SATI

Sati is a Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity. The act of Sati, in which a Hindu widow immolates herself on her husband's funeral pyre as a final and consummate act of loyalty and devotion, is patterned after the deed committed by this goddess to uphold the honour of her husband.

Daksha the Prajapathi married Prasuti who was the third daughter of Manu. She gave birth to sixteen daughters. Of all the daughters, except Sati was married to Lord Dharma. Sati was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. One day her father arranged for a huge sacrifice and the invitees were Gods, Rishis, sages, kings, and celestials. Everyone who had come for the sacrifice had taken their respective seats. The hall was getting ready for the occasion where the sacrificial trough had also been dug with all the required materials for the sacrifice. The Brahmins and the priests who were going to chant the mantras were also ready and the air was filled with incantations. As Daksha entered the hall, the conches were blown and all the people seated got up as a matter of respect to the person hosting the sacrifice. Daksha felt very proud that he was honoured by the gods and the sages. But suddenly he noticed two people who had paid no due respect to him and they were Brahma, his father and Shiva, his divine son – in – law. Daksha walked towards his father Brahma and prostrated before him for his blessings.

Even after this Daksha expected Lord Shiva to get up from his seat and show his due respect, but then it didn't happen. Daksha lost his temper and got very angry and abused Shiva amidst all the guests. Daksha told that Shiva was jealous of his wealth and power. Daksha also turned towards the devas and angrily told that he in spite of giving his gifted and accomplished daughter in marriage to Shiva, has not respected his father in law. Daksha expressed that Shiva is the most ungrateful person and that the Lord had no difference between purity and impurity, respect and disrespect. Daksha told that he is no more Shiva the auspicious but instead Ashiva, the inauspicious for he roams around with body covered in ashes in the cremation grounds. But to all this, Shiva remained calm. One of Shiva's followers called Nandiswara was not able to take the words by Daksha, so he immediately got up from his seat and he sipped a little water and cursed the proud King saying that Daksha is very proud of himself and his physical body and so he has to remain chained to the path of sacrifice and ritual forever, also soon he will be acquiring a face like that of a goat. Nandiswara also cursed that all the Brahmins who support Daksha will forever be caught up in the cycle of birth and death. Now one among the other side who are the followers Lord Vishnu cursed the Shiva and his followers that they shall adorn their bodies with ashes and bones and with their hair loose roaming in the cremation grounds. There was a great confusion in the hall and Shiva along with his followers got up and left the hall. After this incident, there had become a constant enmity between the Shiva followers and Daksha followers.

Later Brahma made Daksha as the head of the Prajapthis and Daksha felt very proud. So now Daksha decided to conduct a big yagna called the Brihaspati yagna for which the dwellers of the three worlds were invited except Shiva and his consort Sati. When Sati came to know about the Brihaspati yagna which is going to be performed by her father in a major scale, she immediately told Shiva that she has to attend the yagna. But then Shiva pointed out that they are not invited. Somehow Sati tried consoling Shiva saying that her father might have forgotten to invite in the intense preparation of the yagna. Sati pleaded Shiva that she wants to meet her mother and sisters. So at last Shiva allowed her to go. Sati dressing up herself in the finest of clothes and decked up with gold and diamonds set out to her father Daksha's function. It was a queer procession. She was accompanied both by her maids and Shiva's attendants who were bhutas and pisacas, their bodies covered with ashes and ornamented with skulls and bones and finally they reached Daksha's place. But to her surprise it was only her mother and sister who came to receive her and embraced with love. Neither Daksha nor the other guests who were scared of Daksha welcomed her. Sati felt very uncomfortable and insulted when she realized that no yagna offering is been offered to her. Sati became very furious and turned to Daksha with anger and said that it was shame on her father to disrespect Shiva who is considered to be the Supreme Brahman. She also said that she is ashamed of her body which has come from Daksha who don't even care for the soul in his attachment or the body. From the place she was standing, Sati immediately turned to north and sat there concentrating the air and fire elements in her body, fixed her mind on the feet of Shiva. Sati's body suddenly caught fire and was soon reduced to ashes. Sati's mother and her sisters and the guests who were gathered in the hall were shocked at the sudden incident which had happened. Daksha now realized his mistake and felt very sorry for what has happened. Shiva immediately got the news.


Shiva to whom the news came as a major shock rose up with anger and opened up his matted hair and dashed it on the ground from which emerged the terrible Virabhadra. The very sight of Virabhadra was very scary whose height reached up to the heaven and his complexion was as dark as a thick black cloud. The sun was burning with hot flames through his three eyes and his teeth were terrible to look at with his hair bright red as glowing fire. Virabhadra's neck was decked with a garland of human skull. He had thousand hands, and in each hand he carried mighty weapons of destruction. Once he got the command from Shiva to go to Daksha's place and put an end to the proud king and his sacrifice. Getting the command, along with Shiva's team, Virabhadra descended upon the yagna. The Brahmins, the priests and the guests who were gathered, ran here and there out of fear not knowing what to do. They broke the yagna implements and scattered them all over. They scared the rishis and the women and were also stoned. Virabhadra and his team made the crowd huddle in fear and they even for some pulled out the eyeballs and the teeth were smashed in. Finally Virabhadra with a sacrifice implement cut off Daksha's head from his body, thereby causing complete destruction.

After this major confusion, the devas were very terrified of the destruction caused and to seek help they went to Brahma and Vishnu. The gods were very angry and showed their unhappiness to the devas for insulting Shiva. Vishnu and Brahma also explained to them that if Shiva wishes it will just take seconds for him to destroy the entire universe. So Vishnu and Brahma told devas, if they want a solution for this, then they will have to go to Shiva and beg his pardon and forgiveness. But the devas requested Brahma to accompany them to Mount Kailash where Shiva was deeply absorbed in meditation. Shiva's face was glowing with calmness. Then Brahma requested Shiva to calm down and let his anger not destroy Daksha and his people and to forgive them so that they continue their yagna. Brahma also pleaded Shiva to give back life to Daksha and his followers. Shiva then slowly opened his eyes and said that he had nothing against Daksha in personal, anyhow Shiva made it clear to Brahma and the devas that he has taught a lesson to those who are led astray by maya. He also told that yagna can take place and Daksha will be getting the head of a goat and he will be back to life. The devas felt happy now and they also invited Shiva to participate in the yagna.

Shiva was very pleased by the devas and he accepted their invitation to participate in the sacrificial yagna. So Shiva along with Brahama and Vishnu attended the yagna. Daksha welcomed them with great reverence for his mind was now purified and clean. As the three gods stood next to each other, hymns and prayers of love and praise and respect burst forth from the lips of all. Sri Vishnu now addressed the gathering saying that there is no difference between, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and they are three different aspects for the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. Only the people who do not understand the fact and reality will see the difference between the three gods. So we worship one god, it is equal to worshipping all the three gods. The rishis and devas present there were very happy to realize the truth and the Lord's grace. Sati was again born as Parvathi and after a strong penance she was married to Lord Shiva.