Viśākha in the Mahābhārata
Viśākha is a divine being who came out of the wound that Indra’s vajra (thunderbolt) made in the side of Skanda, who is also called Kārttikeya. The Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata tells this in Chapter 227. Viśākha was golden in colour and bore the śakti (spear).
The birth of Viśākha
Indra came to the place where Skanda was born, and he hurled the vajra at Skanda. The weapon struck Skanda’s side and opened a wound. From that wound Viśākha came out. He was golden in colour and bore the śakti, and he shone with divine power.
After Viśākha came out, Indra saw that he could not prevail against Skanda. He gave up and paid his respects. Skanda granted Indra abhaya (freedom from fear).
Viśākha in the Śiva Purāṇa
The Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa, in Chapter 3, tells that three beings came out when Indra struck the child Kārttikeya with the vajra. They were Śākha, Viśākha and Naigama. They came from the three points where the weapon struck.
Viśākha in the Vāmana Purāṇa
The Vāmana Purāṇa gives Viśākha as one of the four names of Kārttikeya. It is the name that goes with the claim of Umā as his mother.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 227
- Śiva Purāṇa, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 3
- Vāmana Purāṇa