As a deity name
Name 161 of the Shiva Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Sage Tandi to Sage Upamanyu
Name 317 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
a fiend or Rākṣasa, &c.
Scripturally attested Verified split — attested membersMultiple readings (5)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "niśācarāya" is the dative of "niśācara" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "niśācara" is derived from "niśā" with the caraṭ suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
niśā f. night, GṛŚrS.; Mn.; MBh. &c.
a vision, dream, MBh.
niśā—cara mfn. n˚-walking, moving about by n˚, R.
niśā—cara m. a fiend or Rākṣasa, MBh.; Kāv. &c.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
niśā—cara mfn. n˚-walking, moving about by n˚, R.
niśā—cara m. a fiend or Rākṣasa, MBh.; Kāv. &c.
niśā f. night, GṛŚrS.; Mn.; MBh. &c.
a vision, dream, MBh.
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