītā, radiant as moonlight, surpasses even Shashank in brilliance'.)[2]
- Śiva Purāṇa: शशाङ्कशेखरं देवं शूलपाणिं त्रिलोचनम्। ('To the god adorned with Shashank on his head, wielder of the trident and three-eyed').[3]
Cultural and symbolic dimensions
editIn Jyotisha (Hindu astrology), the Moon governs emotions, the mind, and maternal qualities.[4]
In classical Sanskrit literature, Shashank evokes serenity, beauty, and romantic imagery.[5]
In Tantric and Kundalini yogic traditions, Shashank symbolizes meditative and cooling energy.[2]
In Shaiva theology, the crescent moon worn by Shiva represents the cyclical nature of time and the regulation of cosmic rhythms. Shashank thus becomes a symbol of divine control over time, transformation, and inner consciousness.[3]
People with the name
edit- Shashanka, 7th-century ruler of Gauda (Bengal)
- Shashank (actor) (born 1979), Indian Telugu actor
- Shashank (diplomat) (born 1944), Indian ambassador and former foreign secretary
- Shashank (director) (born 1972), Indian Kannada-language film director, screenwriter and lyricist
- Shashank Arora (born 1989), Indian actor, musician and writer
- Shashanka Ghosh (fl. from 1990s), Indian film director and screenwriter
- Shashank Khaitan (born 1982), Indian film director and screenwriter
- Shashanka Koirala (born 1958), Nepali ophthalmologist and politician
- Shashank Manohar (born 1957), Indian lawyer and cricket administrator
- Shashank Shende (fl. from 2001), Indian actor, screenwriter, director and producer
- Shashank Singh (born 1991), Indian cricketer
- Shashank Subramanyam (born 1978), Indian flautist
- Shashank Vyas (born 1986), Indian actor
See also
edit- All pages with titles beginning with Shashank
- Chandra, Hindu Moon god
- Hindu astrology
- Shoshenq, Ancient Egyptian royal name with similar phonetic sound
- Shawshank State Prison, a fictional ___location from The Shawshank Redemption
References
edit- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2014-08-03). "Shashanka, Śaśāṅka, Sasanka, Sashanka, Shasha-anka, Shashamka, Sashamka: 26 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ^ a b c d e f "Śaśāṅka". Wisdom Library. 3 August 2014.
- ^ a b Kramrisch, Stella (1981). The Presence of Śiva. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691019307.
- ^ "Soma and Chandra: Moon deities in Vedic texts". Sacred Texts Archive.
- ^ Monier-Williams (1899). Sanskrit–English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 1056.