Skanda in Epic and Puranic Literature: An Examination of the Origins and Development of a Hindu Deity in North India

Abstract

AbstractThis article explores the origins and development of the Hindu deity Skanda in North India from approximately the fourth century bce to the seventh century ce. The author suggests that previous scholarship on this deity has located his origins in two sources: the Indus Valley and in an amalgamation of related deities. The article questions the Indus Valley hypothesis and develops the amalgamation hypothesis by examining a variety of textual and non‐textual sources. The author also argues that a shift occurs in the representation of Skanda and in his cult base over time. The article suggests that his cult begins in propitiation cults for Grahas and warrior deities in the north of India and shifts to one based in royal propaganda and military emblems. The cult of Skanda is also absorbed into the broader Śaivite cult during this time. These shifts, the author argues, result in the diminished popularity of Skanda in North India by the seventh century ce.