Legend of Sati ? [ To Ananda Swamiji ]

[Guest guest]

, Ananda Swamiji

<ananda_swamiji wrote: According to legend, at some time in

the Satya Yuga, Daksha performed a yagna (named Vrihaspati) with a

desire of taking revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha was angry because his

daughter Sati had married Shiva against his wishes. Daksha invited

all the deities to the yagna except for Shiva and Sati. The fact

that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the

yagna. She had expressed her desire to attend to Shiva who had tried

his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to

go escorted by his ganas (followers).

>

> But Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect.

Furthermore, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her

father's insults toward her husband, so she committed suicide by

jumping into the pyre.

>

> When Lord Shiva heard about her death he became furious. He went

to the place where Daksha was performing his yagna and destroyed the

area. Daksha was killed by Shiva's ganas.

>

> Lord Shiva then carried Sati's body all over the world in a state

of wild grief. At the request of all other gods, Lord Vishnu ("The

Preserver" in Hindu mythology) severed Sita's body into 51 pieces

with his Sudarshan Chakram, so that Lord Shiva could return to his

sanity and once again take up his duties. Various parts of Sati's

body fell at different places which became known as Shakti Peethas.

>

>

 

Salutation to you Swamiji : Now I really have problem with this

especially with regards to the story of Sati. You said legend? Can

you quote the source of this legend?

 

I like to bring you attention to Kalika Purana : Introduction and

Translation in English by Dr Biswanarayan Shastri.

 

Chapter sixteen :

 

15. In the meantime Daksa, the benefactor of the entire world

started a sacrifice [yajNa] called Sarvajivana, for the welfare of

all the living beings.

 

In this yajNa he invited all the living form with exception of Shiva

and Sati, and his excuse was see no 29

 

29. "Sambhu is a kapali [wearer of human-skull] and hence he is no

eligible to the sacrifice" thus deciding Daksa did not invite Sambhu

to his sacrifice

 

30. Daksa found fault with Sati also, because she was the wife of a

KapAlin, therefore, did not invite her also though she happened to

be his own daughter.

 

31-32. Sati having heared about the commencement of such as big

sacrifice by her father Daksa and also having learnt the fact "I am

not invited because I am the wife of a KapAlin" she grew severely

angry with Daksa; her eyes turned red and wanted to destroy him by

inflicting a terrible curse on him

 

33. Sati, thought was angry, recollect the previous decisions did

not inflict any curse on Daksa.

 

34. What is the use of hurling a curse on Daksa? It was previously

firmly agreed upon that the moment he [daksa] would show slightest

disregard to me I should give up my life, she recollect.

 

35. This was the term agreed upon by me when Daksa with a view to

getting a child, propitiated me for a long time. This is being so

why should I inflict a curse on him - She thought.

 

36-37. Thus pondering the Sati recalled her own eternal form, the

complete and the indivisible, the terrible one, which is the

embodiment of the entire universe. DAksAyanI after recalling her

enternal form, called Yoganidra [VisnumAya] of Hari started

reasoning in her mind.

 

38. I know not what for I was propitiated by Daksa under the

instruction of Brahma? That Sankara is not blessed with a son up

till now.

 

39. So far only one object of the gods has been achieved that

Sankara, with me in view, had developed the desire for having a

woman.

 

40. But no woman except me sahll be able to make Sambhu lustful, and

he shall accept none bu tme for his wife.

 

41. Inspite of this I shall give up my life in accordance with the

condition stipulated by me earlier. I shall again be born in the

mountain [Himalayas] for the welfare of the world.

 

47. The daughter of Daksa having given her serious thought over the

matter and remembering the terrible deeds of Daksa once again flew

in rage.

 

48. Then Sati, with eyes turning red in anger by adopting a posture

of yoga closed al lthe [nine ] doors in her body and made an

indistinguished sound [sphota]

 

49. By that sound her spirit went out from her body by breaking open

the tenth door.

 

 

My question is : Was sati really angry because he husband not

invited or its much more. Look at [15] In the meantime Daksa, the

benefactor of the entire world started a sacrifice [yajNa] called

Sarvajivana, for the welfare of all the living beings.

 

Now if you are doing something for the welfare of all living beings,

as an honest and so called benefactor of the entire world have shown

discrimination towards another group of living things who have no

harm nor evil to him. As such his action is wrong. Sati being the

great Devi herself, full with wisdom and justice, is angry for this

purpose. This whole discrimination should not have exist at all. You

discriminate the living things, is also the same as discriminating

DEVI herself for she is the Mother of all the living things.

 

Now this whole statement : "Sati was unable to bear her

father's insults toward her husband, so she committed suicide by

jumping into the pyre" to me is a distortation, which is subequently

used against women as a standard measure of their devotion to their

husband.

[Guest guest]

Can anyone enlighten on the significance of Sati in the tantras? not the legend merely..............she was the original Goddess..........what does she signify........is there any Sati rahasya? or Sati tantra?

 

NMadasamy <nmadasamy (AT) nmadasamy (DOT) com> wrote: , Ananda Swamiji

<ananda_swamiji wrote: According to legend, at some time in

the Satya Yuga, Daksha performed a yagna (named Vrihaspati) with a

desire of taking revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha was angry because his

daughter Sati had married Shiva against his wishes. Daksha invited

all the deities to the yagna except for Shiva and Sati. The fact

that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the

yagna. She had expressed her desire to attend to Shiva who had tried

his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to

go escorted by his ganas (followers).

>

[Guest guest]

Sati signifies the 52 Shakti Peeths in the human body each represented by a

Sanskrit letter. 52 ways to know Sati, also known as Shakti.