As a deity name
Name 88 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
a woman during her courses or just after them (during the period favourable for procreation), &c.
Scripturally attestedWhy this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "ṛtumatyai" is the dative of "ṛtumatī" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M1 · same meaning "ṛtumatyai" is the dative of "ṛtumat" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "ṛtumat" is derived from "ṛtu" with the matup suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
ṛtu (us), m. (Uṇ. i, 72) any settled point of time, fixed time, time appointed for any action (esp. for sacrifices and other regular worship), right or fit time, RV.; AV.; VS.
an epoch, period (esp. a division or part of the year), season (the number of the divisions of the year is in ancient times, three, five, six, seven, twelve, thirteen, and twenty-four; in later time six seasons are enumerated, viz. Vasanta, ‘spring’; Grīṣma, ‘the hot season’; Varṣās (f. pl. nom.), ‘the rainy season’ Śarad, ‘autumn’; Hemanta, ‘winter’; and Śiśira, ‘the cool season’; the seasons are not unfrequently personified, addressed in Mantras, and worshipped by libations), RV.; AV.; VS. &c., MBh.; Mn. &c.
ṛtu—mat mfn. coming at regular or proper times, VS. xix, 61; TāṇḍyaBr. xiv
enjoying the seasons, ChUp.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
ṛtu—matī f. ‘having courses’, a girl at the age of puberty, marriageable girl, Mn. ix, 89 ff.; Pañcat. &c.
a woman during her courses or just after them (during the period favourable for procreation), Gobh. ii, 5, 6; MBh. &c.
ṛtu—mat mfn. coming at regular or proper times, VS. xix, 61; TāṇḍyaBr. xiv
enjoying the seasons, ChUp.
ṛtu (us), m. (Uṇ. i, 72) any settled point of time, fixed time, time appointed for any action (esp. for sacrifices and other regular worship), right or fit time, RV.; AV.; VS.
an epoch, period (esp. a division or part of the year), season (the number of the divisions of the year is in ancient times, three, five, six, seven, twelve, thirteen, and twenty-four; in later time six seasons are enumerated, viz. Vasanta, ‘spring’; Grīṣma, ‘the hot season’; Varṣās (f. pl. nom.), ‘the rainy season’ Śarad, ‘autumn’; Hemanta, ‘winter’; and Śiśira, ‘the cool season’; the seasons are not unfrequently personified, addressed in Mantras, and worshipped by libations), RV.; AV.; VS. &c., MBh.; Mn. &c.
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