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Da Avabhasa See ADI DA SAMRAJ.

Daksha

Daksha is a RISHI, best known as the father-in-law

of SHIVA. He is the son of the god BRAHMA and

father of Shiva’s first wife, SAT I.

Daksha is best known for the events surround-

ing a Vedic sacrifice that he sponsored without

inviting Shiva. When Sati found out that this

special sacrifice was going to take place, she con-

fronted her father. He replied with verbal abuse,

which resulted in her death, because of a curse that

had been placed on him. When Shiva heard, he (or

his creation Virabhadra) cut off Daksha’s head and

destroyed the sacrificial grounds. Daksha was later

restored to life, with the head of a ram.

In the epic and PURANIC literature, Daksha

the rishi frequently appears in different cycles of

creation. He is said to have had 50 daughters, 13

of whom were married to the rishi Kashyapa. His

daughter Svaha was married to AGNI, god of fire;

Sati was married to Shiva; and the 27 remaining

daughters were married to the god of the Moon,

CHANDRA, and are identified with the lunar aster-

isms, stars that are seen to be astrologically related

to the Moon.

As a Vedic divinity Daksha is listed as one of

the ADITYAS—SONS OF ADITI—although he is some-

times said to be Aditi’s father. Thus, in some Vedic

literature he is considered to be the grandfather

of the gods and the asuras (antigods or demons),

who are all brothers in Vedic literature. (See

DEMONIC BEINGS; VEDAS.)

Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van

Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the

Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University

Press, 1978); Stella Kramrisch, The Presence of Siva

(Princeton, N.J. Princeton University Press, 1981).

Dakshineshwar See RAMAKRISHNA, SRI.

dana

Since ancient times dana (giving, charity, or liberal-

ity) has been an important aspect of good conduct

(DHARMA). The DHARMASHASTRA of MANU states that

in this era of decline (KALI YUGA), dana is the most

important virtue, compared to past ages, when

TA PA S (spiritual power, knowledge, or the Vedic

sacrifice) was paramount. The text prescribes dana

as an important duty for all the three upper (twice-

D