Sati and Shiva: Attachment to the Unattached

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Sati and Shiva: Attachment to the Unattached

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An old saying asks one never to go where one gets too much

respect. This is because getting too much attention is a sure

recipe for developing a temperament accustomed to throwing

tantrums at the slightest perceived disrespect. Therefore, one

should never cultivate the habit of receiving too much respect or

honor. Not following this precept once led to a very unfortunate

sequence of events, and finally it took the might of Lord Vishnu

and Shiva to set things on their right course.

 

It so transpired that in a gathering of distinguished

personalities, including Lord Shiva, Daksha, Shiva's father in

law, made a splendorous entry shining brilliantly like a second

sun. The assembly immediately rose to its feet, all except his son in law.

 

Now, Daksha was a great king of kings, much used to getting honor

and respect wherever he went. To him, Shiva's not getting up to

welcome him was an extreme insult, and he was unable to digest

it. He looked at Shiva sideways with wrath and addressed the gathering:

 

" Listen to me, O' distinguished people. I wish to speak to you of

the behavior of civilized persons and whatever I speak is not out

of jealousy or ignorance. This Shiva is shameless, and is ruining

the reputation of this distinguished gathering. By marrying my

virtuous daughter, he is in a sense equivalent to my son;

therefore, it would have been but basic courtesy on his part to

get up and welcome me. However, he lacks even that, and did not

bother to utter at least some words of respect when I entered. It

was with reluctance and only on the advice of Lord Brahma that I

gave away my delicate young daughter to him in marriage. He lives

surrounded with ghosts and spirits. He bathes his body with ashes

from funeral grounds and wanders around naked with his hair

scattered like one possessed, sometimes laughs and sometimes

cries. He wears a necklace of human heads and ornaments his body

with bones. He is but Shiva (pure) in name only, actually he is

Ashiva (impure). "

 

Thus did Daksha sputter venom. However, throughout this diatribe,

Lord Shiva sat unperturbed, without retaliating. This enraged

Daksha even more and he got up to curse Shiva: " From now on, in

sacrifices (yajna), this Shiva will not receive a share of the

sacrificial offerings. " Then in a great rage he left the place

and retired to his home.

 

Hearing of the curse, Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva, too uttered a

curse on Daksha in return saying: " Only those obsessed with the

physical body would dare to find fault with Lord Shiva, the

embodiment of detachment (Vairagya). May that Daksha, who

cherishes such a viewpoint, be always occupied with his physical

existence only and be far removed from the path of spiritual

upliftment. He is continually engaged in gratifying sensual

pleasures and is therefore much attached to the householder's

life which is full of pseudo-religious practices. He thinks of

the body as his soul, and is therefore as good as a beast. He

will therefore become intensely addicted to women and have the

head of a goat. Enemies of Lord Shiva like Daksha shall always be

infatuated with karma and remain entangled in the cycle of death

and rebirth. The Brahmins who endorsed his cursing of Lord Shiva

shall leave aside the scriptural injunctions regarding what is

eatable and what is not and will devote themselves to learning

(vidya), penances (tapas), vows (vratas) only for the sake of

earning their livelihood. They will delight only in the pleasures

of the body, and wander about begging in the world. "

 

On hearing this curse, a bearded sage from the side of Daksha

named Bhrigu too cursed the followers of Shiva in return: " Those

who are the followers of Shiva will act contrary to the

scriptures. They shall be devoid of purity and good conduct, and

anointing themselves with ashes will be initiated into the

tradition of Shiva, where wine will be granted a divine status. "

 

This cursing and counter-cursing made Lord Shiva disconsolate and

he left the gathering.

 

A long time after this episode, Sati Devi, the wife of Shiva,

observed numerous airplanes carrying heavily ornamented beautiful

women along with their spouses. Evidently they were all going to

attend some festivities. On enquiry it was revealed that her

father Daksha had organized a huge Yajna (Vedic sacrifice), and

all were invitees going there. Much excited on hearing of the

festivities going on at her father's house, she turned to address Shiva:

 

" My Lord, I have heard that your father in law King Daksha has

organized a big round of sacrificial festivities at his house.

See, all the gods are going there. If you wish, we too can go

there. My other sisters will definitely be going there along with

their husbands. I too wish to receive the gifts offered by my

parents. I am eager to see my mother and aunts gathered there. In

addition, we will also able to witness the great Vedic sacrifice

conducted by great sages. My dear Lord, you are beyond the

vagaries of Nature and hence have no desire to go or meet anyone.

