6. Destruction of Dakṣa yajña

In the Purāṇic literature, lord Śiva is depicted as also a destructive god. His formidable activities has reveled his destructive forms in the Purāṇas.

In later literarure, it is stated that once Dakṣa, the father of Pārvatī performed a sacrifice. He invited all the gods except Śiva. When Satī came to know about this great yajña she came to her husband, i.e. Śiva and asked him why he did not go to this sacrifice. Then Śiva answered her that it is not appropriate to attend a function without invitation. On hearing that Satī went to her father’s sacrifice with the attendance of Śiva and met her parents. In front of Satī, Dakṣa insulted Śiva saying he was an ascetic, cremation ground dweller, there is no share for him. Satī could not bear her husband’s insult from her father and she jumped into the sacrificial fire and relinquished her life. Hearing the news of Satī’s death, lord Śiva became furious. He plucked a lock of hair from his head and threw on the mountain. This lock of hair divided into two parts. From the first half of that braided hair Virabhadra was born and from the other half Bhadrakālī or Mahākālī was born. Śiva commanded them to kill Dakṣa and to destroy his sacrifice. Then Vīrabhadra and Bhadrakālī along with Śiva’s gaṇas reached the sacrificial place. Rudra’s gaṇas destroyed the sacrifice though it was well guarded by the gods. Thereafter, Vīrabhadra held Dakṣa’s neck and cut it off.^[1]