Danava (Hinduism)

In Hindu mythology, the Dānavas were a race descending from Dakṣa.

This article is about Hindu mythology. For the American heavy metal band, see Danava (band).

Kuvalayavaswa slew the Danavas

They were the sons of Danu, the daughter of Dakṣa. Danu is connected with the waters of the heavens and is likely associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to creation. The name is connected with the PIE root *danu, "river" or "any flowing liquid."

Under the leadership of Bali[1] and others, the Dānavas revolted against the Devas.[2] Despite initial successes, the Dānavas were defeated by the god Vāmana who managed to deceive Bali.[3]

The Dānavas were not considered to be universally evil and individual Dānava may be aligned with good or evil.

See also

Notes
  1. Rose, Carol (2000) Giants, Monsters, and Dragons: An Encyclopedia of Folklore, Legend, and Myth ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, CA, p. 94 ISBN 0-87436-988-6;
  2. Monro, W. D. (1911). Stories of Indian Gods & Heroes. London: Harrap (Unwin). p. ?.
  3. Williams, George Mason (2003). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-57607-106-9.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.