However, I am but a poor woman, unaware of these spiritual

niceties. I therefore long to see my birthplace. Look at these

other women richly adorned and going with their husbands in

droves, with their white swan-like airplanes beautifying the skyline. "

 

" Dear Lord, which daughter can remain unmoved on hearing of a

festival in her father's house? Remember, the scriptures say that

one can go uninvited to the houses of their friends, husbands,

gurus and parents. Therefore, O' Great Compassionate One, you,

who have given me space in half portion of your body, do grant me

this desire. "

 

Thus earnestly entreated by his beloved wife, Shiva was painfully

reminded of the bitter words of his father in law; however, he

replied to her with a smile: " O' charming lady, you are right

when you say that one can go to one's loved one's even uninvited.

However, this is the case only when their viewpoint is not

clouded by their powerful ego. Learning, wealth, beauty, high

birth etc are exalted qualities in the case of the good, but for

the wicked, they are the means of degradation, since they get

puffed up with pride and are therefore unable to appreciate the

glory of the great. Thinking them to be their `relatives,' one

should never go the houses of those who look upon the visitor

with a frown and angry looks. "

 

" O'Devi, the arrows of an enemy do not wound one as much as the

harsh words of one's crooked relatives because in the former case

at least one can find rest in sleep, but the latter suffers day

and night with a tormented heart. I know that you are the

favorite of your father, even then dear one, you will not get

proper attention at your father's house because he is envious and

harbors a grudge against me. "

 

" O' lady with a slender waist, you may wonder why I did not honor

Daksha in that ill-fated assembly? The answer is that those

established in the Absolute Truth pay obeisance only to the

Supreme Person Vaasudeva enshrined in the heart of all. A pure

heart is called Vasudev (father of Krishna), in it is made

manifest Vaasudeva (Krishna). Hence, it is to that Absolute

Person, who unveils himself in pure hearts do I perform my

Namaste. Therefore my beloved, he who abused me even though I was

not at fault, even though he is the one who has given birth to

your body, you should not consider seeing him because he breeds

enmity towards me. If you go there ignoring my advice, it won't

bide good for you because when a reputable individual suffers

insult from his or her relatives, that indignity becomes the

immediate cause of their death. "

 

Having said this much Lord Shiva became silent. He realized that

whether Devi Sati goes or not, in both cases there was a chance

of her giving up her life. Meanwhile Sati, intensely eager to

meet her relatives, sometimes went outside the door, and

sometimes returned fearing Shiva would get upset. Thus

oscillating like a pendulum and undecided she burst out into

copious tears and with her body trembling looked askance at Shiva

as if to burn him down. Then she lost her judgment and becoming

captive of her essentially feminine nature, did the unthinkable.

She defied him, who out of affection had given half of his body

to her, and taking long breaths set out towards her parents house.

 

Seeing her go alone, several of Shiva's followers set out to

accompany her. It was not long before the entourage reached her

father's residence, which at that time was reverberating with

sacred Vedic Chants. Contrary to her expectations, she was

treated with indifference by Daksha. Only her mother and sisters

welcomed her openly and embraced her. The rest of the assembly,

afraid of upsetting Daksha, made no signs of welcoming her.

 

Devi Sati, not at all welcomed by her father, did not accept the

seat of honor respectfully offered to her by her mother and

maternal aunts. Nor did she pay attention to her sister's

affectionate enquiries about her health etc. Not only that, she

observed that in that sacrifice, even though seats had been

reserved for the gods, there was none reserved for her husband,

the Great Lord Shiva. This greatly agitated Sati and it seemed

that she would destroy the world with the fire of her anger.

Shiva's followers forming her entourage too observed the dishonor

meted out to their master and were about to kill Daksha when they

were restrained by Sati. With all the assembled gathering hearing

her words, she censured Daksha, her voice faltering with the

intensity of her anger:

 

" Father, who else but you would behave inimically towards Lord

Shiva, who is above enmity? There is nobody superior to Lord

Shiva in the world. He is the beloved soul of all beings, he

neither favors nor disfavors anyone. Hence, he has no differences

with anyone. Jealous people like you discover faults in the

virtues of others. Great people not only do not see any defect,

they view the minutest merit in others with a large magnifying

glass. You are indeed inauspicious because you hate the supremely

auspicious Shiva, whose very name, uttered incidentally by the

tongue even once, destroys all sins. The bee-like hearts of

eminent sages hover around his lotus feet ever eager to taste the

bliss of Brahmananda (bliss of being absorbed in divinity). "

 

" You say that Shiva is Ashiva. Perhaps the other gods do not know

this because they feel honored in adorning their heads with

flowers fallen from the same Shiva who dwells in the cremation

grounds and beautifies himself with ashes and skulls lying there.

