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Sharma

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Sharma (शर्म, Sanskrit), as a noun in Sanskrit has several connotations such as "bliss", "happiness", "shelter" and, "protection" and as a name it frequently occurs at the end of Brahmin names in India.[1]. In northern India as well as Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh it is regarded as surname or family name though it does not necessarily represent a unique paternal lineage. Whereas in southern and south-central India it represents first-name or given-name. The name Sharma is written शर्म in Sanskrit शर्मा in Hindi.[2]. It is also spelt as Sarma in the Indian states of Assam and Andhra Pradesh (so by some people of Varanasi as well), whereas some Brahmins from Assam spell it as Sarmah.

Meaning

Sharma - Hindu (Brahman) name from Sanskrit šarma ‘joy’, ‘shelter’. It is regarded as a prestigious name and as such has been adopted in recent times in various non-Brahman communities. [3][4]

The Sanskrit scholar Dr. Charan Das Shastri claims the name Sharma is derived from the Sanskrit 'Sharman' which means teacher.

According to Sanskrit scholar Dr. Charan Das Shastri, the word 'Sharman' refers to a universal well-wisher or sublime personality who has achieved the highest state of concentration.

According to scholars Pt. Raghunath Prashad Shastri and Yaskacharya the word Sharma refers to 'Srinatehimsayam-dhatu' — the sacred person who eradicates his own sins and those of mankind with acquired powers of self-consciousness.

Theories of origin

From Manusmriti

Manu, in Hindu mythology is a title accorded the progenitor of humankind and first holy king to rule this earth, was the author of Manusmriti, regarded as a foundational work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society. Manusmriti suggests that the Brahmin should use 'Sharman' with their names and the Kshatriya, the warrior class, should use 'Varman' as they wear varma or kavacha (i.e., armour), with their name.

From Brahmakshatriyas

According to Bherumal Maherchand, a Sindhi historian, the Brahmakshatriya clan came into existence during the time of the sage Parashurama, who is said to have stayed in Sindh for five days during a campaign he had undertaken to weed out anti-social elements from society. The ruler of the state was King Rattan Sen. When the news of Parashurama's arrival reached the king, he fled along with his queens to seek asylum in the ashram of Rishi Dadhichi, situated on the bank of the Sarasvati river. Each queen bore a son there. They were called Brahmans by virtue of birth and were brought up in the ashram. The eldest son Jai Sen became Jaisen Sharma. This is considered by some to be first use of the surname ever recorded in history.

The legend continues that subsequently Parshuram killed the king who was hunting in the forest. In Bhavishya Purana, The surname Sharma is also found. As stated there, "O Indra, there was a brahmana named Shakrasharma, in Ayodhya. He worshipped demigods such as the Asvini Kumaras, Rudras, Vasus, and Surya with the mantras mentioned in the Yajur-veda.""In the age of Dvapara, there was a brahmana named Megha Sharma. He was very much religious, intelligent, learned and a follower of the Vedic path."

People with surname Sharma

People with Sharma/Sarma as First Name

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary: By Arthur Anthony MacDonell
  2. ^ Behind the Name - the Etymology and History of First Names
  3. ^ Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
  4. ^ sharma Name Meaning and Origin - Ancestry.com
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