Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 39
Svāyambhuva-vaṁśa-varṇanam
Description of the Lineage of Svāyambhuva Manu
तस्य शाखो विशाखश् च नैगमेयश् च पृष्टजः कृत्तिकातः कार्त्तिकेयो यतिः सनत्कुमारकः
tasya śākho viśākhaś ca naigameyaś ca pṛṣṭajaḥ kṛttikātaḥ kārttikeyo yatiḥ sanatkumārakaḥ
ພຣະອົງນັ້ນ (ສະກັນດະ/ກາຣຕຕິເກຍ) ມີນາມເຫຼົ່ານີ້: ຊາຄະ (Śākha), ວິຊາຄະ (Viśākha), ໄນກະເມຍະ (Naigameya), ປຣິດຕະຈະ (Pṛṣṭaja), ກຣິດຕິກາຕະ (Kṛttikāta), ກາຣຕຕິເກຍ (Kārttikeya), ຍະຕິ (Yati), ແລະ ສະນັດກຸມາຣະກະ (Sanatkumāraka).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s primary dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nāmāvalī-style enumeration of Skanda’s epithets for japa, stotra composition, and correct identification in ritual and iconographic contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Skanda’s names: Śākha, Viśākha, Naigameya, etc.","lookup_keywords":["Skanda nāmāni","Kārttikeya","Naigameya","Viśākha","Sanatkumāraka"],"quick_summary":"Gives a compact list of Skanda/Kārttikeya epithets—useful as a devotional name-set for recitation and as identifiers across Purāṇic traditions."}
Alamkara Type: Nāma-mālā (enumerative style)
Weapon Type: Spear (Śakti/Vel) (implied by Skanda identity)
Concept: Nāma-japa as a means to access multiple aspects of a deity; one divinity, many functional names.
Application: Use the listed names as a short nāmāvalī in daily worship or before undertaking protective rites.
Khanda Section: Purana-Parampara & Devata-Vamsha (Genealogies and sacred lineages)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Skanda shown as a youthful deity at center, surrounded by eight name-cartouches (Śākha, Viśākha, Naigameya, Pṛṣṭaja, Kṛttikāta, Kārttikeya, Yati, Sanatkumāraka), each cartouche illustrated with a small symbolic vignette (Kṛttikās as stars, ascetic staff for Yati, etc.).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Kārttikeya with spear and peacock motif, surrounding circular medallions with Sanskrit labels for each epithet, bold colors, symmetrical temple-panel layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Skanda with gold halo and embossed ornaments, eight gold-framed name medallions around, starry Kṛttikā motif in one medallion, rich devotional finish.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean diagrammatic nāmāvalī wheel, central deity figure with subtle shading, legible labeled scrolls, small symbolic icons per name.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript folio with central deity portrait and surrounding calligraphic panels listing epithets, delicate borders, small symbolic illustrations per epithet."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viśākhaś ca → viśākhaḥ + ca; naigameyaś ca → naigameyaḥ + ca. Verse is a list of names/epithets in nominative.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Skanda narrative/name lists near 18.38-18.39; Agni Purana stotra/nāmāvalī style sections elsewhere (general)
FAQs
This verse imparts nāma-smaraṇa (ritual remembrance of divine names): it enumerates recognized epithets of Kārttikeya used for identification, praise, and devotional recitation.
By cataloging multiple authoritative names of a deity, it functions like a reference index—preserving variant epithets from different traditions (Purāṇic/Āgamic usage) and aiding liturgy, iconography, and narrative cross-linking.
Remembering and reciting the deity’s names is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, strengthen devotion (bhakti), and invoke protective grace associated with Kārttikeya.