Nitara

What does Nitara mean?

Nitara has a proposed connection with Sanskrit nitara, which Monier-Williams defines as ‘deeply fixed in the earth’ or ‘standing firm’. The dictionary gives a citation from the Mānava Gṛhyasūtra, a ritual text. That supports the rootedness meaning for the adjective, but the name नितारा has different vowel lengths and is not recorded there. The connection should therefore remain qualified rather than treating the modern name and dictionary word as identical forms.

Source: Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary, नितर. How we use sources.

Spelling and pronunciation

नितारा is read ni-taa-raa, with a short first vowel and long middle and final vowels. The proposed dictionary source नितर, nitara, has three short vowels. That difference affects pronunciation and needs to remain visible when discussing the origin. The t is made near the teeth.