When unrestrained people criticize the Supreme Lord Shiva,

protector of Dharma, one should shut one's ears and leave the

place. Or if one has the power he should cut off the tongue of

the person, and if the need arise one should even lay down one's

life if necessary to prevent such slander. "

 

" Therefore, I will not retain this body which is born of you,

because wise people say that the remedy for eating impure food is

to vomit it out. Vedic injunctions do not apply to those who

revel in the Supreme Self enshrined in all. The Vedas prescribe two paths:

 

1). Pravritti Dharma: The path of karma,

 

2). Nivritti Dharma: The path of renunciation.

 

These two cannot be simultaneously followed by the same person.

However, Shiva, being the Supreme God, does not need to follow

any of these two paths. Father, our affluence is unmanifest, to

be enjoyed only by Avadhutas (those who have renounced

everything). People like you, following the path of smoke

(generated by the sacrificial fires) can never appreciate this

absolute wealth. I feel ashamed of my unworthy father. It is a

disgrace to be born from a parent who commits an offence against

the great. When in a light mood Lord Shiva will call out to me " O'

daughter of Daksha " , then, forgetting the light-heartedness

behind it, I will become extremely pained. Therefore, I shall

give up this corpse-like body begotten from you. "

 

Having vented her feelings thus, Devi Sati, wearing a yellow

garment, sat down on the ground with her face to the north. She

closed her eyes and entered the yogic path for casting off her

material body. Concentrating on the lotus feet of her beloved

Lord Shiva, she became completely absorbed and lost track of

everything else. The intense heat of her yogic powers then set

ablaze her body, the same body, which at many times, Shiva had

lovingly placed in his lap.

 

Immediately there arose in the gathering an enormous uproar of

grief: " Alas, provoked by her father, Sati the beloved wife of

Shiva has given away her life. Look at the enormous wickedness of

Daksha, his pure-hearted daughter who ever deserved honor, had to

give up her life due to the insults inflicted by him. This

intolerant Daksha will reap great infamy in this world. He did

not even care to prevent his daughter while she was preparing to

end her life. "

 

While the people were thus lamenting, Shiva's attendants who had

accompanied Sati, on seeing her miraculous self-immolation, rose

with weapons in their hands to kill Daksha. Seeing their

aggressive vehemence, Bhrigu, from Daksha's side, created out of

the sacrificial fire numerous divine beings who rushed out and

drove back the followers of Shiva.

 

Soon Shiva learnt of his wife's humiliation and subsequent death.

Enraged, he plucked a hair from his matted locks and with a loud

laughter dashed it on the ground. Immediately there arose a being

of colossal size, touching the skies by his stature. He had sharp

fangs and his locks of hair were red like dazzling flames. He was

holding aloft various weapons. Shiva then ordered this

manifestation of his wrath named Virbhadra, to go and destroy

both Daksha and his sacrifice.

 

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When the thundering approach of Virbhadra was heard in Daksha's

sacrificial ground, the women there murmured amongst themselves:

" Surely this is the consequence of the sin committed by Daksha,

when he slighted his innocent daughter Sati and also offended

Lord Shiva. What good can ensue for someone who enrages Lord Shiva? "

 

Much perturbed and fearful, the assembly in Daksha's sacrifice

sat speculating and looking at each other. In the meanwhile

Virbhadra, along with other followers of Shiva, reached the venue

and immediately set about destroying the Yajna. Some broke the

pillars supporting the whole structure, some the sacrificial

utensils, and some destroyed the kitchen and storeroom. Many

sacrificial fires were put out and supporters of Daksha were

threatened. Virabhadra himself caught hold of Daksha and seating

himself on his chest tried to cut off his head with a sharp

sword. However, even after a lot of effort he was unable to

behead him. Much surprised, Virbhadra then proceeded to cut the

head of Daksha in the same manner that the latter used to

sacrifice animals in his yajnas. As soon as he succeeded, there

arose a cry of " well done " " bravo " from amongst the followers of

Shiva. Virabhadra then threw Daksha's head into fire and

proceeded to burn down the whole structure. Having accomplished

what he had been ordered to do, he then returned to Lord Shiva's

abode, Mount Kailash.

 

The assembled gods, sages and priests were overwhelmed with fear

on thus being defeated by the accomplices of Shiva. They

collected together and hurried over to Lord Brahma, requesting

his help. Brahma and Lord Vishnu both knew that the Yajna was

doomed from the beginning because it had not reserved a place of

honor for Lord Shiva. Hence, they had prudently taken the

precaution of not attending it. Now hearing all what had

happened, Brahma replied to them:

 

" All of you have committed an offence against Lord Shiva by

excluding him from the sacrificial offerings. Now with pure

hearts go and take refuge in his lotus feet, because he is one

who gets propitiated very easily. You should immediately beg his

pardon, much bereaved as he is with the loss of his wife's life.

Otherwise, his rage is bound to destroy the world. "

 

However the gods and sages were still fearful of facing Shiva by

themselves. Therefore, Brahma took the initiative and went along

with them to Shiva's abode. There they saw Shiva seated with his

left foot on his right lap, and his left hand on the left knee. A

rosary of Rudraksh was on wrapped around wrist. He was

discoursing on the Supreme Absolute Truth, and many saints were

listening to him in rapt attention.

 

Seeing Brahma Ji, Lord Shiva immediately sprung to his feet and

bowed to him with respect. The host of saints around Shiva also

did the same. Brahma then smilingly addressed Lord Shiva:

 

" I know you are the Lord of the Universe (even then you pay

homage to me). You yourself have created the institution of Yajna

for the protection of Vedic Dharma. Anger cannot overwhelm those

who surrender to your lotus feet (then how can it affect you?).

Exalted ones like you do not kill even those wicked one who

constantly burn with jealousy at the prosperity of others and are

naturally disposed to hurt others feelings, knowing very well

that they doomed by providence itself. If someone, deluded by

Lord Vishnu's powerful Maya, offends the great, righteous ones

like you consider the offence an act of providence and do not try

to stop whatever is trying to happen. "

 

" You are untouched by Maya, you should therefore show grace on

those who, affected by maya, are attached to karma. O' Lord,

please revive the sacrifice of Daksha, which remained incomplete

due to the petty mindedness of those performing it. May Daksha

come to live again and may also all those dismembered by your

followers be restored to health. O' Shiva, whatever shall remain

after the completion of a Yajna from now on will be your share. O'

destroyer of sacrifice, let this Yajna now be completed. "

 

Lord Shiva heard out Brahma patiently and then replied smiling:

" I do not pay attention nor think about the offences committed by

people like Daksha, who are under the spell of Lord's Maya. I

only chastise them slightly (much less than what their conduct

deserves) as a punishment. The head of Daksha has been burnt; he

may now live with the face of a goat. All the rest of the

priests, sages etc, too may be restored to health. "

 

Hearing Shiva's soothing words, all present there were satisfied

and shouted out in unison: " Glory to Lord Shiva. " Then they

cordially invited Shiva to accompany them to the venue of the

sacrifice, to which he complied. They followed Shiva's

instruction to the letter and joined the head of the sacrificial

goat to Daksha's trunk. While the head was being joined, Shiva

cast a gracious look at it, and lo! Daksha got up though from

sleep and saw Shiva in front of him. He was however not the same

Daksha of before. Shiva's compassionate glance on him had

purified him, and the same heart which once harbored intense

hatred against Shiva, was now restored to its pristine purity

like a pool in autumn. He tried to address Shiva but, remembering

his deceased daughter, he was overwhelmed with emotion and

affection. However, he controlled himself and with a choked throat said:

 

" O' Venerable Lord, Even though I disrespected you, you showed a

great favor by meting out a corrective punishment to me. I did

not know your essence and hence pierced you with my sharp words

in the assembly. However, you compassionate one did not pay heed

to my mistake. Due to my offence, I was destined to fall down

into dark hells, but you saved me with your compassionate glance. "

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/daksha.jpg

 

Having thus apologized to Lord Shiva, Daksha then set out to

restore the sacrifice, with the help of the priests and sages. No

sooner had Daksha taken up the oblation in his hand than there

appeared before him the Supreme Lord Vishnu himself. All present

there bowed to him with folded hands.

 

Lord Vishnu said: " I, Brahma and Shiva are one and the same. It

is only the ignorant who view Brahma and Shiva as different from

me. We three are essentially one, and only that individual, who

sees no difference between us, can get real peace. "

 

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Conclusion:

 

The word `daksha' in Sanskrit means `efficient in performing

karma'. It points to the materialistic, logical mode of thinking,

which is the way most of us lead our lives. Shiva represents

faith, and Sati denotes our intellect (buddhi). When the buddhi

leaves faith and joins logic, it is but self-immolation. The

scriptures clearly state that in case of a dispute between

husband and father, a woman's duty is to side with her husband.

Thus in a dispute between logic and faith, it is to the latter

that we must cling to. It is but the natural state of our

intellect. In the case of Sati too, we observe that while she was

at her husband's place, it was affection for her father that was

dominating; and at her father's house, affection for her husband

came to the fore. Actually, attachment to Shiva (faith) was all

the while lying dormant inside her and it only needed a spark to

manifest forth. However much the buddhi tries to cling to its

logical moorings, it will find rest only on the shore of absolute faith.

 

Well-dressed gentlemen addicted to the material life of the

householder do not have any attachment for semi-clad saints.

Winston Churchill never met Gandhi, calling him a `half-naked

fakir.' However, the company of these very saints is said to

unshackle the bonds of worldly life:

 

`While attachment to worldly objects is the mighty chain

fettering down the soul to samsara, this same very attachment,

when transferred to saints, is the open door to liberation.'

(Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.25.20)

 

The way of the saints is beyond the comprehension of the worldly.

They do bhakti wherever they are seated, not requiring specially

marked places (temples etc) like we do. Shiva, who is always in a

state of constant samadhi, was doing so in that gathering too.

When Daksha entered the assembly hall, at that moment too Shiva

was seated with his eyes closed in inward trance. What is there

to see in this world for exalted ones like Lord Shiva?

 

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Daksha chastises Shiva for living in the cremation grounds. The

whole world is a cremation ground. Kashi itself is a big

cremation ground for all to see. Even the house is a cremation

ground. This suggests that Shiva, the Supreme God, lives

everywhere. He reviles Shiva for being the god of spirits and

ghosts. If Shiva were not there to accept such fallen souls, who

could they look upto for spiritual upliftment? Lord Vishnu

accepts only the highest quality Vaishnavas, much purified by

penances, conduct etc. What about impure creatures, who is going

to look after them? It is the magnanimous Shiva who does this

job. Shiva does not seem to follow the established code of

conduct. Why should he? He is beyond the shackles of Maya, and

therefore beyond the injunctions of the Vedas.

 

The Bhagavatam clearly says:

 

`Shiva has no relative or non-relative in this world. Nobody is

specially respectable or condemnable to him. There is none equal

or superior to him. He is the ultimate goal of saintly people,

yet chooses for himself a ghastly way of life. This is because he

wishes to remind us that this body is but destined to be food for

dogs. Those unfortunate people who delight in decorating it with

fine garments, ornaments, garlands etc, don't understand Shiva,

who is ever absorbed in self-bliss.' (3.14.25-27)

 

One thing definitely is for sure; no progress is possible for

those who criticize Lord Shiva or those, who like Daksha, give no

part of their worship to him.

 

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This article by Nitin Kumar

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References and Further Reading

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Dogre, Shri Ramachandra Keshav. Shrimad Bhagavat Rahasya

(Collection of Discourses): Delhi.

 

Saraswati, Swami Akhandananda Bhagawatamrit (The Elixir of the

Bhagwat) Mumbai, 2005.

 

Saraswati, Swami Akhandananda. Bhagavata Darshan (Collection of

Discourses in Two Volumes): Mumbai, 2003.

 

Saraswati, Swami Akhandananda (tr). Shrimad Bhagavata Purana (2

Volumes): Gorakhpur, 2004.

 

Swami, Shridhar. Commentary on the Shrimad Bhagavatam: Delhi, 2003.

 

Tagare, G.V. (tr). The Bhagavata Purana (5 Volumes (Annotated))

Delhi, 2002.

 

Tejomayananda, Swami. Shrimad Bhagavata Pravachan (Discourses on

The Shrimad Bhagavata Purana): Mumbai, 2006.

 

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> Lord Shiva are said as our FATHER

>

> Also it is said that we all are His sajni(wives).

>

> How both are true. could you pelase expalin it

>

> HARE RAM, HARE RAM, RAM RAM,HARE HARE, HARE KRISHAN, HARE KRISHAN, KRISHAN

KRISHAN,HARE HARE

>