Diti
Diti is the daughter of Daksha Prajāpati and one of the thirteen wives of Kaśyapa Mahāṛshi. The Daityas, the asuras who stood against the devas, take their name from her. She is the mother of Hiraṇyakaśipu, Hiraṇyāksha and the Marudgaṇas, and through Hiraṇyakaśipu she is the grandmother of Prahlāda.
In the sixth Skanda of the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Diti is a grieving and determined mother. After her sons were killed, she served Kaśyapa with great devotion until he offered her a vara (a boon). She asked for a son who would kill Indra, and she took up the year-long Puṃsavana Vrata. The power of the worship inside that vrata (sacred vow) protected the child she carried. Indra cut the child into forty-nine pieces in the womb, but all of them lived and became the forty-nine Marudgaṇas, companions of Indra who were accepted among the devas.
Lineage and family
Diti is one of the sixty daughters of Daksha Prajāpati and Asikni. She was given in marriage to Kaśyapa Prajāpati, who is also known as Tārkshya.
Kaśyapa had thirteen wives: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kāshṭhā, Arishṭā, Surāsā, Ilā, Muni, Krodhavaśā, Tāmrā, Surabhī, Saramā and Timi.
From Diti the Daitya line was born. They became the chief asura enemies of the devas. Her most famous sons were Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was killed by Bhagavān Narasiṃha, and Hiraṇyāksha, who was killed by Bhagavān Varāha in the third Skanda.
Hiraṇyāksha’s sons
Hiraṇyāksha had nine sons, who were Diti’s grandsons. After their father died, Hiraṇyakaśipu comforted them. Their names are:
- Śakunī
- Śambara
- Dhṛshṭa
- Bhūtasantāpana
- Vṛka
- Kālanābha
- Mahānābha
- Hariśmaśru
- Utkaṭa
Their mother was Rushābhānū. Hiraṇyakaśipu also comforted her, teaching her that the ātmā (the self) can never be destroyed. This is told in the sixth Skanda, Chapter 6, and the seventh Skanda, Chapter 2, of the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa.
Grief and resolve
Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyāksha were both killed through the action of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Diti was filled with grief and anger. She thought: “Indra killed my sons for the sake of this body, which will not last. A person who harms others for the sake of a body that is itself impermanent does not know the purpose of life. Only naraka (hell) waits for such a person. He walks proudly and thinks the body is permanent. How can I humble his pride?”
She decided to win a vara from her husband. She served Kaśyapa Mahāṛshi with great devotion. She spoke sweetly, smiled gently and honoured him in every way. Kaśyapa was moved. He saw that from the beginning of creation Brahmā had given women the power to win over even the wisest men. He said the fault was his own and not Diti’s, because he lacked viveka (clear discernment) and indriya-jaya (control of the senses). This is told in the sixth Skanda, Chapter 18.
The vara and the Puṃsavana Vrata
Kaśyapa was pleased with Diti’s service and offered her a vara. She said: “O Mahāṛshi, Indra killed my two sons. I ask for a son who will kill Indra, and who will not die.”
Kaśyapa knew that a vara freely given could not be taken back. He told her to keep the year-long Puṃsavana Vrata. This vrata is a full set of rules for rites, conduct, food and devotion. Its main practice was the daily worship of the cows, the knowers of the Veda, Bhagavatī Lakshmī and Bhagavān Śrī Hari. This is told in the sixth Skanda, Chapter 18.
The vrata and its result
Diti kept the vrata with complete sincerity. Indra learned of her plan. Every day he came to her āśrama (hermitage) in the form of a devoted servant. He brought flowers, fruits, samidhas (sticks for the fire), darbha grass, leaves and water. All the while he watched in secret for any fault in her practice. For nearly eleven months he found none.
After that time Diti was tired. At sandhyā (twilight) she fell asleep without washing her face, hands and feet. This broke one of the rules of the vrata. Indra entered her womb in his subtle body and cut the child into forty-nine pieces with his Vajra. None of the pieces died, because the power of worship of Bhagavān Śrī Hari protected them completely.
When Diti woke, she saw forty-nine shining Marudgaṇas standing before her with Indra. She was full of joy. Indra told her what he had done. He spoke of the protecting power of Bhagavān Śrī Hari, asked her pardon, and was kindly forgiven.
Diti had wanted a son to destroy Indra. By the inner power of the vrata, that wish became forty-nine sons who were Indra’s brothers and companions. This is told in the sixth Skanda, Chapters 18 and 19.
Her nature in the account
The account shows Diti as a mother of deep grief, firm will and great devotion to her husband, who in the end forgave Indra. Her wish to see Indra killed was not hidden. Kaśyapa knew of it and still gave the vara. Yet the sincere bhakti (devotion) in the Puṃsavana Vrata changed the result. It gave her companions for Indra and not his killer.
Sources
- Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 6th Skanda, Chapters 18–19
- Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 6th Skanda, Chapter 6, and 7th Skanda, Chapter 2
- Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 7