title: Taraka
text: # Taraka
  
  Taraka, usually derived from Sanskrit tāraka (तारक, "crossing; ferryman; star; eye"), may refer to:
  
  ## Hinduism
  
  * Taraka mantra, various mantras spoken by Hindus at their deaths
  * Tārakāsura, an asura defeated by Skanda
  * Taraka (goddess), wife of god Brihaspati
  * Tataka, a yaksha-turned-demoness
  
  ## People
  
  * N. T. Rama Rao (Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri, 1923-1996), Indian Telugu film veteran actor and politician
  * N. T. Rama Rao Jr. (Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri, Jr.), Indian Telugu film actor; grandson of N. T. Rama Rao
  * Taraka Ratna (Taraka Ratna Nandamuri), Indian Telugu film actor; grandson of N. T. Rama Rao
  
  ## Other uses
  
  * Taraka, Lanao del Sur, a municipality in the Philippines.
  * Taraka, Papua New Guinea, a suburb of Lae in the Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
  * Taraka (butterfly), a genus of butterflies
  