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Image of Daitya army
In Hinduism, the Daityas (Sanskrit: दैत्य) are a clan or race of Asura along with the Dānavas.
They were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. The Devas were their half-brothers with whom they fought against as a result of their jealousy. The Manusmṛti classifies the Daityas as good, while placing them at a lower level than the Devas:
Tāpasā yatayo viprā ye ca vaimānikā gaṇāḥ Nakṣatrāṇi ca daityāśca prathamā sāttvikī gatiḥ
Ascetics and hermits, Brāhmaṇas, celestial beings,[note 1] lunar asterisms, and Daityas represent the first state partaking of ‘Sattva.’
— Manusmṛti 12.48[1]
List of Daityas
Some of the notable Daityas mentioned in Indian mythology include:
- Hiraṇyakaśipu - 1st son of Kashyapa and Diti.
- Hiraṇyākṣa - 2nd son of Kashyapa and Diti.
- Holikā - 1st daughter of Kashyapa and Diti.
- Andhakasura - Son of Hiranyaksha.
- Prahlāda - Son of Hiranyakashipu.
- Simhika - Daughter of Hiranyakashipu.
- Virocana - Son of Prahlada, father of Bali.
- Devamba - Mother of Bali.
- Bali - Son of Virochana.
- Bāṇāsura - Son of Bali.
See also
- Danavas
- Kalakeyas
- Nivatakavacha
- Asura
- List of Asuras
- Exotic tribes of ancient India
References
- ^ Jha, Ganganatha (1920). Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi. ISBN 8120811550.
Notes
External links
- . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.