Madhav

What does Madhav mean?

Madhav means ‘descendant of Madhu’ and is an epithet of Krishna. Wiktionary records these senses for Sanskrit mādhava, alongside associations with spring and sweetness. The word is related to madhu, ‘honey’ or ‘sweetness’, but the name's lineage meaning is more specific than a simple translation as honey. The Hindi entry also records Madhav as a name of Vishnu and as a given name and surname.

Source: Wiktionary, माधव. How we use sources.

Spelling and pronunciation

माधव is read maa-dhav in Hindi, with two syllables and a long opening vowel. Madhava retains the Sanskrit final vowel. The dh is a d released with a puff of breath, rather than English th. The v may sound between English v and w.

Also spelled Madhava.

Madhav in tradition and story

Krishna is addressed as Madhava in the Bhagavad Gita and in Jayadeva's Gita Govinda. The Sanskrit word also names the spring month Vaishakha, adding a seasonal association to its devotional and lineage meanings.