Daksha
The Great Progenitor
One of Brahma's mind-born sons, a Prajapati whose many daughters became the mothers of gods and demons. His famous yajna changed the story of Shiva and Sati forever.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: దక్ష ప్రజాపతి
- Also known as: Daksha Prajapati
- Symbols: Yajna fire, Goat head
Story
Daksha was born straight from Brahma's mind, which is why he is called a "mind-born" son - no mother needed! As a Prajapati, his job was to help populate the whole universe, and his many daughters married sages and gods; in many tellings, Aditi and Diti married the sage Kashyapa. But Daksha is best remembered for one enormous mistake. He held a grand yajna (fire ceremony) and invited every god except his own son-in-law, Shiva, because he thought Shiva was too wild and strange. His daughter Sati went anyway, was humiliated, and gave up her body in sorrow. Shiva's grief shook the universe, and his fierce attendant Virabhadra destroyed the yajna. In many tellings, Daksha's head was replaced with a goat's head when he was forgiven and brought back to life - a lesson Telugu grandmothers love to tell about the danger of pride.
Fun fact
After the yajna disaster, Daksha was revived with a goat's head - so pictures of him often show a man with a bearded goat face humbly folding his hands to Shiva.