Among all the stories in Hindu Mythology, The Shiva and Sati story acts as a centre for several events related to both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Those events include the Shiva and Sati love story, the conflict between Daksha and Shiva, Sati’s self-immolation, the birth of Veerabhadra, and the destruction of Daksha yagna.
This story forms the basis even for the birth of Goddess Parvati. That is the reason why the story of Shiva and Sati is considered very sacred in Hinduism.
Let’s get into this story.
Who are Sati and Shiva
Goddess Sati or Dakshayani, is the daughter of Daksha and is an incarnation of Maha Devi or the Great Goddess. Mahadevi takes various incarnations to protect the world and to fulfil the wishes of her devotees. One such form is Goddess Sati, symbolizing virtue, fidelity and truth.
God Shiva or Maha Deva, is one of the Principal deities in Hinduism. Shiva is the God of Destruction, transformation and recreation of the cosmic cycle and often referred the God of the Gods.
The Birth of Goddess Sati
King Daksha, one of the mind-born sons of Lord Brahma, wished to have Maha Devi as his daughter.
After seeking Brahma’s advice, he undertook intense tapas and eventually received the boon from Maha Devi that she would be born as his daughter.
Maha Devi also warned Daksha that if he mistreats her or her husband, she will abandon the body and will no longer bear any relation. Daksha agreed to Devi’s wishes.
Like this, Maha Devi was born as Sati to Daksha and his wife Virini.
Goddess Sati is the youngest among all the daughters. From a young age, she was fond of Shiva, used to sing of him and even drew portraits of Shiva without knowing him. She grew up as an ardent devotee of Shiva.
One day, Brahma and Narada visited Daksha’s abode and informed Sati that her wish to marry Lord Shiva as her husband would come true.
On reaching adolescence, Sati went to her mother and informed her that she would do a penance to secure Shiva as her husband.
Sati and Shiva’s Love Story and The Penance of Sati
Abandoning the comfort of the princess and leaving aside the luxuries of palaces, Sati went to a forest and started worshipping Shiva.
Sati then performed severe penance, which even moved several sages.
Several Gods, along with Lord Vishnu and Brahma, approached Shiva, mentioned Sati’s penance and requested to unite with the Maha Devi in the form of Sati.
Shiva then tested Sati’s devotion and dedication to him, and finally, Sati’s efforts bore fruit.
Lord Shiva, enchanted by her devotion and penance, agreed to marry her and even said so by appearing before her.
Sati smiled with delight as she listened to Shiva’s words. Shyly, she requested him, My Lord, please approach my father and formally ask for my hand in marriage.
Shiva agreed, and when Daksha and Virini heard the news, they felt happy
Shiva then sent Vishnu and Brahma to Daksha formally on his marriage proposal and readily got the consent of Daksha and Virini.
Although several tales mention that Daksha refused the marriage proposal despite Sati’s wish, Sati then prayed to Shiva, who appeared before her and took Sati to Kailash.
Bhagavata Purana mentions that Daksha arranged a Swayamvara where Sati threw in the air, which went and fell on Shiva, who manifested there.
But the Shiva Purana, one of the standard texts for followers of Shiva, mentions that Daksha agrees to the marriage. Several Shaivate texts, including the Shiva Maha Purana, mention that the hatred started after the marriage due to Shiva’s protection to Chandra and also a conflict that arose between Daksha and Shiva in a Yagna.
Marriage of Lord Shiva and Devi Sati
Brahma approached Shiva and told the news, and even the mighty God of the Gods himself felt delighted upon hearing it.
Later, on an auspicious day of the Chaitra month, Shiva, accompanied by Vishnu, Brahma, sages, and Shiva ganas moved towards Daksha’s kingdom from Kailash.
Daksha and his wife Virini, welcomed Shiva and his followers with respect. It is the union of Shiva and Shakthi; for such a great event, Lord Brahma acted as the priest and conducted all the customs.
After the completion of customary events, Shiva and Sati sat on the Nandi and proceeded to Kailish, Shiva’s abode.
