Akash

What does Akash mean?

Akash means ‘sky’ in Hindi, from Sanskrit ākāśa. Wiktionary also records ‘space’ or ‘cosmos’, and identifies the Hindi word as a given name. The Sanskrit word is connected with a root meaning ‘to shine’. This gives Akash a direct meaning in everyday language as well as a place in Indian philosophical vocabulary, where ākāśa refers to space or ether. The ordinary sky meaning and the philosophical sense are related uses of the same word.

Source: Wiktionary, आकाश. How we use sources.

Spelling and pronunciation

आकाश is read aa-kaash in Hindi, with two long vowels. Aakash makes the first long vowel visible, while Akaash marks the second. Sanskrit ākāśa retains an additional short final vowel. The sh is made toward the front of the mouth; the spelling Akash leaves both vowel lengths unmarked.

Also spelled Aakash, Akaash.

Akash in tradition and story

In Samkhya and Vaisheshika philosophy, ākāśa is one of the five great elements: space or ether, associated with the transmission of sound. The word also appears in ākāśagaṅgā, ‘river of the sky’, a name for the Milky Way.