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
彼（斯坎陀/迦尔蒂凯耶，Skanda/Kārttikeya）有如下名号：娑佉（Śākha）、毗娑佉（Viśākha）、奈伽弥耶（Naigameya）、普里什塔阇（Pṛṣṭaja）、克里蒂迦多（Kṛttikāta）、迦尔蒂凯耶（Kārttikeya）、耶底（Yati）与萨那特俱摩罗迦（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.