laksha

Laksha is a term found in Sanskrit and several Indian languages that carries multiple related meanings, depending on context and transliteration. It is often rendered as lakṣa or lakhsha, reflecting its Sanskrit roots and varying regional spellings.

In traditional Indian numeration, lakṣa denotes one hundred thousand. This unit is the basis for the common Hindi term lakh and is used across several Indian languages to express large numbers; multiple lakhs form a crore. The numeral sense of lakṣa is a core use in everyday speech and formal counting alike.

In Sanskrit and Hindu literature, lakṣa also has a semantic cluster related to marking, sign, or target. It appears in compounds such as lakṣaṇa, meaning characteristic, attribute, or sign, and in forms like lakṣya, meaning goal or objective. In these senses, the root conveys ideas of marking or aiming toward a designated point or quality.

The word also functions as a personal name in parts of India and among diaspora communities. Spelling and pronunciation vary by language and transliteration, with lakṣa, lakṣha, and lakhsha among the common variants. While the numeral sense is widespread, the broader linguistic meanings and naming uses reflect the word’s diverse cultural and historical roots. See also lakh, lakṣaṇa, and lakṣya for related terms.