English
Daksha's Sacrifice and Sati
Source: Bhagavata Purana, 4th Skandha, chapters 2–7; Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Sati Khanda
Sati, daughter of Prajapati Daksha, was married to Lord Shiva. But Daksha had no respect for Shiva. He disliked Shiva's ways: the ash, the cremation grounds, the company of ghostly attendants.
Once Daksha came to a great assembly of the Prajapatis. All the gods and sages rose in his honour, but Brahma and Shiva remained seated. Daksha felt that Shiva, his own son-in-law, had insulted him. Before the whole assembly he spoke harsh words to Shiva and cursed him.
Time passed. Daksha began a great sacrifice. He invited all the gods, sages and the families of all his daughters, but sent no invitation to Shiva and Sati.
On Kailasa, Sati saw celestial chariots passing in the sky. The wives of the gods, finely dressed, were heading the same way. She learned there was a sacrifice at her father's home. Sati's heart longed to go to her parents' house.
Shiva lovingly explained, “Devi, it is not right to go uninvited where there is hatred in the heart. You will be insulted there, and you will not be able to bear it.”
But Sati's heart would not listen. She went to her father's home with Shiva's attendants. Her mother and sisters embraced her with love, but Daksha did not even look at her.
Then Sati looked around the sacrificial hall. A share had been set aside for every god, but there was no share for Lord Shiva. Sati's face burned with anger…
Before the whole assembly Sati said to her father, “You hate Shiva, whose very name destroys sin? I will no longer keep this body that I received from you.”
Sati sat facing north, sipped water, and settled into yoga. She kindled the fire of yoga within herself, and as everyone watched, her body was consumed in that fire.
There was an outcry all around. The sage Narada carried the news to Kailasa. Hearing it, Shiva's anger blazed. He tore out a lock of his matted hair and dashed it on the ground, and from it arose the mighty, gigantic Virabhadra.
Shiva commanded, “Go, destroy Daksha and his sacrifice.” Virabhadra fell upon the sacrifice with Shiva's attendants. The sacrificial hall was laid waste, and Virabhadra cut off Daksha's head.
The frightened gods went to Kailasa with Brahma. Brahma praised Shiva and pleaded, “Lord, you are the master of the sacrifice. Forgive Daksha and let the sacrifice be completed.”
The compassionate Shiva's anger subsided. He said that Daksha should be given the head of the sacrificial goat. So it was done, and Daksha came back to life. Now his pride was gone. He folded his hands, praised Shiva and asked for forgiveness.
After this the sacrifice was completed properly, with Shiva's share. And Sati, in her next birth, was born as Parvati, daughter of Himavan and Mena, and once again won Shiva as her husband.
Some later Puranas and folk tradition also tell that Shiva wandered, distraught, carrying Sati's body, and wherever parts of it fell, Shakti Peethas arose. This episode is not part of the story as told in the Bhagavata and Shiva Purana.
What this story teaches
Pride can destroy even a sacrifice, and humility can mend what is broken. Where there is no respect, even love suffers.
Masik Shivratri is observed every month on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi. Worshipping Shiva and Parvati and reading Shiva's stories on this day is considered auspicious.
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