Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 70
पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्
Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva
अग्नेश्च तनयो देवो ह्यपर्णातनयः पुनः । गंगायाश्च गणांबायाः कृत्तिकानां तथैव च
agneśca tanayo devo hyaparṇātanayaḥ punaḥ | gaṃgāyāśca gaṇāṃbāyāḥ kṛttikānāṃ tathaiva ca
Diz-se também que esse Senhor divino é filho de Agni; e, novamente, filho de Aparṇā (Pārvatī). Do mesmo modo, é celebrado como nascido de Gaṅgā, de Gaṇāmbā (a Mãe dos Gaṇas) e também das Kṛttikās.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
FAQs
It presents Skanda’s birth as a sacred, multi-causal manifestation supported by divine powers (Agni, Gaṅgā, the Kṛttikās, and Pārvatī), indicating that Shiva’s grace can appear through many instruments while remaining one divine intention—upholding dharma and aiding devotees.
Skanda’s many-attributed birth highlights Saguna Shiva’s compassionate activity in the world: the formless Lord (Nirguṇa) is worshipped as the Linga, yet he also expresses himself through forms and divine agencies, making devotion accessible through Shiva’s family and retinue.
A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with the Panchākṣara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while offering water (symbolic of Gaṅgā) and cultivating inner purity (Agni as tapas), remembering Skanda as Shiva’s power that destroys inner obstacles to dharma.