Daksha - The Prajapati
दक्ष्
Daksha is another of the many Mansaputras (wish-born-sons) of Brahma, though according to some sources he is born to Brahma and Aditi. (Aditi is the wife of Kashyapa according to most traditions.) According to the Rig Veda, Daksha is one of the Adityas.
With his wife Prasuti (the grand-daughter of the sage Manu) , he is the father of the twenty-seven plaiedes, all of whom were married to Chandra. He cursed his son-in-law when he found that despite his promise of equal treatment, he had continued to favor Rohini over all the others. According to this curse, Chandra (moon) goes through periodic waxing and waning of his lusture, of which he was inordinately proud. This is the popular explanation for the phases of the moon.
He is also the father of Sati, who married Shiva against his wishes. Daksha attempted to insult Shiva by performing a sacrifice and omitting to invite Shiva. His daughter wanted very much to attend the sacrifice. Ignoring the advice of her husband, she went uninvited to the sacrifice, where she had to endure many insults. At last, when Daksha started insulting her husband, she could not bear it any longer and immolated herself in the sacrificial fire.
When Shiva heard of his wife's death, he became exceedingly wroth and attacked the guests at this sacrifice. He danced his dance of vengence and destruction, wearing the dead body of his wife as his ornament, and ended up by decapitating Daksha. Some say that he later forgave Daksha and brought him back to life, although he gave him a goat's head instead of his own. This story can be found here.
Rati, the wife of Kama (the god of love) is also one his daughters.
दक्ष्
Daksha is another of the many Mansaputras (wish-born-sons) of Brahma, though according to some sources he is born to Brahma and Aditi. (Aditi is the wife of Kashyapa according to most traditions.) According to the Rig Veda, Daksha is one of the Adityas.
With his wife Prasuti (the grand-daughter of the sage Manu) , he is the father of the twenty-seven plaiedes, all of whom were married to Chandra. He cursed his son-in-law when he found that despite his promise of equal treatment, he had continued to favor Rohini over all the others. According to this curse, Chandra (moon) goes through periodic waxing and waning of his lusture, of which he was inordinately proud. This is the popular explanation for the phases of the moon.
He is also the father of Sati, who married Shiva against his wishes. Daksha attempted to insult Shiva by performing a sacrifice and omitting to invite Shiva. His daughter wanted very much to attend the sacrifice. Ignoring the advice of her husband, she went uninvited to the sacrifice, where she had to endure many insults. At last, when Daksha started insulting her husband, she could not bear it any longer and immolated herself in the sacrificial fire.
When Shiva heard of his wife's death, he became exceedingly wroth and attacked the guests at this sacrifice. He danced his dance of vengence and destruction, wearing the dead body of his wife as his ornament, and ended up by decapitating Daksha. Some say that he later forgave Daksha and brought him back to life, although he gave him a goat's head instead of his own. This story can be found here.
Rati, the wife of Kama (the god of love) is also one his daughters.
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