Sahasranama position 41 of the 1,072 names

Kamala

कमला

Kamalā

What Kamala means

Kamala is name 41 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Lotus-born Goddess, representing wealth, prosperity, and spiritual purity.

Also spelled

  • Source transliteration: KAMALA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: The Lotus-born Goddess, representing wealth, prosperity, and spiritual purity.

Elaboration

Kamala is a deeply significant name derived from the Sanskrit word "Kamala," meaning "lotus." In Hinduism, the lotus is among the most revered symbols, carrying both spiritual and material significance.

Symbol of Purity and Divinity The lotus is honored for rising from muddy waters while remaining untouched and beautiful. Because of this, it stands for purity, detachment, and spiritual transcendence. As Kamala, the Goddess embodies that highest purity. Though she is active in creation and sustenance, she remains untouched by the impurities of the material world. Her association with the lotus reveals her divine and stainless nature.

Source of Wealth and Prosperity In a more direct material sense, Kamala is often identified with Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, abundance, and prosperity. The lotus is also a traditional symbol of growth, fertility, and auspiciousness. Kamala therefore signifies not only material riches, but also spiritual wealth, intellectual abundance, and overall well-being. She is the bestower of prosperity in every form: physical, mental, and spiritual.

Spiritual Awakening and Consciousness The lotus also symbolizes the awakening of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment, as its petals unfold layer by layer. Kamala, as the "Lotus-born" or "Lotus-dweller," is the power present at the heart of that awakening. She is inner wisdom, the blossoming of knowledge, and the ultimate realization of the self. Her presence helps the devotee rise beyond ignorance and enter higher states of awareness.

Aesthetic Beauty and Grace Finally, the lotus is a symbol of beauty and grace, and Kamala embodies that perfection. She represents not only destructive power, but also the gentle, nurturing, and beautiful aspects of the divine feminine. In this way, she inspires harmony, grace, and a reverence for the divine beauty inherent in creation.

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

About the author · Contact and corrections · Privacy policy