Shashank

For the king, see Shashanka.

Not to be confused with Shawshank or Shoshenq.

Shashank (also spelled Shashanka or Śaśāṅka, Sanskrit: शशाङ्क) is a masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, widely used in the Indian subcontinent. Beyond its use as a personal name, Shashank functions as a poetic and mythological epithet of the Moon in Hindu religious and literary traditions.

Shashank

Gender	Male
Language(s)	Sanskrit
Origin
Word/name	Sanskrit
Meaning	"Hare-marked" (referring to the Moon)
Region of origin	Indian subcontinent
A poetic epithet of the Moon in classical Sanskrit literature

The name derives from the Sanskrit words śaśa (शश, "hare") and aṅka (अङ्क, "mark" or "spot"), reflecting the ancient Indian belief that the Moon bears the image of a hare.

Etymology and mythological significance

In Hindu cosmology and literature, Shashank refers to the Moon as “the one marked by a hare.”^[1] The association appears in Vedic hymns, epic poetry, and Shaiva theological texts. The deity Shiva is often depicted with a crescent moon on his matted locks, earning him the epithet Shashankashekhara (शशाङ्कशेखर), or “He who wears the Moon (Shashank) as a crest.”

Scriptural references

Rigveda

• Rigveda 10.85.4:

चन्द्रं हि प्रथमजा ऋतावरी दधाति शशाङ्कं वसुधां प्रवाहम्।

“She, born of cosmic order, sets Shashank in motion across the earth.”^[2]

• Rigveda 10.85.18:

अपश्यदस्य शशाङ्कस्य नीलोत्पलध्वजस्य च।

“He beheld Shashank, bannered with the blue lotus.”^[2]

Atharvaveda

• Atharvaveda 10.2.31:

शशाङ्को देवदेवानां दिवः पतिः पृथिव्याः पतिः।

“Shashank, lord of the gods, ruler of heaven and earth.”^[2]

Mahābhārata

• Vana Parva 42.8:

नीलोत्पलध्वजः शशाङ्कः शितेन्दुः पुण्यशालिनः।

“Shashank, bearer of the blue lotus emblem, radiant and auspicious.”^[2]

Rāmāyaṇa

• Sundarakāṇḍa 15.28:

सीता चन्द्रप्रभा यथा शशाङ्कं शोभयत्यपि।

“Sītā, radiant as moonlight, surpasses even Shashank in brilliance.”^[2]

Śiva Purāṇa

शशाङ्कशेखरं देवं शूलपाणिं त्रिलोचनम्।

“To the god adorned with Shashank on his head, wielder of the trident and three-eyed.”^[3]

Cultural and symbolic dimensions

Lunar symbolism

• In Jyotisha (Hindu astrology), the Moon governs emotions, the mind, and maternal qualities.^[4]
• In classical Sanskrit literature, Shashank evokes serenity, beauty, and romantic imagery.^[5]
• In Tantric and Kundalini yogic traditions, Shashank symbolizes meditative and cooling energy.^[2]

Shaiva theology

The crescent moon worn by Shiva represents the cyclical nature of time and the regulation of cosmic rhythms. Shashank thus becomes a symbol of divine control over time, transformation, and inner consciousness.^[3]

Notable people

• Shashanka – 7th-century ruler of Gauda (Bengal), regarded as the first recorded sovereign of Bengal
• Shashank Subramanyam – Renowned Indian flautist and Grammy-nominated classical musician
• Shashank (diplomat) – Indian Foreign Secretary (2003–2004)
• Shashank Manohar – Former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
• Shashanka Koirala – Nepali ophthalmologist and politician
• Shashank Khaitan – Indian film director and screenwriter known for popular Hindi films
• Shashanka Ghosh – Indian film director and screenwriter known for urban and experimental cinema
• Shashank Arora – Indian actor known for independent films and streaming series
• Shashank Singh – Indian cricketer and IPL player
• Shashank Vyas – Indian television actor
• Shashank (director) – Indian Kannada-language filmmaker
• Shashank Shende – Indian actor and theatre director known for art-house and stage performances

See also

• Chandra – Hindu Moon god
• Shashanka – Ruler of Gauda, Eastern India
• Jyotisha – Hindu astrology
• Shoshenq – Ancient Egyptian royal name with similar phonetic sound
• Shawshank – Fictional place from The Shawshank Redemption