Daksha Yagam - Irayimpan Thampi(1782 to 1856)                                                                         BACK

This is a story from Bhagavatha.

 Daksha Prajapathi was the son of Brahma. One day he and his wife Vedavalli were walking along the banks of river Yamuna when he sees a floating beaugle which when he picks up turns out to be a new born baby girl. Daksha adopted the girl, named her Sathi, and as she grew up she turned out to be a beautiful maiden. Sathi from the beginning wished to marry Shiva the Lord Ultimate. She goes to a tapovana and starts a Tapas to attain her objective. Shiva comes to her as an old brahmin to test her sincerety. The old brahmin starts scolding Shiva and hearing this Sati could not bear it. She tries to escape from him at which time he shows his real identity.

 Every body is invited and Shiva's marriage with Sati takes place in style. But as soon as the marriage was over Shiva and his wife disappeared from the marriage hall without performing the parting ceremonies. This infuriates Daksha. However the Sages pacify him and as per their advice he goes to Kailasa to see Shiva. However Daksha is stopped at the entrance by Shiva's bodyguard, Nandikeshwara. Dakasha comes back with a hurt ego.

Daksha decides to avenge for the insult and organises a great Yaga in which Shiva alone is not invited. Sati wanted to go for the Yaga mainly to meet her sisters. But Shiva warns that if she goes uninvited it may lead to unhappy scenes at the Yaga Sala. But Sathi thinks her father who loved her much may not harm her. Also her wish to see her sisters was so strong that she went without the permission of Shiva. As expected Daksha was angry on seeing Sathi and scolds her and throws her out of the Yaga Sala. She informs Shiva about the insult and throws herself into fire and dies.

Shiva could not bear this. He pulls his hair and stikes it on the ground from where came two terrible forces Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali. They were ordered by Shiva to destroy Daksha's Yaga. They went and completely destroyed the Yaga Sala and cut off Daksha's head and replaced it with a bull's head. The bull headed Daksha comes to Shiva and asks for mercy. Shiva warns him but gives him pardon.

Daksha and Shiva are Pacha veshams but Shiva's makeup has a yellowish colour. The old brahmin and pujaris and Sati, Vedavalli are Minuku vesham. Nandikeshwara is White beard. VeeraBhadra and Bhadrakali are special huge and elaborate veshas.