Hindu Mythology

Lesson 2: Introduction II

Descendents of Manu

Manu and Ananti had two sons, Priyavrata and Uttanapada and three daughters, Aahuti, Aarushi and Prasuti. Aahuti married the sage Ruchi and Aarushi married the sage Chyavana. Prasuti is said to have married a descendent of her brother Uttanapada, through whom the family was propagated. Uttanapada's son Prachinvarhi married Savarna, the daughter of the oceans. They produced ten offspring, all males, who were collectively known as the Prachetas. The Prachetas married Marisha. This was the first case of polyandry in Hindu mythology. Daksha was the son of the Prachetas and Marisha. Daksha was actually a son of Brahma produced from the right side of his body using ascetic powers. Because he had committed a sin he was ordered to live one life as a mortal and was born as the son of the Prachetas and Marisha.

There is considerable variation on Daksha's wife. Different sources have different stories to tell. Some say that he married Panchajani. Others say that his wife was Asukli, the daughter of Virana. Yet others say that he married Prasuti, the daughter of Manu and Shatrupa. Daksha produced a thousand sons called Haryashvas and he asked them to populate the world. At this stage, the sage Narada intervened. He asked the Haryashvas to explore the world and search for places to settle in. The Haryashvas set out, never to return. Daksha then produced another thousand sons, called Shavalas. They met the same fate as their brothers.

Then a set of daughters was born to Daksha and Prasuti. Thirteen got married to the sage Kashyap. Their names were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasha, Ira, Kadru, Vishva and Muni. Sage Marichi using his mental powers had created sage Kashyap. Brahma had likewise created sage Marichi.

Aditi's sons were known as Adityas. These were the demi-Gods of Indian mythology. Indra was the most important among them. Some of the demi-Gods such as the Sun and Moon gods are in some sources not amongst the children of Kashyap and Aditi, but have alternate tales of birth. Many of Daksha's other daughters were later married to some of his grandsons, the demi-Gods.

Diti's sons were the Daityas or the Demons Hiranyakshipu and Hiranyaksha. It is said that Aditi was the paragon of sweetness and hence her children were virtuous and noble. Whereas Diti was shrewish, so her children were evil. Hiranyakshipu and Hiranyaksha continued the family of demons. Of prominence are Hiranyakshipu's children. His sons were Prahlada, Anuhlada, Samhlada and Hlada.

Surprisingly Prahlada was a virtuous and religious person. Perhaps this was to demonstrate that goodness and evil are not hereditary. When Vishnu killed Hiranyakshipu in his Narsimha Avatar (Lion-Man Incarnation) Prahlada succeeded to the throne. But Prahlada's son Virochana, Virochana's son Vali and Vali's son Vanasura showed true demon characteristics. Hiranyaksha was killed by another incarnation of Vishnu.

Danu, Kashyap's third wife had a hundred sons known as Danavas. This was another clan of Demons. Chief among the hundred sons was Viprachitti. Maya, the architect of the demons was descended from this line.

Tamra had six daughters who began the lines of various animals and birds. Vinata was the progenitor of bird deities among who were Garuda and Jatayu. Surabhi was the mother of cows and buffaloes, Surasa and Kadru of snakes and Ira of trees. Muni is said to be the mother of the Apsaras or divine maidens whereas Arishta mothered the Gangharvas who were the custodians of music and dancing. Krodhavasha was the mother of another set of Demons called the Rakshasas while Vishva was the mother of the Yakshas, a clan of the demi-Gods.

Like all myths there are several versions of these. The purpose here is to outline the relationships so that in subsequent discussions there is clarity as to who is who. Hence only a simple version is being presented.

Optional Exercises

3a. Draw a family tree to trace the lineage from Manu to the demi-Gods and the Demons.

3b. As we shall see later, the demi-Gods achieved immortality, whereas the Demons were mortal. Diti wished for a son who would slay Indra and almost succeeded. Read about this myth in page 91 from ‘Hindu Myths’.

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