Daitya

In Hindism, the Daityas (Sanskrit: दैत्य) are a clan or race of Asura as are the Danavas. Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the Devas because they were jealous of their Deva half-brothers. The female Daityas are described as wearing jewelry the size of boulders. Manu Smriti (XII - 48) classifies Daityas as ones possessing the quality of goodness but places them at a level lower than Gods: "Hermits, ascetics, Brahmanas, the crowds of the Vaimanika deities, the lunar mansions, and the Daityas (form) the first (and lowest rank of the) existences caused by Goodness."

List of daityas

Some of the notable daityas mentioned in the Indian mythology include:

• Hiranyaksha - eldest son of Kashyapa and Diti
• Hiranyakashipu - second son of Kashyapa and Diti
• Holika or Sinhika - daughter of Kashyapa and Diti
• Prahlada - son of Hiranyakashipu
• Virochana - son of Prahlada, father of Bali
• Devamba - mother of Bali
• Bali - son of Virochana
• Banasura - son of Bali
• Kaikesi- Mother of Ravana

See also

• Danavas
• Kalakeyas
• Nivatakavacha
• Asura
• List of Asuras
• Exotic tribes of ancient India

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola