View source for Daksha

{{short description|Hindu deity}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| god_of = God of ritual skill<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&dq=daksha+god+of+rituals&pg=PA261 | isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 | title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology | date=27 March 2008 | publisher=Oup USA }}</ref>
| image = File:Daksha two depictions.jpg
| caption = Two depiction of Daksha in Puranic tradition {{mdash}} One with ordinary human features (left) and another with a goat face (right)
| consort = '''Itihasa-Puranic:''' 
 [[Prasuti]] and [[Asikni (goddess)|Asikni]]
| parents = '''Vedic:''' [[Aditi]]
----
'''Itihasa-Puranic:''' [[Brahma]]{{efn|The ''[[Rigveda]]'' mentions Daksha as one of the [[Adityas]] (son of goddess [[Aditi]]). According to the ''Puranas'', Daksha was born from Brahma and later reincarnated as the son of Prachetas and Marisha.}}
| mother = 
| children = '''Vedic:''' [[Aditi]]
----
'''Itihasa-Puranic:'''
{{unbulleted list|[[Svaha]], [[Khyati]], [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]], [[Aditi]], [[Diti]], [[Danu (Asura)|Danu]], [[Kadru]], [[Vinata]], [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]], [[Revati (nakshatra)|Revati]], [[Rati]] and other daughters|[[Haryashvas and Shabalashvas]] (sons)}}
| type = hindu
| affiliation = '''[[Vedism|Vedic]]:''' [[Adityas]]
----
'''[[Itihasa-Purana|Itihasa-Puranic]]:''' [[Prajapati#"Prajapati" as a title|Prajapati]], [[Manasaputra]]
| texts = [[Rigveda]], [[Brahmanas]], [[Taittiriya Samhita]], [[Ramayana]], [[Mahabharata]], [[Purana]]
}}

'''Daksha''' ({{langx|sa|दक्ष|lit=able, dexterous, or honest one}} {{IAST3|Dakṣa}},<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MW72Scan/2014/web/webtc1/index.php Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary]</ref>) is a Hindu god whose role underwent a significant transformation from [[Vedic mythology|''Vedic'']] to [[Itihasa-Purana|''Itihasa-Puranic'']] mythology. In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', Daksha is an ''[[Adityas|aditya]]'' and is associated with priestly skills.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=George M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&dq=daksha+god+of+rituals&pg=PA261 |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |date=2008-03-27 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 |pages=261 |language=en}}</ref> 

In the epics and [[Puranas|''Puranic'']] scriptures, he is a [[Mānasaputra|son]] of the creator-god [[Brahma]] and one of the ''[[Prajapati#"Prajapati" as a title|Prajapati]]'', the agents of creation, as well as a divine king-rishi. He is the father of many children, who became the progenitors of various creatures. According to one legend, a resentful Daksha conducted a [[Daksha yajna|yajna]] (fire-sacrifice), and deliberately did not invite his youngest daughter [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] and her husband [[Shiva]]. In the [[Linga Purana]], for insulting Shiva during this event, which caused Sati to self-immolate in fury, he was beheaded by [[Virabhadra]], a fearsome form of Shiva. He was later resurrected with the head of a goat. Many ''[[Purana]]s'' state that Daksha was reborn to [[Prachetas]] in another ''[[Manvantara]]'' (age of [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]]).

His iconography depicts him as a man with a stocky body and a handsome face or the head of a goat.

== Etymology and textual history==
The meaning of the word "Daksha" (दक्ष) is "able", "expert", "skillful" or "honest".<ref name = "N" >{{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Maneka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkW6hs1OjyEC&q=Daksa&pg=PA379|title=The Penguin Book of Hindu Names|date=1993|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-012841-3|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Monier-Williams|first1=Sir Monier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zUezTfym7CAC&q=Daksha|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages|last2=Leumann|first2=Ernst|last3=Cappeller|first3=Carl|date=1899|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House|isbn=978-81-208-3105-6|language=en}}</ref> According to the [[Bhagavata Purana]], Daksha got this name as he was expert in begetting children.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prabhupada|first=His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=voVOCgAAQBAJ&q=Dak%E1%B9%A3a+expert&pg=PT70|title=Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sixth Canto: Prescribed Duties for Mankind|date=1975-12-31|publisher=The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust|isbn=978-91-7149-639-3|language=en}}</ref> The word also means "fit", "energetic" and "fire".<ref name = "N" />  Daksha also has another name "Kan".<ref name = "VM" />

