The sages gathered at the holy confluence of the three rivers the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati known as Prayaga once conducted a massive yajna, or fire sacrifice. Along with Lord Shiva, his spouse Sati had also visited that location. Everyone gathered there got up from their chairs and bowed to him. They gave him a very dignified seating arrangement and lavished him with praise. When Daksha entered the hall shortly after, everyone stood to pay their respects. But Shiva did not move from his seat. This act of disrespect from his own son-in-law infuriated Daksha, who had become conceited from his position in society.
“How is it that when the rest of the world respects me, only this man who is my son-in-law arrogantly refuses to honor me?” he said angrily. He lacks manners and culture completely. But again, what can you expect from a person whose goblins and ghosts are their attendants? He wears garlands made of serpents and resides on a cremation site. Despite the fact that he is my daughter’s spouse, I will condemn him.
He turned to face the others and said, “Listen, everyone. Let this Shiva, who visits graveyards and graves and has no noble lineage, be banished from all sacrifices from this day on. From now on, none of you are allowed to partake in any sacrifice with him! Among the sages who submitted to Daksha’s foolish remarks was Brighu. Shiva remained silent, but his devoted attendant Nandi—who could assume the shape of his bull—rose and angrily chastised Daksha.
“How dare you curse Lord Shiva, whose very presence sanctifies all the worlds? O foolish Daksha,” he said. He is Mahadeva, the mighty Lord who creates, maintains, and destroys the cosmos. You and your group will be reduced to ashes by just one look from him. It demonstrates the depth of his kindness that he doesn’t do it now. But use caution! Your pride will soon be turned to ashes!
Nandi’s public censure of Daksha infuriated Daksha, who then cursed Nandi and all of Shiva’s attendants. “You will all be expelled from Vedic society and declared heretics. Skulls, ashes, and matted hair shall be your decorations. You’ll be kicked out of all Vedic ceremonies.
When Nandi heard this, she became enraged and cursed everyone in retaliation. “O ignorant people, because of their arrogance towards becoming Brahmins, evil-minded sages like as Brighu have cursed the great Lord Shiva. However, I assure you that these Brahmins who are giving in to desire, rage, jealousy, and arrogance will turn into blatant paupers. They will always be in poverty and will even enter the Shudras’ homes in order to obtain money. They will go to hell and be born as rakshasas (demons) as a result of their avarice. The attractive face of Daksha will soon vanish and be replaced by a goat’s face.
There was a commotion among those gathered as soon as they heard this exchange of profanity. Shiva was alone and unfazed. He turned to Nandi and asked her, very politely, “O beloved one, why have you gotten so angry? I am the sacrifice, the sacrificial procedure, the adjunct of the sacrifice, and the actual self of the sacrifice, thus Daksha cannot curse me. Daksha is a person who? You are who you are? Who are these individuals all? Actually, I am everything. In light of this, you shouldn’t be sad or curse someone. Daksha would have to pay a high price because of his stupidity in doing this. However, since you are my devotee, you need to be free of resentment and other unpleasant feelings.
After hearing his master’s sage advice, Nandi lost his fury and became composed. Shiva, Sati, and the Ganas went back to their house after this awful episode. Daksha and his adherents went back to their own homes as well. He was full of rage at Shiva and was just waiting for a chance to use his curses.
Daksha created a massive yajna and invited all the gods, sages, and heavenly creatures to it in an attempt to offend Shiva. It goes without saying that he purposefully did not extend an invitation to Shiva. Invited to the great yajna, which no one had ever seen before, Brahma and Vishnu were brought in state. The location of Daksha’s sacrifice was known as Kankhala; it is now known as Kankhal and is close to modern-day Haridwar. Even though Sati had previously been Daksha’s favorite, she was also excluded since Shiva had not received an invitation. The celestial builder Visvakarma built several exquisite houses to accommodate the august assembly of gods, sages, and emperors.
Dadichi, a sage and follower of Shiva, commanded Daksha to speak, saying, “O Daksha! If Shiva is not invited, this sacrifice will be insufficient and flawed. Proceed straight here with the sages and bring Sati and the great Lord. He is the origin of all good fortune. Everything will be unlucky and flawed without him.
With a pompous reply, Daksha said, “Vishnu has honored this area with his presence. He is the chief cause of this cosmos and the source of all qualities. The Vedas and the Upanishads have come, and with them has come Brahma, the grandfather of all worlds. The celestial sages and the ruler of gods, Indra, have arrived accompanied by their entourages.
What is Shiva’s purpose in being here? The Lord of ghosts, spirits, and goblins, he was born into ignominy. I simply surrendered my dear daughter to him at Brahma’s request. He is completely undeserving of an invitation to this esteemed gathering. With a curse and a warning that Daksha would soon be destroyed, Dadichi strode out of the yajna, followed by a few of Shiva’s other devotees.
Story continue – Sati was playing sports on the Himalayan mountain of Gandhamadana