Divine Beings

Visakha

विशाख

Born of the Thunderbolt

Who was Visakha?

Visakha (विशाख): Born of the Thunderbolt, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. A being who sprang from Skanda's body at the moment Indra's thunderbolt pierced his right side, a youth with a club in his hand and a celestial amulet on him.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Visakha
Sanskrit nameविशाख
Title / EpithetBorn of the Thunderbolt
FactionDivine Beings
Key traitsfierce, protective, youthful, sudden
Notable relationshipsOrigin: Skanda, Whose Bolt Made Him: Indra, Goddess He Approached: Uma, Kin: Agni
Featured in1 story

About Visakha

A being who sprang from Skanda's body at the moment Indra's thunderbolt pierced his right side, a youth with a club in his hand and a celestial amulet on him. The seizers of children born and unborn who came into being at the same stroke took Visakha for their father, and he guarded them in the presence of the great mothers. At the investiture on the mountain he was one of the four forms Skanda divided himself into, the form that walked over to the daughter of Himavat.

In Their Words

The bolt that was meant to end him only opened a door for me.

Visakha

Traits

  • fierce
  • protective
  • youthful
  • sudden

Story Appearances

One further tale on this site names Visakha.

Character Arc

  1. Out of the WoundThe vajra pierces Skanda and a club-bearing youth steps out
  2. Father of the SeizersThe child-stealing spirits take him for their sire
  3. The Fourfold ComingSkanda splits in four and Visakha goes to Himavat's daughter

Key Relationships

Places in Visakha's Story

Drawn from the story Visakha appears in.

Others counted among the Divine Beings.