Daksha finds mentions in the ancient scripture ''[[Rigveda]]'' (2nd millennium BCE), where he is described as an [[Ādityas|Aditya]] ('son of the goddess [[Aditi]]') and specifically associated with the skilled actions of sacrificers.<ref name = "Rig">{{cite book|author=Stephanie Jamison|title=The Rigveda –– Earliest Religious Poetry of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LTRDwAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0190633394|page=44}}</ref> Later, in the ''[[Brahmanas]]'' (900 BCE - 700 BCE), he is identified with the creator deity [[Prajapati]].<ref name="Very well" >{{Cite book|last= Dowson|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PwsYAAAAYAAJ&q=Daksha|title=A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature|year=1870}}</ref><ref name = "Enc" >{{Cite book|last1=Coulter|first1=Charles Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&q=Daksha&pg=PA285|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|last2=Turner|first2=Patricia|date=2013-07-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-96390-3|language=en}}</ref> Key elements of Daksha including his yajna and ram head, which later became a key feature in the Puranic iconography, are first found in the ''[[Taittiriya Samhita]]'' version of the ''Yajur Veda''.<ref name="Very well" /><ref name = "good" >{{Cite book|last=Klostermaier|first=Klaus K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FB29DwAAQBAJ&q=Dak%E1%B9%A3a&pg=PT84|title=Hinduism: A Short History|date=2014-10-01|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-78074-680-7|language=en}}</ref> The epics—the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]''—also mention Daksha. Most of the stories about Daksha are found in the ''[[Puranas]]'' (3rd - 10th century CE).<ref name = "good" /><ref name="Enc"/>

==Legends==
[[File:Daksha-Prajapati.jpg|thumb|A sculpture of the goat-faced Daksha with his wife.]]
===Birth===
The epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes Daksha and his wife emerging from the right and left thumbs of the Hinduism creator god [[Brahma]] respectively.<ref name = "VM" /><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Coulter|first1=Charles Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&q=Sati|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|last2=Turner|first2=Patricia|date=2013-07-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-96390-3|language=en}}</ref> According to [[Matsya Purana]], Daksha, Dharma, Kamadeva, and Agni were born from Brahma's right thumb, chest, heart and eyebrows, respectively. According to many texts including the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Daksha is born twice—First as a [[Manasaputra]] (mind-created son) of Brahma and later, as a son of [[Prachetas]] and Marisha.<ref name = "VM" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Prabhupada|first=His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T4VOCgAAQBAJ&q=dak%E1%B9%A3a+yaj%C3%B1a&pg=PT1964|title=Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fourth Canto: The Creation of the Fourth Order|date=1974-12-31|publisher=The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust|isbn=978-91-7149-637-9|language=en}}</ref> In contrast to the later Puranic myths, the ''[[Rig Veda]]'' states that Daksha and the goddess [[Aditi]] emerge from one another, thus he is both her son and father.<ref name="Rig" />

===Consorts and children===
According to many Puranic scriptures, Daksha married [[Prasuti]] in his first birth and [[Asikni (goddess)|Asikni]] in his second birth.<ref name = "P" >{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvpjAAAAMAAJ&q=asikn%C4%AB+pras%C5%ABti|title=Purāṇam|date=2001|publisher=All-India Kasiraja Trust.|language=en}}</ref> Prasuti is described to be a daughter of [[Svayambhuva Manu]], with whom Daksha had 16, 24 or 60 daughters (depending upon the scriptural source).<ref name = "Enc" /><ref>''Vishnu Purana'', Vol-I, H.H. Willson. Book-I,Ch-#7, Page 109</ref><ref name=Wilkins>{{cite book|title=Hindu Mythology|last=Wilkins|first=W.J.|page=373|publisher=D.K. Printworld (P) Limited|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-246-0234-4|year=2003}}</ref> Asikni (also referred to as Panchajani and Virani) is the daughter of another Prajapati named Virana (or Panchajana). Daksha was delegated by Brahma to inhabit the world; he went on to create Gods, Sages, Asuras, Yakshas and Rakhashas from the mind but failed to be further successful.<ref name="VM" />{{Efn|Brahmanda Purana and Vayu Purana give a longer list of creations inc. plants, human beings, ghosts, serpents, deer, flesh-eating demons, and birds. Va. P. also mentions that Mahadeva had rebuked him, after the mind-created species failed to propagate.}} Upon a successful penance at the [[Vindhyas]], the god [[Vishnu]] granted Asikni as his wife and urged him to engage in sexual union.<ref name="VM">{{Cite encyclopedia|year=1975|title=Daksha|encyclopedia=Puranic Encyclopedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi|location=Delhi, India|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/193/mode/1up|last=Mani|first=Vettam|pages=193–194}}</ref><ref name=Maha>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b111.htm the Horse-sacrifice of the Prajapati Daksha] [[The Mahabharata]] translated by [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]] (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV. '''p. 317'''. “I am known by the name of [[Virabhadra]]’’ and I have sprung from the wrath of Rudra. This lady (who is my companion), and who is called Bhadrakali, hath sprung from the wrath of the goddess.”</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/17/stories/2006061708850500.htm |title=The Hindu : Kerala / Kannur News : Huge crowd at Kottiyur temple |website=www.hindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030606/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/17/stories/2006061708850500.htm |archive-date=1 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
====Sons====
{{Main articles|Haryashvas and Shabalashvas}}
[[File:Daksha was angry with Inter galactic traveller Narada, just because he taught good things to his sons. Narada travels o different galaxies with his thought power.jpg|thumb|left|Daksha (right) cursing Narada, an illustration from a 20th-century book.]]
According to the Puranas, Daksha and Asikni first produced five thousand sons, who were known as [[Haryashvas and Shabalashvas|Haryashvas]]. They were interested in populating the Earth but upon the advice of [[Narada]], took to discovering worldly affairs instead and never returned. Brahma to have consoled a grievous Daksa after this loss. Daksha and Asikni again produced another thousand sons ([[Haryashvas and Shabalashvas|Shabalashvas]]), who had similar intentions but were persuaded by Narada to the same results. An angry Daksha cursed Narada to be a perpetual wanderer.<ref name="VM" />

====Daughters====
{{Main|List of Daksha's daughters}}
The ''Puranic scriptures'' differ in the number of Daksha's daughters. They were married to different deities, sages and kings,  and became the progenitors of various kinds of creatures.<ref name = "VM" />

