Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.488

c4.488

AMŚA. A sage of the family of Marīci.
1) Genealogy. He was descended from Viṣṇu through Brahmā, Marīci and Kaśyapa.
2) Birth. Marīci was one of the six sons, all ṛṣis, of Brahmā. These six sons, born parthenogenetically of Brahmā, were: Marīci, Aṅgiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. Marīci had a son named Kaśyapa. Kaśyapa married the thirteen daughters of Dakṣa. The eldest of them, Aditi, gave birth to twelve sons Dhātā, Aryaman, Mitra, Śakra, Varuṇa, Amśa, Bhaga, Vivasvān, Pūṣan, Sāvitā, Tvaṣṭā and Viṣṇu. Amśa is one of these twelve sons who have been called the twelve Ādityas. (See Chapter 65 of Ādi Parva of the Mahābhārata).
3) Events. The Mahābhārata says (Śloka 66, Chapter 123) that Amśa was present at the time of Arjuna's birth when several devas had come to see the infant. In Śloka 34, Chapter 45 of Śalya Parva it is said that Amśa was present on the occasion of the Abhiṣeka of Skandadeva. Amśa is said to have presented to Skandadeva five good warriors: Parigha, Vaṭa, Bhima, Dahana and Dahati.