The goddess Svāhā is Agni’s wife.
Thomas Coburn states that the term Svadhā refers to “one’s particular nature or inclination”, and the secondary sense of “a customary pleasure or enjoyment, a refreshment that nourishes”. Svāhā is also found in the hymns of the Vedic literature, in the sense of “welcome, praise to you”. This salutation is a remembrance of Agni, as an aspect of that which is “the source of all beings”.
As a goddess and wife of Agni, Svāhā represents this shakti. Her name is pronounced with offerings such as butter and seeds poured into the fire during ceremonies. However, like many names in Hindu traditions, the name Svāhā embeds symbolic meanings, through its relationship with the Vedic word Svadhā found in the hymns of the Rigveda.
In the text Devi Māhātmya of the goddess tradition of Hinduism (Shaktism), and in Hindu mythology, Svāhā is the daughter of Daksha who develops feelings for Agni. She seduces him by successively impersonating six wives of the Saptarishi that Agni desired, and thus with him has a son who grows to become god Skanda – the god of war. Other chapters show he was the son of the god Shiva and Parvati.
The Mahābhārata also mentions that when Agni was residing at Mahishmati he fell in love with the daughter of King Nila, an incarnation of Svaha. In the guise of a Brahmana, he asked for the hand of the queen, but the king refused and was about to kill him. Agni revealed his true form and flamed up in glory to Svaha. The king understood and bestowed the incarnation of Svaha as his daughter on Agni. In return, Agni promised protection of the city during any invasion
