Daitya

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, lunar asterisms, and Daityas represent the first state partaking of ‘Sattva.’

— Manusmṛti 12.48

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

External links

• "Daitya" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.