As a deity name
Name 417 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 star, &c. (ifc. ā)
Scripturally attestedWhy this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "tārakāyai" is the dative of "tārakā" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M1 · same meaning "tārakāyai" is the dative of "tāraka" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "tāraka" is derived from "tāra" with the ka/kan suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
tāra mfn. (√ tṝ) carrying across, a saviour, protector (Rudra), VS. xvi, 40; ŚiraUp.
(Viṣṇu), MBh. xiii, 6986
tāraka mf(ikā [Pāṇ. vii, 3, 45, Vārtt. 6] R. ii)n. causing or enabling to pass or go over, carrying over, rescuing, liberating, saving, MBh. xii (Śiva), JābālUp.; ŚivaP. &c. (a particular prayer, brahman)
belonging to the stars, VS. xxiv, 10 (˚ka)
Related forms
Dictionary citations
tārakā f. (Pāṇ. vii, 3, 45, Vārtt. 6) a star, AV.; TBr. i, 5, 2, 5; Yājñ. i; MBh. &c. (ifc. f(ā). )
a meteor, falling star, AV. v, 17, 4
tāraka mf(ikā [Pāṇ. vii, 3, 45, Vārtt. 6] R. ii)n. causing or enabling to pass or go over, carrying over, rescuing, liberating, saving, MBh. xii (Śiva), JābālUp.; ŚivaP. &c. (a particular prayer, brahman)
belonging to the stars, VS. xxiv, 10 (˚ka)
tāra mfn. (√ tṝ) carrying across, a saviour, protector (Rudra), VS. xvi, 40; ŚiraUp.
(Viṣṇu), MBh. xiii, 6986
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