Svaha (स्वाहा, IAST: Svāhā) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “Sacred offering to the fire; she who carries oblations to the gods”. From su- (well, auspiciously) + āha (speech, from ah, to speak), or alternatively from sva- (self) + āha, Svāhā is the sacred exclamation and personified deity through whom every fire-offering is conveyed to the gods, making Lakshmi herself the bridge between human devotion and divine acceptance.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Svāhā is the ritual utterance pronounced at the moment of pouring an oblation into the sacred fire during yajña (Vedic sacrifice), and in the Purāṇas she is personified as the wife of Agni, the fire-god, who carries the offerings of devotees to the devas. The word's derivation connects to auspicious speech (su + āha) or to the idea of offering the self (sva). Lakshmi's identification with Svāhā in the Ashtottara Shatanama reveals that all sacrifice, all giving, is ultimately an act of devotion to Śrī herself.

By bearing the name Svāhā, Lakshmi is honoured as the living power that sanctifies every act of worship and ensures that offerings reach their divine destination. Pronounced svaa-HAA; rare but resonant as a given name, carrying a deep ritual dignity.

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Scriptural source

Svaha appears in the Lakshmi Ashtottaram, among the sacred names of Lakshmi.