As a deity name
Name 100 of the Durga Sahasranāma — Kula Arnava Tantra / Skanda Purana, as taught by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati
As a Hindi name
धारा · noun · feminine
घोड़े की चाल · किसी द्रव पदार्थ की गतिरपरंपरा । पानी आदि का बहाव या गिराव । अखंड़ प्रवाह । धार · लगातार गिरता या बहता हुआ कोई द्रव पदार्थ — Śabdasāgara
धारा · dhārā · s.f.
A line of descending fluid, a stream, current (of water, or of a river, &c.), a channel, a water-course; a torrent; a flood; a hard shower (of rain) — Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago, p. 538
धारा · feminine
stream, current, flow; waterfall; section
Cited formation "धारा" is धार + -आ: धार means "flow, current, stream, channel (of a river)", and the suffix -आ forms abstract, agent, action or instrumental nouns (masc.); also past participles. CHD Basic Grammar App. I §8(3) — cited from the extracted rule table
Cited formation "धारा" is धारना + -आ: धारना means "To hold, bear, carry", and the suffix -आ forms abstract, agent, action or instrumental nouns (masc.); also past participles. CHD Basic Grammar App. I §8(3) — cited from the extracted rule table — base gloss: Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago
a Hindi word, a tatsama: the Sanskrit word borrowed unchanged into Hindi धारा — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
“Borrowed from Sanskrit धारा (dhā́rā).” — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
1. dhārā f. stream or current of water
(cf. tri-, dvi-, śata-, sahasra-), flood, gush, jet, drop (of any liquid), shower, rain (also fig. of arrows, flowers, &c.; vasor dh˚, ‘source of good’, N. of a partic. libation to Agni, AV.; ŚBr.; MBh.; of a sacred bathing-place, MBh.; of Agni's wife, BhP.)
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
margin, sharp edge, rim, blade (esp. of a sword, knife, &c.; fig. applied to the flame of fire), &c.
Scripturally attested Verified derivationMultiple readings (7)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "dhārā" is the feminine form of "dhāra" — the same word with the feminine ending (nominative).
Dictionary citations
1. dhārā f. stream or current of water
(cf. tri-, dvi-, śata-, sahasra-), flood, gush, jet, drop (of any liquid), shower, rain (also fig. of arrows, flowers, &c.; vasor dh˚, ‘source of good’, N. of a partic. libation to Agni, AV.; ŚBr.; MBh.; of a sacred bathing-place, MBh.; of Agni's wife, BhP.)
a leak or hole in a pitcher &c., L.
the pace of horse, Śiś. v, 60 (5 enumerated, viz. dhorita, valgita, pluta, ut-tejita, ut-terita, or ā-skandita, recita for the two latter, L.; with paramā, the quickest pace, Kathās. xxxi, 39)
uniformity, sameness (as of flowing water?), L.
1. dhāra mf(ī)n. (√ dhṛ) holding, supporting, containing (ifc.; cf. karṇa-, chattra-, tulā- &c.)
dhāra m. N. of Viṣṇu, L.
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources