Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.792

c9.792

SĀKHA. According to one view Sākha was the younger brother of Subrahmaṇya while there are others who maintain that he was Subrahmaṇya’s son. In verse 37, Chapter 44 of Śalya Parva it is stated that Sākha was the son of the Vasu Anala and the younger brother of Subrahmaṇya and that he had two brothers called Vaiśākha and Naigameya. It is stated in Chapter 15, part 1 of Viṣṇu Purāṇa as follows:- “Āpa, Dhruva, Soma, Dharma, Anila, Agni, Pratyūṣa and Prabhāsa are the aṣṭavasus. Vaitanda, Śrama, Śānta, and Dhvani were sons of Āpa. Kāla, who annihilates the entire world is the son of Dhruva and Varccas is Soma’s son. Varccas gives people the vital glow. Draviṇa, Hutahavyavaha, Śiśvara, Prāṇa and Varuṇa were the sons of Dharma by Manoharā. Anila’s son was Śivā, and two sons, Manojava and Avijñatagati were born to the couple. Kumāra, son of Agni was born in Śarastamba and he had three brothers called Sākha, Viśākha and Naigameya.”