Papanashini (पापनाशिनी, IAST: pāpanāśinī) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “She who destroys all sin”. A dvandva-style karmadhāraya compound of 'pāpa' (sin) and 'nāśinī' (she who destroys), this name proclaims Lalitā as the active destroyer of every form of moral impurity.

Meaning, etymology & significance

The root 'naś' (to perish, to be annihilated) gives 'nāśa' (destruction) and its feminine agentive 'nāśinī', meaning 'she who causes destruction'. Combined with 'pāpa', the compound describes the Mother's dynamic, grace-bestowing power to incinerate the accumulated sins of her devotees. Unlike the preceding name Niṣpāpā, which speaks of her own sinlessness, Pāpanāśinī speaks of her outward, compassionate activity toward souls burdened by karma.

Śrī Lalitā bears this epithet as testimony to her role as the supreme liberator; indeed, the mere recitation of her name is said in Tantric texts to burn away sin as fire consumes dry grass. Pronounced paa-pa-naa-shi-nee, the name flows naturally and remains a beloved given name across South India.

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Scriptural source

Papanashini appears in the Lalitha Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Lalitha.

Astrology — nakshatra, rashi & numerology

By the standard Vedic correspondence between a name’s first syllable and the lunar mansion, Papanashini aligns with the Uttara phalguni nakshatra, under the Kanya rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 3.