Ashok Sundari, daughter of Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva’s daughter was named Ashok Sundari. However, Mahadev also had other daughters who were considered Nagakanyas—Jaya, Vishhara, Shamilbari, Deva, and Dotali. Ashok Sundari is said to be the daughter of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and is therefore the sister of Lord Ganesha. She was married to King Nahusha.

She is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. She is younger than Lord Kartikeya, but older than Ganesha, Manasa Devi, Goddess Jyoti, and Lord Ayyappa. Maharishi Jaratkaru and the Ashwini Kumar Nasatya are her brothers-in-law. Maharishi is the aunt of Astik. Devasena is the sister-in-law of Valli and Riddhi, Siddhi and Santoshi Mata is the aunt of Kshema and Labh.

According to the Padma Purana, Ashok Sundari is a celestial maiden. She was created by the Kalpavriksha tree to alleviate the loneliness of Goddess Parvati. Once, Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to visit the most beautiful garden in the world. Lord Shiva then took his wife Parvati to Nandanvan. There, Parvati became attached to the Kalpavriksha tree and brought it to Kailash.

The Kalpavriksha is a wish-fulfilling tree. To alleviate her loneliness, Parvati asked the tree for a daughter. A daughter was then born from the Kalpavriksha. The girl was born to remove the loneliness of Mother Parvati, hence she was named Ashok and the girl was very beautiful to look at, hence she was named Ashok Sundari. Mother Parvati blessed Ashok Sundari that she would marry a powerful young man like Devraj Indra.

As a result of this boon, Ashok Sundari was once wandering in Nandanvan with her maids when a demon named Hunda arrived there. He was captivated by Ashok Sundari’s beauty and proposed marriage to her.

But Ashok Sundari revealed her boon and vowed to marry Nahusha. Hearing this, the demon vowed to kill Nahusha. Hearing this, Ashok Sundari cursed the demon, “Go away, you evil one, your death will be at the hands of Nahusha.” Hearing this, the demon became frightened. He then kidnapped Prince Nahusha. However, Nahusha was saved by a maidservant of the demon Hunda.

Thus, Nahusha grew up in the ashram of the sage Vashistha and killed Hunda. Nahusha and Ashok Sundari were then married. After their marriage, Ashok Sundari gave birth to a brave son, Yayati, and a hundred beautiful daughters. Yayati was one of the Chakravarti emperors of India, and his five sons ruled over all of India. His five sons were: 1. Puru, 2. Yadu, 3. Turvas, 4. Anu, and 5. Druhyu. They are referred to as the Panchanandas in the Vedas.