List of Daksha's daughters
In Hinduism, Daksha is a Prajapati, and the son of the creator god Brahma. Hindu literature identifies both Asikni and Prasuti as the name of Daksha's wife.[1] Some of the notable daughters of Daksha include Aditi, the mother of the adityas, Diti, the mother of the daityas, Danu, the mother of the danavas, Svaha, the goddess of sacrifices and the wife of Agni, and Sati, the first wife of Shiva.
Daksha's daughters have an important role in creation, as they were given in marriage by their father to a number of deities in Hindu mythology.[2] In the Mahabharata, the sixteen daughters of Daksha become the mothers of all living beings, including the devas, the asuras, and humans.[3]
List
Daughters of Virini
The Adiparva and Harivamsa state that Daksha had 60 daughters from his wife Virini (later also called Asikni) who like himself, was born out of Brahma.[4][5][6] Their names and progeny are
| Name | Husband | Children | Important descendants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditi | Kashyapa | 12 Adityas, notably Surya and Indra | Solar dynasty, Lunar dynasty (through Ila), Yama, Yamuna, Tapti, Shani, Ashvins, Revanta, Devayani (through Indra's daughter Jayanti) |
| Diti | 2 sons - Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakshashipu | Daityas, Prahlada, Virochana, Bali, Bana, Usha,Sunda and Upasunda, Nivatakavachas | |
| A daughter - Simhika | Rahu and other Asuras like llvala and Vatapi | ||
| Aborted fetus | 49 Maruts | ||
| Danu | 40 sons, notably Vrishaparva, Viprachitti, Sambara, Puloma & Namuchi | Danavas, Sharmistha, Shachi, | |
| Simhika | Rahu and 3 other sons | Saimhikeya Asuras | |
| Kala | 4 sons | Kalakeya Asuras | |
| Krodha | 7 daughters - Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramana, Matangi, Sharduli and Surabhi | Deer (from Mrigi)
Bears (from Mrigamanda) Monkeys & horses (from Hari) Diggajas like Airavata (from Bhadramana) Elephants (from Matangi) Big cats (from Sharduli) Fruit-bearing trees (from Surabhi's daughter Anala) Cattle (from Surabhi's daughter Rohini) Horses (from Surabhi's daughter Gandharvi) | |
| Danayu | Thousands of Asuras | ||
| Vinata | 2 sons - Garuda and Aruna | Eagles (from Aruna), notably Jatayu and Sampati | |
| Kadru | Many Nagas, notably Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka and Karkotaka | Snakes | |
| Muni | Gandharvas | ||
| Pradha | Gandharvas like Tumburu | ||
| Apsaras, notably Rambha, Tilottama and Ghritachi | Shakuntala | ||
| Kapila/Surabhi | Cattle | ||
| 11 Rudras | |||
| Tamra | 8 daughters - Kaki, Syeni, Uluki, Ghridhri, Bhasi, Dhritarastri, Suki & Sugrivi | Crows (from Kaki)
Eagles, notably Jatayu and Sampati (from Syeni) Owls (from Uluki) Vultures (from Ghridhri) Fowls (from Bhasi) Ducks, geese and aquatic birds (from Dhritarastri) Parrots (from Suki) Donkeys, camels and horses (from Sugrivi) | |
| Ira | Woody trees and grasses | ||
| Khasa | Yakshas and Rakshasas | ||
| Surasa | Flying snakes & herons | ||
| Arundhati | Dharma (personification of Dharma) | Herbs | |
| Vishva | Visvedevas | - | |
| Sadhya | Sadhyas | - | |
| Vasu | Vasus, notably Vayu, Varuna and Agni | Varuni (from Varuna)
Shakha, Vishakha & Naigamesha (from Agni), Personification of light (from Soma) Kala or personification of time (from Dhruva), Devala (from Pratyusha) Vishwakarma (from Prabhasa) | |
| Marudvati | Winds | - | |
| Muhurta | Muhurtas (personification of muhurtas) | - | |
| Lamba | Ghosa (personification of sound) | - | |
| Bhanu | Bhanavas | - | |
| Yami | Nagavithi (personification of planetary orbits) | - | |
| Samkalpa | Samkalpa (personification of resolution) | - | |
| 27 daughters who are personifications of nakshatras | Chandra | - | - |
| 2 daughters | Krishashva | Personifications of astras | - |
| 2 daughters | Bahuputra | Personifications of lightning, thunder, clouds and rainbow | - |
| 2 daughters | Pratyangiras | Personifications of mantras | - |
| 4 daughters | Aristanemi | 16 sons | - |
Daughters of Prasuti
The Puranas later tell that Daksha married Prasuti, the daughter of Swayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa, sister of Devahuti (mother of Kapila) and Uttanapada (father of Dhruva). With her, he had 24 daughters. They are[7]
| Name | Husband | Children | Important descendants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sati | Shiva | - | - |
| Khyati | Bhrigu | Shukra, Chyavana, Dhata, Vidhata, Lakshmi | Brahmins of Bhargava gotra, Markandeya, Jamadagni, Parashurama |
| Svadha | Pitris | 7 daughters - Mena, who married Himavan
Dharani, who married Meru Acchoda, who became a river and reincarnated as Satyavati Pivari, who married Shuka Viraja, who married Nahusha Yashoda, who married into the Solar dynasty Narmada, who married Purukutsa |
Mainaka, Krauncha, Ekaparna (wife of Devala), Ekapatala (wife of Jaigishavya) Ganga, Parvati (through Mena)
Mandara (through Dharani) Markandeya (through Dharani's daughters) Yayati (through Viraja) Dilipa (through Yashoda) Trasadasyu (through Narmada) |
| Swaha | Agni | 3 sons - Pavaka, Pavamana and Shuchi | Various types of fires |
| Sambhuti | Marichi | ||
| Smriti | Angiras | 3 sons, Brihaspati, Utathya, Samvarta and daughters - Kuhu, Raka, Sinivali and Anumati | Brahmins of Angirasa gotra, Bharadvaja & Kacha (from Brihaspati) |
| Anasuya | Atri | 5 sons, in addition to Durvasa and Dattatreya | Brahmins of Atreya gotra |
| Priti | Pulastya | Vishrava and Dattoli (reincarnation of Agastya) | Kubera, Ravana, Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna(from Vishrava) |
| Kshama | Pulaha | 3 sons | |
| Sannati | Kratu | Valakhilyas | - |
| Urja | Vasistha | 7 sons | Brahmins of Vasistha gotra |
| Chitti | Atharvan | Dadhichi | Brahmins of Atharvan gotra, Pippalada |
| Sraddha (personification of faith) | Dharma (personification of Dharma) | Subha (personification of auspiciousness) | - |
| Maitri (personification of friendship) | Prasada (personification of grace) | - | |
| Daya (personification of kindness) | Abhaya (personification of fearlessness) | - | |
| Shanti (personification of peace) | Sukha (personification of happiness) | - | |
| Tusti (personification of satisfaction) | Moda (personification of joy) | - | |
| Pusti (personification of nourishment) | Smaya (personification of astonishment) | - | |
| Kriya (personification of activity) | Yoga (personification of the concept) | - | |
| Unnati (personification of progress) | Darpa (personification of pride) | - | |
| Buddhi (personification of wit) | Artha | - | |
| Medha (personification of mental power) | Smriti (personification of memory) | - | |
| Titiksha (personification of perseverance) | Kshema (personification of security) | - | |
| Hri (personification of modesty) | Prasraya (personification of support) | - | |
| Murti | Nara and Narayana | Urvashi |
Other daughters
Kalika Purana describes Rati as a mind-born daughter of Daksha, who is betrothed to Kamadeva.
References
- ^ Mani, Vettam (2015-01-01). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 193. ISBN 978-81-208-0597-2.
- ^ Williams, George Mason (2003). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. ABC-CLIO. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-57607-106-9.
- ^ Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (2013-07-04). Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities. Routledge. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-135-96390-3.
- ^ Archive, Internet Sacred Text. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Secti... | Sacred Texts Archive". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ Archive, Internet Sacred Text. "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Secti... | Sacred Texts Archive". Internet Sacred Text Archive. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2020-11-14). "An Account of Various Families; Daksha's Offspring [Chapter 3]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2022-08-13). "The Progeny of Svāyambhuva Manu's Daughters [Chapter 1]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2025-12-09.