Anāyu (Anayu) was daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) Prajāpati (Prajapati) and wife of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati. From Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), the text which identifies her as mother of all the maladies of the world, it appears that Anāyu was also known as Anāyuṣā (Anayusha). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Anāyuṣā is the mother of five powerful asura (a type of demons), namely Araru, Bala, Vṛtra (Vritra), Vijvara (Vijwara) and Vṛṣa (Vrisha). Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa also refers to her great liking for food – anāyurbhakṣaṇeratā. 

Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) confirms that Dakṣa’s daughter Danāyu (Danayu) was the same figure as Anāyu or Anāyuṣā, as it corroborates her gourmand nature – danāyurbhakṣaṇeratā.