Shiva and Sati

Story

When King Daksha visits the goddess Adi-Parashatki and asks her to be reincarnated as his daughter, she agrees but says she will turn back into a goddess if he offends her. Adi-Parashatki becomes ‘Sati’, the new daughter of Daksha. Sati falls in love with Shiva and marries him which angers Daksha.

Why we chose it

The stories of Shiva and Sati are ancient tales from Hindu mythology.

Where it came from

The story can be found in the Puranas: a body of Indian legends and traditional folklore. The Puranas are written in Sanskrit and date back to teh 3rd-10th century BCE. They contain over 400,000 verses! It is likely that many authors contributed to it, but it is often associated with the Indian poet Vyasa.

Where it went next

Sati’s story inspired many ‘Shakti Peethas’ which are shrines dedicated to Hindu Goddesses. There are over 50 of these! It is also the reason behind the 27-day ceremony ‘Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam’ which takes place in a jungle in Kerala, India. It is believed this is where the interaction between Sati and Daksha took place.

Associated stories

The story also connects to the story of Himavat and Mina where the same goddess, Adi-Parashatki, is reincarnated as their daughter Parvati.