Shankari Devi Shakti Peetha - Sri Lanka Part I
Sati also called Uma was the youngest daughter of Daksha Prajapati and She was the pet child of King Daksha. Sati was deeply in love with Lord Shiva because of His purity and decided to become his wife. But self-centered, Her father was not interested to marry his daughter to Lord Shiva, because he was unaware that Lord Shiva is one of the Main Gods in the trinity. On the other side, Devi Sati's worship and devotion to Shiva strengthened Her immense desire to become the wife of Lord Shiva. Sati won Shiva as her husband by undergoing severe "Tapas" meaning austerities. Ultimately, royal princess Sati married God Shiva who led a very modest life, like living among the downtrodden, wore tiger skin, smeared ashes on his body, had thick locks of matted hair, and was full of purity.
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Mata Sati Blessed by Lord Shiva |
Daksha - A Proud Prajapati
Once Lord Brahma conducted a huge "Yajna also called Yagna" meaning sacrifice, where all the Prajapatis, Gods, and kings of the world were invited. Shiva and Sati were also invited. When the ceremony starts King Daksha came last When he arrived, everyone in the yajna, with the exception of Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, and Devi Sati, stood up showing reverence for him. Brahma being Daksha's father and Shiva being Daksha's son-in-law were considered superior in stature to Daksha. But Daksha didn't understand Shiva’s gesture and planned to take revenge for his insult in the same manner as he was insulted.
Brihaspatistava - A Sacrifice Conducted by Daksha Prajapati
Daksha conducted a Yajma called Brihaspatistava, with the prime motive of insulting Lord Shiva, and sage Bhrigu was to have presided over the yajna. He invited all the Gods, Prajapatis, and kings of the Universe to attend the yajna except Lord Shiva and Devi Sati. The sage Dadhichi argued that "without twelve Aditya Gods, and there was no "Havvis" meaning sacrificial portion allotted to Shiva and his wife Mata Sati, all sacrifices are incomplete according to the Vedic hymns". Still, Daksha ignored sage Dadhichi's advice and continued the ceremony.
Devi Sati Want to Attend - Brihaspatistava Yajana
When Devi Sati came to know that Her father conducting a Brihaspatistava Yajana and become very happy, She asked Lord Shiva to accompany Her but God Shiva told Her that it's not the right way without the invitation to attend the Yajna. She constantly pleaded and urged Shiva to let her attend the ceremony. He allowed Sati to go to Her parent's home, along with his followers including Nandi, and attend the ceremony, but refused to accompany Her.
Devi Sati Cursed Her Father and Warned
Devi Sati entered the ceremony with great joy, and tried to meet her parents and sisters but Daksha according to his plan insulted Devi Sati and Lord Shiva. In front of all guests, he called Shiva an atheist and cremation ground dweller. This was not tolerated by Devi Sati, She felt deep remorse for not listening to her beloved husband. The shameless insult and humiliation of Her and Her beloved eventually became too much to bear. Ultimately, She cursed Her father and warned that the wrath of Shiva would destroy him and his empire. Unable to bear further humiliation, Sati immolated herself by jumping into the sacrificial fire.
Birth of Virabhadra and Bhadrakali
Lord Shiva was deeply pained upon hearing of his wife's self-immolation. His deep sorrow grew into terrible anger and He realized how the cruel Daksha had planned deceptive action against Him. But it was His innocent wife, Who fell into the surprise attack instead of Lord Shiva. This makes Shiva more anger and in His grief He plucked a lock of hair from His head and badly hit on the ground, breaking it into two with His leg. And gave birth to two fearsome beings called Virabhadra and Bhadrakali also called Rudrakali, Rudrakali means one who is ready for destroying. Then Shiva ordered them to kill Daksha and Daksha-Yajna-Nasha meaning "destruction of Daksha's sacrifice".
Supreme Almighty - the Parabrahma
The ferocious Virabhadra and Bhadrakali, along with the Bhutaganas, reached the Brihaspatistava Yejana spot and destroyed everything. They punished all, one who supports Daksha and Virabhadra captured Daksha and decapitated him. Daksha begs for mercy from the formless Supreme Almighty, the Parabrahma. The Parabharma informs Daksha that Shiva is in fact a manifestation of Parabrahma. Daksha then becomes a great devotee of Shiva.
Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu Went to Meet the Grief-Stricken Lord Shiva
The sudden obstruction and stopping of the Brihaspatistava Yjana, started severe ill effects on nature, by looking the Lord Brahma and the Lord Vishnu went to meet the grief-stricken Lord Shiva. They showed their sympathy towards God Shiva and requested him to allow the yajna to be completed. Shiva agreed and visited the Yjana Shala and asked Bhutagana to stop the destruction, then He gave permission to continue Yjana. Daksha was excused by Shiva and the head of a ram (Male goat) was fixed on the decapitated body of Daksha and gave his life back. The yajna was completed successfully.
Existence of Shakti Peethas
Lord Shiva was so distressed and in grief, He picked up the remains of Devi Sati's body and started Tandava Nritya, 'Tandava Nritya is ferocious dance', by this dance the whole Universe was disturbed. All the Gods, frightened and approached Lord Vishnu to intervene to stop the destruction. To reduce Shiva's grief, Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra and cut Sati's corpse into a number of pieces and these pieces fall at several places on the earth. These places commemorating each body part came to be known as the Shakti pesetas. According to Hindu mythology, there are 108 Shakti Peethas and the first 18 are considered as Maha Shakti Peethas and the next 51 are considered as sub-Shakti Peethas and the remaining are called the special shrine of Shakti Peethas. Shankari Devi temple in Sri Lanka is the first Shakti Peetha out of 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
To be continued...
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