As a deity name
Name 560 of the Gayatri Sahasranāma — Devi Bhagavata Purana, as taught by Sages
Name 616 of the Gayatri Sahasranāma — Devi Bhagavata Purana, as taught by Sages
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
holy basil
Scripturally attestedWhy this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "puṇyāyai" is the dative of "puṇyā" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M1 · same meaning "puṇyāyai" is the dative of "puṇya" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "puṇya" is derived from "puṇ" with the yat suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
puṇ cl. 6. P. puṇati, to act piously or virtuously, Dhātup. xxviii, 43 (invented to serve as base for puṇya, ni-puṇa &c.?); cl. 10. P. poṇayati, to collect, accumulate (v.l. for pūl, pūlyati).
puṇ 6 P. (puṇati) To be virtuous or holy, act in a virtuous manner.
puṇya mf(ā)n. (perhaps fr. √ 2. puṣ, according to Uṇ. v, 15 from √ pū; see also √ puṇ) auspicious, propitious, fair, pleasant, good, right, virtuous, meritorious, pure, holy, sacred, RV. &c. &c.
puṇya m. N. of a poet, Cat.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
puṇyā (ā), f. holy basil, L.
Physalis Flexuosa, L.
puṇya mf(ā)n. (perhaps fr. √ 2. puṣ, according to Uṇ. v, 15 from √ pū; see also √ puṇ) auspicious, propitious, fair, pleasant, good, right, virtuous, meritorious, pure, holy, sacred, RV. &c. &c.
puṇya m. N. of a poet, Cat.
puṇ cl. 6. P. puṇati, to act piously or virtuously, Dhātup. xxviii, 43 (invented to serve as base for puṇya, ni-puṇa &c.?); cl. 10. P. poṇayati, to collect, accumulate (v.l. for pūl, pūlyati).
puṇ 6 P. (puṇati) To be virtuous or holy, act in a virtuous manner.
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