The Purana Index v2.c7.s2.397

v2.c7.s2.397

Diti (1)—a daughter of Dakṣa, and wife of Kaśyapa.¹ Her sons generally known as Daityas. Mother of Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu.² Mother of Dantavaktra by the sage's curse.³ Her sons Prahlāda and Hari were devotees of Hari.⁴ Always set her mind on truth;⁵ daughter Simhikā;⁵ᵃ (Ādity-Vā. P.). Finding her sons slain by Hari to help Indra, she became enraged, and asked her husband to bless her with a child to kill Indra. The unwilling husband offered it on condition of her observing certain vows for 100 years. So she observed them and Indra came to assist her. One day he found her sleeping in an unorthodox posture and entering her womb cut the embryo into seven and then into 49 pieces; but at her request he gave all of them the status of gods, known as Maruts.⁶ Impelled by passion and desire for children she approached her husband one evening for sexual intercourse. Kaśyapa said that it was the hour when Śivagaṇas moved about and for him, to offer the Sandhya-prayer. But she persisted and gained her object. She however requested to be redeemed of the sin. Kaśyapa remarked that since she approached him at the wrong time, her sons would have paiśāca-character and would be killed by Hari. For her penitence she was blessed with a righteous child among her grandsons⁷. Held the tejas in embryo for a hundred years when darkness enveloped all directions. The two door-keepers of Vaikuṇṭha cursed by seers for preventing them from having darsan of Hari were born as her two sons, when there were evil omens⁸. Prayed for another son. This was Vajrāṅga who on his birth according to her orders bound Indra. The latter was released on the mediation of Brahmā and Kaśyapa⁹. Mother of Daityas, a Mother Goddess to be worshipped in house and palace buildings¹⁰. Yoganidrā addressed as,¹¹ sons of, in the seventh talam or Pātālam¹².