Mahadev cries at sati death

Mahadev cries at sati death


While Brahma was engaged in creation a few daityas named Halahalas were born. They were very valiant and ferocious and they did penance to propitiate Brahma and after obtaining boons from him conquered the three worlds and asserted their supremacy in all the three worlds. They defied the Trimurtis (trio of Brahma, Visnu and Siva). Siva and Visnu in despair went to war against them. The war continued for sixty thousand years and both the daityas and Devas were exhausted. Visnu and Siva refused to attend to their duties. Brahma understood the situation and taking into his hands the work of Siva and Visnu also and calling his sons, Sanaka and others to his side said "Oh sons, Siva and Visnu are incapable of doing their work now. I have therefore, taken on myself the charge of their duties also and hence I do not find time to do penance. You must therefore, do penance to propitiate Mahamaya. Let her be pleased and when she incarnates in this universe the world will be happy."

As soon as they heard this the Prajapatis headed by Daksa went to the forests on the side of the Himalayas. They started doing penance reciting the mantra of Mayabija. The penance lasted for a hundred thousand years and then the goddess was pleased. She graciously appeared before them with three eyes and four hands bearing paa, aukusa, vara and abhiti. Daksa and others praised her and she granted them boons. She did also promise to be born as the daughter of Daksa. Daksa and others returned happy.

Mahamaya incarnated as Sati in the house of Daksa. Sati blossomed into a beautiful maiden and all the Prajapatis joined together and made Siva marry her. The bride and bridegroom lived in the bride's house. Once the prajapatis performed a sacrifice. Brahma, Visnu and Siva were present there. Daksa, who had been invited by the prajapatis also was present. When Daksa entered the hall his son-in-law Siva did not rise up. This arrogance of Siva made Daksa angry. Daksa made up his mind to take vengeance on Siva, and performed a sacrifice known as Brhaspatisavana. To that sacrifice he did not invite Siva or Sati.

Hearing that her father was conducting a sacrifice Sati came uninvited. But Daksa did not even look at her. Sati whose heart was broken at this treatment, leapt into the sacrificial fire and died. Siva became furious when he came to know of this. Being overwhelmed with sorrow and anger he beat his matted hair on the ground, from which two monsters, Virabhadra and Bhadrakali, came out. They ran to Daksa's sacrificial hall and destroyed everything they saw, killed everybody, caught hold of Daksa and cut off his head. Then they began to create havoc in the whole world. The hermits and sages began to take to flight. Men and animals shivered. Thus the three worlds began to tremble with fear. The gods approached Siva with supplication to curb his anger. The gracious Sankara was pleased to recall the monsters. After that everybody requested him to bring Daksa back to life. But the search made for the head of Daksa was futile. At last Brahma took the head of a goat and joined it to the headless trunk of Daksa. Thus he was brought to life again. After that Siva roamed about in the world crying "Sati, Sati.