According to the ''Mahabharata ([[Harivamsa]])'', the ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'', ''[[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]]'' and the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'', Daksha fathered 60 daughters from Asikni:<ref name = "VM" />
{{bulleted list|10 of those daughters—Maruvati, Vasu, Jami, Lamba, Bhanu, Urjja, Sankalp, Mahurath, Sadhya, Vishva—were married to [[Yama (Hinduism)#Identification with Dharmadeva|Dharmadeva]], the god of [[Dharma]]|13 daughters—[[Aditi]], [[Diti]], [[Danu (Asura)|Danu]], [[Kashtha]], Arishta, [[Surasa]], [[Surabhi]], Tamra, [[Krodhavasha]], Sarama, Timi, Ira, Muni—were married to sage [[Kashyapa]]|27 daughters—[[Ashvini]], [[Bharani (star)|Bharani]], [[Krttika]], [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]], [[Mrigashīra|Mrigashira]], Tarakam or Ardra, [[Punarvasu]], [[Pushya]], [[Ashlesha]], Janakam or [[Magha (nakshatra)|Magha]], [[Nakshatra#List of Nakshatras|Phalguni]], [[Uttara Phalgunī|Uttarphalguni]], [[Hasta (nakshatra)|Hasta]], [[Chitra (nakshatra)|Chitra]], [[Svati]], [[Vishakha]], [[Anuradha (nakshatra)|Anuradha]], [[Jyeshtha (nakshatra)|Jyestha]], [[Mula (nakshatra)|Mula]],  [[Pūrva Ashādhā|Purvashadha]], [[Uttara Ashadha|Uttarasadha]], Srona or [[Shravana]], [[Dhanistha]] or [[Shatabhisha]], [[Abhijit (nakshatra)|Abhijit]] or Prachetas, [[Pūrva Bhādrapadā|Purvabhadrapada]], [[Uttara Bhādrapadā|Uttarabhadrapada]] and [[Revati (nakshatra)|Revati]]—were married to [[Chandra]], the god of the Moon and vegetation|4 were married to sage Arishtanemi(Taksharya Kashyap)-[[Vinata]], [[Kadru]], Patangi, Yamini|2 were married to sage Bahuputra|2 married sage [[Angiras]]|2 were married to Krisasva}}

The number of Daksha's daughters from Prasuti varies—24 daughters are mentioned in the ''Vishnu Purana'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Ramendra Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYlWAAAAMAAJ&q=daksa+prasuti|title=Aesthetic Enjoyment; Its Background in Philosophy and Medicine|date=1966|publisher=University of Calcutta|language=en}}</ref><ref name = "VM" /> while the ''[[Linga Purana]]'' and ''[[Padma Purana]]'' list 60 daughters.<ref name = "Ch" /> All of Prasuti's daughters represent the virtues of mind and body.<ref name = "Ch" >{{Cite book|last=Chawla|first=Janet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rbBojsB4u48C&q=Dak%E1%B9%A3a+Pras%C5%ABti&pg=RA1-PA142|title=Birth and Birthgivers: The Power Behind the Shame|date=2006|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-0938-0|language=en}}</ref> The names of these daughters and their spouse, according to the Vishnu Purana, are:
{{bulleted list|Sraddha, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Thushti, Pushti, Medha, Kriya, Buddhi, Lajja, Vapu, Shanti, Siddhi and Kirti married the god [[Yama (Hinduism)#Identification with Dharma|Dharmadeva]]
|[[Khyati]] married sage [[Bhrigu]]
|Sambhuti married sage [[Marichi]]
|Smriti married sage [[Angiras]]
|Priti married sage [[Pulastya]]
|Kshama married to sage [[Pulaha]]
|Sannati married sage [[Kratu]]
|[[Anasuya]] married sage [[Atri]]
|[[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Urjja]] married sage [[Vashishtha]]
|[[Svaha]] married [[Agni]], the god of fire
|Svadha married Kavi, a member of the class of [[Pitrs]]
|[[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] married [[Shiva]]}}
Along with these daughters, the goddess of love, [[Rati]], is also considered an offspring of Daksha. The ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' and ''[[Kalika Purana]]'' narrate that she emerged from the sweat of Daksha after he was asked by Brahma to present a wife to the love god [[Kamadeva|Kama]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mani |first1=Vettam |title=Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature |date=1975 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0 |page=645 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IAwRAQAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref>

===Cursing Chandra===
The ''Puranas'' portray Daksha as being responsible for the waning and waxing of the Moon. The moon god [[Chandra]] married twenty-seven daughters of Daksha, who represents the twenty-seven [[Nakshatras]] (or constellations). Among them, Chandra favoured [[Rohini (goddess)|Rohini]] and spent most of his time with her. The other 26 sisters became jealous and complained to their father. Daksha initially tried to persuade Chandra, but after seeing his efforts fruitless, he cursed the lunar deity to become ill and lose his brightness. Since Chandra was also the god of vegetation, the vegetation began to die. The [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] pacified Daksha, and upon their request, he told Chandra that he would suffer from his illness each fortnight and recover from it gradually. This leads to the waning and waxing of the moon each month.<ref name = "VM" /> In another version, it was the god [[Shiva]] (Sati's husband) who partially cured Chandra's illness.<ref name=dalal393>{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA393| year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=393–394}}</ref>

===Daksha Yajna===
{{main|Daksha yajna}}
[[File:Daksha yagna.jpg|thumb|Daksha insults Shiva while arguing with Sati.]]

