*GODDESS OF THE WEEK* SATI

[Guest guest]

Sati is so called, according to the Devi-Bhagavad because she is of

the nature of truth. She also represent good fortune, auspicious,

beauty and charm. The name also means the "faithful wife".

Born as

the daughter of Daksa and she is often portrayed as the faithful

wife of Shiva.

 

 

 

Om ParaShaktiye Namaha

[Guest guest]

Sati is usually described as beautiful, but in most versions of her

mythology it is her devotion and asceticism that attracts Shiva's

attention. At times she is tested by Shiva or an agent of Shiva, but

she always persists, and in the end Shiva grants her a boon for her

austerities. They were married but tension begins to develop between

Daksa ( Sati's father ) and Shiva.

 

Daksa distaste for Siva's odd appearance, strange habits and as a

world renouncer, Shiva does not behave accordingly to the ways of the

world. His appearance is most unconventional. Shiva was also

undoubtedly a non-Aryan indigenous diety who was looked upon with

considerable suspicion by the Brahman custodians of the sacrificial

cult. His association with world renounciation, asceticism and the

powers of fertility as symbolized by the linga probably marked him as

a deity who belongs to the fringes of society from the point of view

of the Brahman establishment.

 

Sati's death is due to the underlying conflict between Daksan and

Shiva. Sati comes from the realm of established religion, the order

of the dharma and marries into a realm of ascetism, thus combining

herself the two opposing worlds. In this aspect Sati function as a

mediator, trying to bring the two world together.

 

Eventually, it was the death of Sati which brings these conflict to

the end. The reinstitution of the sacrifices and Siva being included

after he restore the head of Daksa represents his acceptance into the

establishment of the Brahman religion. Therefore when Sati kills

herself, she causes the conflict between these two opposing world to

resurface in the open which initially are destructive but eventually

resulted in beneficial and creative.

 

The same can be said about Sati's body, when Vishnu cut her body to

pieces and falls to earth. She dutifully played two role :

1) by bringing Shiva back down to earth, where he previously he

dwelled in the mountains and engaged in austerities, indifferent to

the ongoing creation.

 

" He was unaware of the manifest world, his mind being fully

absorbed…. Regaining his self composure, he passed the time

contemplating the true form of the goddess" [ Devi Gita 1: 5 ]

 

He followed her to earth and when he found her yoni in one of the

places, he embedded himself in her yoni thus fully engaged in the

creation as symbolized by the conjunction of the yoni and linga.

This act itself by Sati makes Siva accessible to the world ( in the

form of his linga ) and he can still perform his heroic asceticism in

the mountain retreats in one of his several forms.

 

2) By having pieces of her body falling into the various part of

the earth ( this being India ) she have sacrilizing the earth. From

this body pieces various form of establishments ( temples ) emerge.

The earth itself is seen as the body of goddess sati and as such she

made it accessible to her devotees or to those who seek her powers.

 

 

Om ParaShaktiye Namaha