According to one view शाख was the younger brother of सुब्रह्मण्य while there are others who maintain that he was सुब्रह्मण्य 's son. In verse 37, Chapter 44 of शल्य पर्व it is stated that शाख was the son of the वसु अनल and the younger brother of सुब्रह्मण्य and that he had two brothers called वैशाख and नैगमेय . It is stated in Chapter 15, part 1 of विष्णु पुराण as follows:- "Āpa, Dhruva, Soma, Dharma, Anila, Agni, Pratyūṣa and Prabhāsa are the अष्टवसुस् . 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 शाख , विशाख and नैगमेय .

The following story about the birth of शाख is from तरङ्ग 6, लावाणकलम्बक of कथासरित्सागर : Defeated in battle by तारकासुर , इन्द्र decided to have no more fight with him and retired to Mount महामेरु . देवस् and महर्षिस् sought asylum with सुब्रह्मण्य , who gave them protection. इन्द्र came to know of it and fought with सुब्रह्मण्य feeling that the latter had captured his kingdom. Two sons, शाख and विशाख were born from the face of सुब्रह्मण्य wounded by the वज्रायुध of इन्द्र .