Shiva and Sati Story – Why did Daksha Start Hating Lord Shiva?
Till here, in the Shiva and Sati Story, Daksha didn’t have any hatred towards Shiva, and in-fact Daksha used to respect him a lot.
However the conflict initially started due to the Moon God Chandra, who married Daksha’s daughters.
Although he married twenty-seven Daksha’s daughters as his wives, he favoured only Revathi and neglected the others.
This favouritism prompted the rest of the daughters to return to Daksha to complain about Chandra’s behaviour and seek his support.
Upset by the situation, Daksha called Chandra to remind him to treat all his wives equally.
Chandra, however, did not change his way, which only served to escalate Daksha’s anger, which led him to curse Chandra with leprosy.
Suffering under the weight of the curse, Chandra sought refuge with Shiva. Who granted him protection but imposed a condition that Chandra would lose his appearance for 15 days out of the month and regain it for the other half.
These acts of Shiva made Daksha angry and started building hatred.
What Made Things More Worse Between Daksha and Shiva
The sages in Prayag once held a grand yagna, inviting all the Gods, Prajapatis, and other celestials.
Among Trimurti, Brahma and Vishnu arrived first at that Yagna and took their seats.
Later, Shiva came to Yagna. All those in Yagna, including Brahma and Vishnu, rose from their seats and paid homage.
Soon after, Daksha came to the Yagna. Everyone in their positions stood up in due respect. However, Trimurti’s stayed seated in their positions.
This incident fueled Daksha’s arrogance and anger.
He then thought Brahma and Vishnu were like fathers and grandfathers to him, so it was acceptable. But Shiva is the son-in-law of his house and thinks he needs to pay his obedience. Daksha then expressed his distress to Shiva.
Shiva then told Daksha that I didn’t come here as your son-in-law. I came here as one of Trimurti.
Exchange of Curses between Daksha and Nandi
Daksha disagreed with Shiva and started raising his voice. He said that none of you in Yagna must give your share of sacrifices to Shiva or his attendants.
Then Nandi intervened and said you foolish Daksha, you are speaking about Mahadeva, who is the supreme among all the Gods. Be aware that your pride will soon be turned into ashes. Then, a heated argument went on between Nandi and Daksha.
Daksha cursed Nandi that Shiva and his followers will be condemned as heretics and will be expelled from Vedic rites.
Nandi then cursed Daksha that your head gets replaced by that of a goat such that the pride in your head is making you think against Shiva will vanish.
Also cursed that the sons of Brahma, who are indulging in anger, pride and arrogance despite their nobility, will become beggars and will be reborn as rakshasas.
Upon hearing the exchange of curses, Brahma, Daksha’s father, stepped in and told Daksha that Lord Shiva was supreme among us and opposed Daksha’s actions, which had ended the quarrel.
Shiva then said Nandi, why are you so angry. Daksha cannot curse me; I myself is the Yagna and the Veda. The arrogant Daksha will pay a heavy price. But you are my devotee, you should be free from negative emotions. Nandi then calmed down, and the Yagna continued.
Daksha Starts A Yagna and Sati Wishes to Attend it
To insult Shiva, Daksha started a Yagna and invited all the Gods, Sages, celestial beings and nobles on the earth.
But he avoided Shiva, Sati and their followers.
The Yagna is planned like never seen before. Everyone, including Lord Vishnu and Brahma, attended.
Many of the sages were awaiting for Shiva’s arrival. Seeing no signs, they questioned Daksha that were you conducting a Yagna without inviting Shiva. Without him, Yagna is imperfect and is not auspicious to anyone here.
Daksha said Vishnu and Brahma are enough and that no call will be made to Shiva.
Maharishi Dadichi and others disobeyed with Daksha and left the Yagna.
On the other side, Sati saw her sister Rohini, along with Chandra, travelling in an aerial vehicle. She then came to know that they were going to her father’s Yagna.
Sati approached Shiva and asked if we could go to that Yagna.
