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ArchivesRe: Ashlesha
in reply to a message by ADT
It is Sanskrit, and is the name of an asterism: a particular 13 1/3 degrees along the ecliptic named after a prominent star or constellation within it, in this case the constellation Hydra. Currently (i.e. for the next 1000 years or so), a full moon around the beginning of January is around this asterism.
The words representing these asterisms are very old: AshleSA' appears already in the Vedic literature and so is definitely more than 2500 years old, but probably not as a human name (in fact the male form had a slightly negative connotation: sometimes used for spirits that can grab you). The etymology involves the particle A' which qualifies verbs with a meaning of nearness, towardness, or completeness followed by the verb shliS, to join (metaphorically also to result in) or to connect, to embrace etc. AsleSA is the feminine of a noun meaning intimate contact, embracing, clinging or entwining.
The forms ashleSA and AshreSA are also attested in Sanskrit, probably as variants of the above.
The words representing these asterisms are very old: AshleSA' appears already in the Vedic literature and so is definitely more than 2500 years old, but probably not as a human name (in fact the male form had a slightly negative connotation: sometimes used for spirits that can grab you). The etymology involves the particle A' which qualifies verbs with a meaning of nearness, towardness, or completeness followed by the verb shliS, to join (metaphorically also to result in) or to connect, to embrace etc. AsleSA is the feminine of a noun meaning intimate contact, embracing, clinging or entwining.
The forms ashleSA and AshreSA are also attested in Sanskrit, probably as variants of the above.
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