As you know, lord Shiva is a prime and powerful god in Hinduism. Being a part of the holy trinity, he is said to be the lord of destruction. Lord Shiva is a strong pillar in the tapestry of Hindu mythology. Devotees admire, praise and honor him for his unwavering role in the Hindu stories, where he stands for justice and defeats evil.
Even though there is the belief that he is self-born, people also believe that he was born from lord Brahma without any biological means. He is known by many names in different regions like Mahadeva, Bhairava, Bhole Nath, Pashupati, Vishwanath, and more.
Do you know lord Shiva is a family man? This blog will help you learn more about the daughters of lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva as a Family Man
Being signified and adorned in various ways like moon, ash, serpent, and more, lord Shiva is a personification of meditation. The major highlight of lord Shiva’s family is his divine union with the goddess Parvati, the incarnation of Sati. Lord Shiva was impressed by her unflattering devotion towards him. Their marriage exemplifies the divine union of feminine and masculine energies and principles. The union of lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati symbolizes the importance of companionship and partnership. Lord Shiva’s lessons always encourage and teach the devotees to face challenges and find inner peace in the family.
But as you know, goddess Parvati is always believed to be beside lord Shiva with their sons, lord Ganesha and lord Karthikeyan. However, people are less aware of the daughters of lord Shiva.
3 Daughters of Lord Shiva and Their Significance
Bala Tripura Sundari or Ashoka Sundari
Even though known little, Bala Tripura Sundari, also known as Ashoka Sundari is one of the prime goddesses in Hindu mythology. She is one of the daughters of the god Shiva and goddess Parvati.
The story of Ashoka Sundari starts in this way. Even though they had two sons, Goddess Parvati wished for a daughter from the Kalpavriksha, a wish-fulfilling tree. She represents grace and beauty.
According to certain legends, goddess Parvati was grieving and going through a significant loss due to her son Karthikeya's departure from Kailash. It is said that once, Parvati requested lord Shiva to visit the impeccable garden. Accepting her request, he took her to the garden of Nandanvana, where she gazed at Kalpavriksha, the tree of desires. As a solution for her grief, the magical tree granted her a wish. That’s how Ashokasundari was born.
Gujaratis revere the goddess Ashoka Sundari, who is renowned for her beauty. It is said that she was present when lord Shiva lifted off lord Ganesa's head.
Jyoti
Jyothi, the goddess of light is said to be the daughter of lord Shiva. She was close to her brother, lord Muruga, son of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. She is said to have some myths and legends to her name. As per Hindu mythologies, the goddess Jyothi was born from the spark of the goddess Parvati and used her to create a weapon called Shakti vel. The weapon is given to her son, Muruga, through which he defeats the demon Surapadman.
Due to this story, people believe there is a formless existence of the goddess Jyothi in the temple of lord Muruga. You may be familiar with Lord Nataraja, an avatar of Lord Shiva. He is said to be her father and the torch he holds represents Jyothi.
Manasa
Unlike the daughters mentioned above, the story of Manasa is a bit different and exceptional. The fascinating deity of the snake family is said to be Manasa, the daughter of lord Shiva. Based on the Hindu Puranas, the serpent Kadru gave birth to Manasa due to lord Shiva's touch.
She is a famous and one of the prime Bengali goddesses, embellished with snakes. Goddess Manasa is depicted as seated on a lotus or resting on another snake. Even though she is considered passionate and solicitous towards her devotees, people are also aware of her horrible temper and anger. The rejection she faced from her husband, Lord Shiva, and stepmother, Goddess Parvati, is connected to her anger.
Read more: 5 Healing and Spiritual Benefits of Having Shiva Statue in your HouseIs Goddess Kali, the daughter of Lord Shiva?
Unlike these daughters, goddess Kali is the fearful aspect of goddess Parvati. She depicts the unwavering manifestation and anger of divine energy. Wearing a necklace of skulls and a sword in her hand, the appearance of the goddess Kali is fearful. She is known for destroying negativity and welcoming new beginnings and positivity. So, some devotees consider this aggressive warrior to be the daughter of lord Shiva.
Read more: Story of Goddess Kali- A Transcendent Deity
Final Words
Even though the daughters of lord Shiva are known and praised little, they have a significant and unflattering role in diverse attributes of Hindu mythologies and tales. The captivating beauty of Ashokasundari, the temper of Manasa, and Jyothi being the weapon for lord Muruga maintain the cosmic balance of creation, preservation and destruction.
Knowing these stories and tales, the devotees come closer to lord Shiva with enhanced admiration. His family, including his consort Parvati, sons- lord Ganesha and Karthikeya, and daughters are always a lesson to navigate the complexities of life. Due to this, people never fail to praise these deities. Devotees place their idols in these deities in the house, conduct the rituals and commemorate festivals such as Maha Shivaratri.