Lord Shiva looked at Sati with pity and pulled her closer, saying we have no invite and anyone who attends such uninvited gatherings will earn disrespect.
Sati felt sad upon hearing these words and said that my father was indeed committing a terrible mistake. I must go and ask him and the ones who went to Yagna.
Shiva initially refused but later agreed to Sati’s request. He also knew that death awaits there for Sati to be reborn as Parvati.
Shiva then called Nandi and other attendants to make the required arrangements for the journey with all the arrangements of royalty.
Sati’s Self-immolation Story
This is one of the important part of Shiva and Sati story that describes what had happened after reaching the place of Daksha Yagna.
Sati reached Yagna’s place and went inside. The followers who came alongside stood outside.
Her mother, Virini and Sisters greeted her and got delighted. But Daksha disliked and didn’t even look at Sati.
In a thunderous voice, Sati asked Daksha why did you didn’t call my husband, the greatest among all the Gods, to this Yagna. Don’t you know that any rite performed without him is impure.
She turned to Vishnu, Brahma, and the other Gods, who came there and asked, who are you all without Shiva?
Vishnu and Brahma, don’t you remember you got the positions of preserver and creator of this world from him. Don’t you recognize Shiva as the supreme?
Listening to this, Daksha said Sati, who asked you to come here, I didn’t invite you along with your husband. He is uncultured and rude, living with goshts and globins. Don’t talk about him here. As you came here, you may stay and sit in Yagna.
Filled with anger and sorrow, Sati turned back to the fierce form.
With anger, Sati told Daksha, I accepted your desire and gave you the boon that I will be called your daughter as long as you refrain from insulting me or my husband.
Now you broke my words and insulted my husband, and get ready; you and the ones who came here will be taught a lesson that will be remembered through ages.
My husband warned me not to go. But I came here to correct you.
I will self-immolate and leave this body now and will no longer be called Dakshayani.
She then turned north and using the powers she had, raised sacrificial fire and the shakti in her by which Sati left the body.
Things that happened after Sati’s Self-immolation
Seeing Sati self-immolated, everyone in Yagna shouted and cried. Listening to sounds, ganas, who stood outside, rushed in. They looked at Sati’s body. Many sacrificed themselves, and others started fighting.
Brighu, a sage on the side of Daksha, invoked spirits to counter the ganas.
Some ganas went back to Shiva and reported the things that happened.
Shiva, out of anger, created Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali and summoned them to destroy the Daksha yagna and punish the attended Gods.
All the Ganas of Shiva and Shakthi, powerful spirits, goblins, and followers of Shiva marched towards Yagna.
This army began destroying the ones who came against them, and a few of them went to the centre of the Yagnashala and destroyed the Yagna.
Veerabhadra pulled his sword, cut off the Daksha’s head, and threw it into the Yagna.
After destroying the Yagna, all the Gods approached Shiva, begging him for mercy and asking him to restore balance to the world.
Shiva came to the place of Yagna and felt pity and replaced the Daksha’s head with Goats. Daksha apologized for his mistakes and praised Shiva for his mercy.
Shiva’s Grief and Formation of Shakthi Peetas
Shiva, with grief, picked up the lifeless body of Sati in his arms and carried her body away from that place.
This caused an imbalance in the universe without Shiva. To bring Shiva back to normal, Brahma appealed to Vishnu to use Sudarshana chakra or discus to dismember Sati’s body.
Sudarshana chakra, once granted by Shiva to Vishnu, dismembered Sati’s body.
These body parts of Goddess Sati fell in different places. Worshippers honour the sites referring to them as Shakti Pithas, which are sacred for Shakti worship.
Shiva then came back to normal and waited for the reunion with Shakthi.
Sati Devi’s Rebirth as Goddess Parvati
During this time, Shiva turned into an ascetic. Sati Devi was then reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himavat and his wife Menaka.
Later, Goddess Parvati performed great penance like Sati and was reunited with Lord Shiva.
