The Daityas are a race or clan of Asura along with the Danavas as per the Vishnu Puranas. The revered Vedic Sage Kashyapa and the earth goddess Diti were their father and mother. Their half-brothers were the Devas with whom they were jealous and hence fought against them. The Daityas are classified by the Manusmrti as those possessing good qualities. However, as compared to the Devas they are placed at a lower level according to Manusmriti, the Hindu legal text. Daityas as described as members of a race or clan of giants, in Hindu mythology. These giants were kind-hearted divine beings or half-brothers of the Devas. Female Daityas are described as wearing boulder-sized jewelry.
The Daityas felt jealous about the Devas and hence they are described sometimes as giant evil spirits or demons. Varuni, the wine goddess was rejected by the Asuras (the divine beings called demons), however she was accepted by the Suras (the divine, benevolent wise beings). It was for this reason that they were termed as Asuras (divine beings who are demons).
Another theory states that the gods were defeated by the Daityas during the first era. The gods approached Brahma who advised them to meet sage Rishi who gave them a club-like weapon (Vahra). The gods defeated the Daityas with this weapon after which Indra sent the Daityas to the underworld (the lowest realm called patalaloka). Sometimes, the Daityas are also known as Indraris, Daiteys, Ditisutas, Devaris, Suradvits, Devaripus, Sukrasisyas, Ditijas and Purvadevas. Just like the Danavas, it is believed that the Daityas took refuge in by the sea and in the Vindhya mountains after being exiled originally, from heaven by the Devas.