The [[Daksha Yajna]] is regarded as an important turning point in the creation and development of a number of sects in Hinduism. The story describes the circumstances that replaced [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] with [[Parvati]] as Shiva's consort and later led to the story of [[Ganesha]] and [[Kartikeya]].

One of the daughters of Daksha, often said to be the youngest, was Sati, who had always wished to marry Shiva. Daksha forbade it, but later reluctantly allowed her and she married Shiva.

Once, Daksha organised the Brihaspatistava [[Yajna]] and intentionally did not invite Shiva and Sati. Even though discouraged by Shiva, who told her not to go to a ceremony performed by Daksha where her husband and she were not invited, the parental bond made Sati ignore social etiquette and her husband's wishes. Sati went to the ceremony alone. She was snubbed by Daksha and insulted by him in front of the guests. Sati, unable to bear further insult, ran into the sacrificial fire and immolated herself.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Omesh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8rTDwAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+sati+shiva&pg=PA199 |title=History of Ancient India Revisited, A Vedic-Puranic View. |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=BlueRose Publishers |pages=199 |language=en}}</ref> Shiva, upon learning about the terrible incident, in his wrath invoked [[Virabhadra]] and [[Bhadrakali]] by plucking a lock of hair and thrashing it on the ground. Virabhadra and the [[Bhutagana|bhutaganas]] marched south and destroyed all the premises. Daksha was decapitated, and the site of the ritual was devastated during the rampage.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Omesh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8rTDwAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+sati+shiva&pg=PA199 |title=History of Ancient India Revisited, A Vedic-Puranic View. |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=BlueRose Publishers |pages=200 |language=en}}</ref> [[Bhrigu]], the chief priest of the Yajna, invoked the Ribhus to fight the Ganas, but the former was tied to a pillar and his beard was forcibly plucked off. According to [[Horace Hayman Wilson]], Vahni's hands were cut, [[Bhaga]]'s eyes were plucked out, [[Pushan|Pusha]] had broken teeth, [[Yama]]'s mace was broken, Goddesses' noses were cut, [[Soma (deity)|Soma]] was pummelled, while [[Yajneshwara]], the [[Indra]] of Swayambhuva [[Manvantara]], tried to escape in the form of a deer, but was decapitated. Daksha also tried to escape, but Virabhadra held him and cut off his head (some legends say that he plucked off Daksha's head with his own hands). The head was thrown to the fire, and Virabhadra returned to [[Kailasa]], along with his hordes.

Later, Shiva was pacified. He forgave Daksha and resurrected him, but with a goat's head.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=O'Flaherty |first1=Wendy Doniger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7mBwsmp-g0C&dq=daksha+goat+head&pg=PA99 |title=Other Peoples' Myths: The Cave of Echoes |last2=Doniger |first2=Wendy |date=November 1995 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-61857-9 |pages=99 |language=en}}</ref> Bhrigu and the others were restored their respective parts. With Vishnu as the chief priest, Daksha offered a share of the oblations to Shiva, and the sacrifice was successfully completed.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hinduism}}
*[[Prajapati]]
*[[Adityas]]
*[[Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam|Kottiyoor]], [[Kankhal]], [[Draksharama]]
*''[[Dakshayagnam (1962 film)|Dakshayagnam (film)]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Anna Dhallapiccola, ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}})

==Explanatory notes==
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Daksha}}
*[[s:The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXV|Lineage of Daksha, The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXV]]

{{HinduMythology}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Creator gods]]
[[Category:Prajapatis]]
[[Category:Adityas]]