As a deity name
Name 849 of the Shiva Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Sage Tandi to Sage Upamanyu
As a Hindi name
No reading on this path — this spelling has no entry in our Hindi sources, and no near neighbour is attested there either. We say so rather than invent one.
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
and kaniṣṭha the youngest, younger born (opposed to jyeṣṭha and vṛddha), &c.
Scripturally attested Verified split — attested membersMultiple readings (6)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "kaniṣṭhāya" is the dative of "kaniṣṭha" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "kaniṣṭha" is derived from "kan" with the iṣṭhan suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
kan (kā in Veda) cl. 1. P. kanati, cakāna, cake, akānīt, kanitā, &c., Dhātup. xiii, 17; (aor. 1. sg. akāniṣam, 2. sg. kāniṣas, RV.), to be satisfied or pleased, RV. iv, 24, 9; to agree to, accept with satisfaction, RV. iii, 28, 5; to shine; to go, Dhātup. : Intens. P. (Subj. cākanat; Pot. cākanyāt; pf. 1. sg. cākana); Ā. (Subj. 3. pl. cākananta and cakananta, RV. i, 169, 4), to be satisfied with, like, enjoy (with loc. gen., or instr.), RV.; to please, be liked or wished for (with gen. of the person), RV. i, 169, 4; v, 31, 13; viii, 31, 1; to strive after, seek, desire, wish (with acc. or dat.), RV.;
kan [cf. kā, kai, kam, kvan, and can: cf. also Zd. -kan; Gk. καναψή; Angl.Sax. hana; Lat. canus, caneo, candeo, candela (?); Hib. canu, ‘full moon’.]
kaniṣṭha and kaniṣṭha mfn. the youngest, younger born (opposed to jyeṣṭha and vṛddha), RV. iv, 33, 5; AV. x, 8, 28; AitBr.; KātyŚr. &c.
the smallest, lowest, least (opposed to bhūyiṣṭha), TS.; ŚBr. &c.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
kaniṣṭha and kaniṣṭha mfn. the youngest, younger born (opposed to jyeṣṭha and vṛddha), RV. iv, 33, 5; AV. x, 8, 28; AitBr.; KātyŚr. &c.
the smallest, lowest, least (opposed to bhūyiṣṭha), TS.; ŚBr. &c.
kan (kā in Veda) cl. 1. P. kanati, cakāna, cake, akānīt, kanitā, &c., Dhātup. xiii, 17; (aor. 1. sg. akāniṣam, 2. sg. kāniṣas, RV.), to be satisfied or pleased, RV. iv, 24, 9; to agree to, accept with satisfaction, RV. iii, 28, 5; to shine; to go, Dhātup. : Intens. P. (Subj. cākanat; Pot. cākanyāt; pf. 1. sg. cākana); Ā. (Subj. 3. pl. cākananta and cakananta, RV. i, 169, 4), to be satisfied with, like, enjoy (with loc. gen., or instr.), RV.; to please, be liked or wished for (with gen. of the person), RV. i, 169, 4; v, 31, 13; viii, 31, 1; to strive after, seek, desire, wish (with acc. or dat.), RV.;
kan [cf. kā, kai, kam, kvan, and can: cf. also Zd. -kan; Gk. καναψή; Angl.Sax. hana; Lat. canus, caneo, candeo, candela (?); Hib. canu, ‘full moon’.]
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