Kumarika
/kuːˈmɑːrɪkə/noun
A Sanskrit term meaning a young unmarried girl, maiden, or feminine form associated with Kumāra.
Did you know?In Hindu traditions, young girls may be ritually honored as manifestations of the goddess, a practice known as Kumari Puja or Kanya Puja.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Aryan / Early Sanskrit
Sanskrit
kumāra
“Boy, young man, prince, or youthful deity; its deeper etymology is disputed.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
kumārī
“A girl, maiden, or young unmarried woman; also a feminine divine title.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
kumārikā
“A young maiden or little girl, formed with the feminine and diminutive suffix -ikā.”
Medieval Sanskrit Usage
Sanskrit
Kumārikā
“A maiden associated with ritual purity, youthful femininity, or goddess symbolism in religious and literary contexts.”
Modern English Usage
English
Kumarika
“A transliterated Sanskrit term or name used in discussions of Hindu ritual, mythology, and feminine divinity.”