Nashik

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large city in the Indian state of Maharashtra, located on the Godavari River and noted as a centre of wine production and Hindu pilgrimage
2. A major urban centre in western India within Maharashtra state, known for its vineyards, temples and location on the banks of the Godavari
3. An Indian city in the northwestern part of Maharashtra, famous for grape cultivation and for being one of the sacred Kumbh Mela sites

Etymology: Nashik is a city in Maharashtra, western India, and its name is tied to a myth in the Hindu epic Ramayana. According to the traditional story, Lakshmana cut off the nose (Sanskrit "nasika") of Shurpanakha, the sister of the demon king Ravana, at this spot. The name is generally derived from "nasika," meaning "nose," which is why the city is often said to have been named for that act. The city's older Sanskrit name is usually given as "Nasikya" or "Nasikya-pattana," and it has appeared in Indian and Jain texts for centuries. The modern spelling "Nashik" is a later anglicized form, and the English spelling "Nasik" was common in colonial-era writing before the city's official name was standardized.