Introduction
Daksha, "the able one", is one of the Prajapatis, the progenitors of living beings. In the Puranas he is the father of dozens of daughters, who became the wives of Kashyapa, Dharma, Chandra and Shiva, and so the mothers of gods, demons, animals and stars. He is best remembered for the story of his sacrifice, in which his daughter Sati died and Shiva destroyed the ritual.
The Prajapatis, "lords of creatures", are the progenitors of living beings in Hindu tradition. The Bhagavata Purana names ten sons of Brahma, born from his mind (the Manasaputras): Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasishtha, Daksha and Narada.
Family
- Father: Brahma
- Siblings: Marichi, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasistha, Narada, Atri
- Daughters: Aditi, Diti, Vinata, Kadru
In the Vedas
In the Rigveda, Daksha is one of the Adityas and a creative power. A famous verse says that Daksha was born from Aditi, and Aditi from Daksha, a riddle about the mutual origin of creator and creation.
In the Puranas
The Puranas make Daksha a son of Brahma, born from his right thumb in the Bhagavata Purana, and a father of many daughters. The number varies in different texts. The best-known accounts say that:
- thirteen daughters were married to Kashyapa, and became the mothers of the gods (Aditi), the Daityas (Diti), the Danavas (Danu), the serpents (Kadru), the birds (Vinata) and other creatures
- thirteen or ten were given to Dharma
- twenty-seven were given to the moon god Chandra, and are the lunar mansions (nakshatras)
- Sati was given to Shiva.
Daksha's sacrifice
Daksha held a great sacrifice and did not invite Shiva, his son-in-law, whom he despised. Sati came uninvited, and at the sacrifice her father insulted Shiva. Unable to bear it, Sati gave up her life, by yogic fire in the Puranic tradition. When Shiva heard, he was furious, and from a lock of his hair created the fierce Virabhadra, who, with Bhadrakali and the Ganas, destroyed the sacrifice, and cut off Daksha's head. Other gods were injured: Pushan lost his teeth, and Bhaga his eyes.
At the request of the gods, Shiva forgave Daksha and restored the sacrifice. Daksha's head had been burned, so he was given the head of a goat. He praised Shiva and completed the sacrifice.
Sati's body and the Shakti Peethas
According to a related tradition, Shiva carried the body of Sati around the world in grief, until Vishnu cut it into pieces with his discus, which fell in different places. These places are the Shakti Peethas, sacred to the Goddess, traditionally numbered 51. Sati was then reborn as Parvati.
Later life
The Vishnu Purana says that Daksha was born again as the son of the Pracetasas, and that he then created living beings through sexual union, unlike his earlier creation by mind.
Places
The Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in Kankhal near Haridwar is traditionally said to be the site of the sacrifice.
Meaning
The story is often read as a teaching about pride and ritual without devotion, and about the supremacy of Shiva. In Shaiva tradition it establishes Shiva's place among the gods who receive a share of offerings.