Root Meaning of the Sanskrit Alphabet

This compilation was made by my brother-monk Swami Prajñanananda Giri, and appears in his book
“Akshara Tattwa.”

Vowels

a The first sound, Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva, Brahma, Indra, Soma, Vayu, Agni, Sun, Yama, the life-
breath, the formless God, absolute existence, beginningless, a symbol of knowledge and energy, Kala,
Vasanta, Pranava, a happy man, a tortoise, a battle, the female quarters in a palace, Uma, sacrifice,
negation.

á Used for comparison, recollection, root word for maya; it removes depression, brings hope,
fulfillment of materialistic desires, names and fames, sharpens the intellect and talent.

i Relative existence, one hundred, a symbol of movement, the seed-syllable (bija) for Agni.

í Kamadeva, Lakshmi, to go, to pervade, to wish, to eat, to beg, gives success in life, the seed-
syllable (bija) for the nectar of immortality (amrita), giver of energy (shakti-dayaka).

u Pervasive, contained or progressive existence, to sound, to make noise, to roar, Shiva, Brahma, the
seed-syllable (bija) for marana-uchhatana (a tantric spell), gives strength.

ú Shiva, Moon, Protector, has hypnotic power.

^ Calling, ridicule, to give, to move, to go, to rise, to gain, to display, to attack, a symbol of
prosperity, the seed-syllable (bija) for riddhi (material achievement), it gives quick evolution and
prosperity.

ý Terror, reproach, censorship, compassion, protection, pride, the seed-syllable (bija) of Bhairava
(another name for Lord Shiva).

ø Earth, mountain, mother of gods, helpful for self-knowledge, makes introvert, gives experience of
Truth.

øø A mother, a divine woman.

e To come, to approach, to submit, Vishnu; a symbol of stillness, or can also indicate movement (in
other contexts); the seed-syllable (bija) that gives strength, health, and removes obstacles.

ai Shiva, the seed-syllable (bija) for Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), gives success.

o Brahma, a sacred syllable, gives fulfillment to desires, prosperity, beauty and youthfulness.
au Sound, Ananta, or Sesha, the earth, the seed-syllable (bija) for marana and ucchatana (tantric
spells).

am Tolerance, soft form of energy.

aà The seed-syllable (bija) for peace.

Consonants

ka Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu, Kamadeva, fire, air, Yama, Sun, soul, king, prince, knot, peacock,
mind, body, time, cloud, a word or sound, hair, light, wealth, property, Daksha, possession, mastery,
creation, action.

kha Sun, sky, sense organ, city, field, secret message, happiness, dot, cavity, tale, action,
knowledge, Brahman, attack, invasion, insistence, attrition or removal.

ga A gandharva (celestial musician), Shiva, Vishnu, contact, motion, action, going.

gha Bell, sin, striking, killing, violent contact,2hostile action, strong motion.

òa Sound, sense objects, desire, wish, Shiva.

ca Seedless, bad, Shiva, thief, swift and brilliant action, existence, contact, and.

cha Pure, clean, trembling, a fragment, a part.

ja Born, prepared from, swift, belonging to or connected with, victorious, a father, Vishnu, Shiva,
luster, production, enjoyment.

jha Sleep, lost, destroyed, beating time, jingling sound, wind accompanied by rain, Brihaspati, a thing
lost, hurricane, nine.

ña Singer, gurgling sound, bull, Shukra, perversity, ten.

þa The sound of a bow string, a dwarf, a quarter, hardness, force, crude, rajasic.

þha An imitative sound (metallic sound rolling down the steps ), loud noise, disc representing the sun
or the moon, circle or the globe, a place resorted to or held sacred by all, an object of the sense, an idol, a
deity, Shiva.

æa Sound, a kind of drum, submarine fire, fear, Shiva, dullness, persistence, obstinacy.

æha Imitative sound, large drum, dog, a dog's tail, serpent, obstinacy, tenacity.
òa Knowledge, certainty, Shiva, no, not, gift.

ta Tail, a jackal's tail, breast, womb, thief, a wicked man, Buddha, jewel, nectar, touch, impact.

tha Mountain, protector, a sign of danger, a kind of disease.

da Giving, granting, destroying, mountain, wife, hard, forcible, impact or action.

dha Placing, holding, Brahma, Kubera, virtue.

na Thin, empty, identical, unwearied, praised, undivided, gentle but effective relation.

pa Drinking, guarding, air, leaf, egg, soft touch or impact, kindly relation, possessive action.

pha Obvious, evident, high mind, yawning, fruitful, mystical rite.

ba Varuna, water, water jar, soft, strong, embracing, contact, possession, action.

bha The planet Venus, error, to fill.

ma Time, poison, formula, moon, Brahman, Vishnu, Shiva, Yama, limitation, finality, completion.

ya Goer, mover, carriage, air, union, fame, barley, restrain, light, Yama, relation.

ra Fire, heat, love, desire, forty, vibration, play.

la Indra, fifty, love, sweetness.

va Powerful, strong, air, arm, Varuna, addressing, conciliation, auspiciousness residence, ocean,
tiger, cloth, reverence, the shadow-planet Rahu, manifest existence.

ça Cutter, weapon, destroyer, Shiva, vehemence in union.

äa Best, wise, loss, destruction, end, rest, final emancipation, heaven, sleep, nipple, horse, pride,
strong action in rest.

sa Snake, wind, Shiva, Vishnu, repose, union.

ha Shiva, water, sky, blood, meditation, paradise, dying, fear, knowledge, Vishnu, moon, war, horse,
pride, force, supreme spirit, ego, body.

käa Destruction, disappearance, lightning, Narasimha.