Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2074

c9.2074

SKANDAGRAHA. An evil spirit which afflicts boys up to the age of sixteen. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 230, Stanza 43, that this spirit is also known by the name Mātṛkāgraha or Puruṣagraha. SKANDĀPASMĀRA. A demon derived from the body of Subrahmaṇya. This would enter the womb of pregnant women and afflict the child in the womb. (M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 230, Verse 26). SKANDHA. A nāga (serpent) born in the family of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. This serpent was burnt to death in the sacrificial fire of the serpent sacrifice of Janamejaya. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 57, Verse 18). SKANDHĀKṢA. A warrior of Subrahmaṇya. (Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 60). ŚLEṢMAKA (M). (ŚLEṢMĀTAKAM). A forest. It was when Viśravas, the grandson of Brahmā and Kaikasī, the daughter of Sumālī were living in this forest, that Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa and Śūrpaṇakhā were born to them. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrva Kāṇḍa). ŚLIṢṬI. Son of Dhruva. Dhruva had two children Śliṣṭi and Succhāyā by his wife Śambhu. Śliṣṭi married Succhāyā. Five sons, Ripu, Ripuñjaya, Puṇya, Vṛkala and Vṛkatejas, were born to them. Ripu, the eldest of them, was the father of Cākṣuṣa Manu, according to Harivaṃśa, Chapter 2. SMARADŪTĪ. A maid of Vṛndā, the wife of Jalandhara. (Padma Purāṇa 3 : 9). SMR̥TI. The sovereign deity of remembrance. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 64, that this goddess Smr̥ti had walked in front of the army of Subrahmaṇya. Smr̥ti was the wife of Aṅgiras. Four daughters, named Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Rākā and Anumati, were born to Aṅgiras by his wife Smr̥ti-devi. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 1, Chapter 10). SNĀNA. Bathing. The Purāṇas have ordered six kinds of bathing. They are Nitya snāna (daily bath), Naimittika snāna (incidental bath), Kāmya snāna (Desirable), Kriyā snāna (ceremonial), Kriyāṅga snāna (bathing only the limbs used for rites) and Malakarṣaṇa snāna (Bathing to drag out excrements). (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 155). ŚOBHANA. Son-in-law of Mucukunda. (See Para 3 under Mucukunda). SODARYAVĀN. A chariot of Indra. The peculiarity of this chariot was that two chariot-fighters could sit and fight at the same time in this. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 24, Verse 12, that Indra had, sitting in this chariot, killed ninety-nine asuras (demons). This chariot passed hands from Indra to Uparicaravasu; from him to Br̥hadratha, and from this King to Jarāsandha, on whose death, Indra took possession of it again. (M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 24, Verse 48). ṢOḌAŚARĀJAKA. The story of sixteen famous Kings related by Vyāsa to Yudhiṣṭhira who, after the death of Abhimanyu in the war became averse to fighting. The Kings were (1) Marutta (2) Suhotra (3) Paurava (4) Śibi (5) Śrī Rāma (6) Bhagīratha (7) Dilīpa (8) Māndhātā (9) Yayāti (10) Ambariṣa (11) Śaśabindu (12) Gaya (13) Rantideva (14) Bharata (15) Pr̥thu (16) Paraśurāma. (Droṇa Parva, 16 Chapters from 165). SOMĀ I. A son born to fire Bhānu by his third wife Niśā, who had given birth to two sons Soma and Agni and a daughter named Rohiṇī. (M.B. Parva, Chapter 221, Verse 15).