List of Daksha's daughters explained

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 Prasuti

The number of Prasuti's daughters from Daksha varies across the Puranas. The number of their daughters range from 16 to 60. Prasuti's daughters are regarded to represent the virtues of mind and the body.^[4] They are married to different deities.^[5] The Vishnu Purana states that Prasuti bore Daksha 24 daughters.^[6]

Name of the daughter	Spouse
Shraddha	Dharma
Lakshmi	Dharma
Dhriti	Dharma
Tushti	Dharma
Pushti	Dharma
Medha	Dharma
Kriya	Dharma
Buddhi	Dharma
Lajja	Dharma
Vapus	Dharma
Shanti	Dharma
Siddhi	Dharma
Kirti	Dharma
Khyati	Bhrigu
Sambhuti	Marichi
Smriti	Angiras
Priti	Pulastya
Kshama	Pulaha
Sannati	Kratu
Anasuya	Atri
Urjja	Vashishtha
Svaha	Agni
Svadha	Pitrs
Sati	Shiva

Daughters of Asikni

According to the Padma Purana, when Daksha felt the number of women he had created were still not sufficient, he decided to have 60 more daughters from his wife, Asikni.^[7] Sati was the daughter married to Shiva.^[8] According to the Matsya Purana, not one of these daughters resembled their father. They are listed by their marriages to deities and sages:^{[9] [10]}

1. 10 daughters married to Dharma
2. 13 daughters married to the sage Kashyapa
3. 27 daughters married to Chandra
4. 4 daughters married to Arishtanemi
5. 2 daughters married to the sons of the sage Bhrigu
6. 2 daughters married to the sage Angiras
7. 2 daughters married to Krisasva

Wives of Dharma

The 10 daughters married to Dharma are:^[11]

1. Maruvati
2. Vasu
3. Jami
4. Lamba
5. Bhanu
6. Urjja
7. Sankalpa
8. Muhurta
9. Sadhya
10. Vishva

Wives of Kashyapa

The 13 daughters married to the sage Kashyapa are:^{[12] [13]}

1. Aditi
2. Diti
3. Danu
4. Arishta
5. Surasa
6. Surabhi
7. Vinata
8. Tamra
9. Krodhavasha
10. Ira
11. Kadru
12. Vishva
13. Muni

Wives of Chandra

The 27 daughters married to Chandra who became the nakshastras (lunar mansions) are:^[14]

1. Ashvinī,
2. Bharanī,
3. Kṛttikā
4. Rohinī,
5. Mrigashīra
6. Ārdrā
7. Punarvasu
8. Pushya
9. Ashlesha
10. Maghā
11. Pūrvaphalgunī
12. Uttaraphalgunī
13. Hasta
14. Chitrā
15. Svātī
16. Vishākhā
17. Anurādhā or Rādha
18. Jyeshtha
19. Mūla
20. Pūrvashādhā
21. Uttarashara
22. Shravana or Abhijita
23. Dhanistha
24. Shatabhisha
25. Pūrva Bhādrapadā
26. Uttarbhadrapada
27. Revatī

Notes and References

1. Book: Mani, Vettam . Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature . 2015-01-01 . Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-0597-2 . 193 . en.
2. Book: Williams, George Mason . Handbook of Hindu Mythology . 2003 . ABC-CLIO . 978-1-57607-106-9 . 106 . en.
3. Book: Coulter . Charles Russell . Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities . Turner . Patricia . 2013-07-04 . Routledge . 978-1-135-96390-3 . 141 . en.
4. Book: Birth and Birthgivers: The Power Behind the Shame. 9788124109380. Chawla. Janet. 2006.
5. Web site: Aesthetic Enjoyment; Its Background in Philosophy and Medicine. Sen. Ramendra Kumar. 1966.
6. Book: Debroy, Bibek . Vishnu Purana . 2022-06-30 . Penguin Random House India Private Limited . 978-93-5492-661-7 . 40 . en.
7. Book: Dalal, Roshen . The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths . 2010 . Penguin Books India . 978-0-14-341517-6 . 93 . en.
8. Book: Wilkins, W.J. . Hindu Mythology . D.K. Printworld (P) Limited . 2003 . 81-246-0234-4 . New Delhi . 373.
9. The Matsya Puranam P-I (B.D. Basu) English Translation Ch #5, Page 17
10. Matsya Purana (Sanskrit) Ch #5, Sloka 10-12
11. Matsya Purana (Sanskrit) Ch #5, Sloka 15-16
12. The Matsya Puranam P-I (B.D. Basu) English Translation Ch #5, Page 18
13. Matsya Purana (Sanskrit) Ch #6, Sloka 1-2
14. Book: Dowson, John . A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature . 2013-11-05 . Routledge . 978-1-136-39029-6 . 77 . en.