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ŚĀKHA According to one view Śākha 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 Śākha 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. Vaitaṇḍa, 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 wife 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 Śākha, Viśākha and Naigameya.” The following story about the birth of Śākha is from Taraṅga 6, Lāvāṇakalambaka of Kathāsaritsāgara: Defeated in battle by Tārakāsura, Indra decided to have no more fight with him and retired to Mount Mahāmeru. Devas and maharṣis sought asylum with Subrahmaṇya, who gave them protection. Indra came to know of it and fought with Subrahmaṇya feeling that the latter had captured his kingdom. Two sons, Śākha and Viśākha were born from the face of Subrahmaṇya wounded by the Vajrāyudha of Indra.
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