In Hindu mythology, the danavas are a race descending from Kashyapa and his wife Danu, a daughter of the progenitor god, Daksha.

[2] The danavas are a mythological race of asuras, the half-brothers to the devas and daityas that are found in a range of Hindu texts.

However, historically, their role in Hinduism is varied and at times, the distinction between the danavas and Hindu deities is complex and they are difficult to distinguish from one another.

One son, Marichi, fathered Kashyapa, who married thirteen of Daksha's daughters, including Diti and Danu.

The names of danavas and the daityas are irregularly found and depicted throughout early Vedic literature such as the Rig Veda along with the Mahabharata.

[9] Despite their extensive role in certain texts, there are not many examples of the physical characteristics of the danavas in their own right or even in conjunction with devas in literature and art.

O'Flaherty and Doniger state that in later literature like the Mahabharata, these beings are slowly considered a part of "... two separate castes; each has his own job to do – the gods to encourage sacrifice, the demons to destroy it – but there is no immorality in the demons; they are merely doing their job, a destructive one..."[10] While, in the earlier Vedic period, themes of caste-based structures of worship were not prominent.

Particularly, in the first chapter of the Natyashastra, the danavas freeze and stop the performance of the dancers during an important event dedicated to the Hindu deities.

Angering the deities, the danavas are attacked and defeated by Indra and an enclosed, safe dance arena is created for the dancers.

Brahma advises the danavas that dance drama allows participants and viewers to become divine or a part of the gods in unison.

After Arjuna and Vaisampayana discuss what should be built, Krishna advised Maya to build a godlike palace.

Indeed, build thou such a palace that persons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate it even after examining it with care, while seated within.