Editing Daksha (section)

===Daksha Yajna===
{{main|Daksha yajna}}
[[File:Daksha yagna.jpg|thumb|Daksha insults Shiva while arguing with Sati.]]

The [[Daksha Yajna]] is regarded as an important turning point in the creation and development of a number of sects in Hinduism. The story describes the circumstances that replaced [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] with [[Parvati]] as Shiva's consort and later led to the story of [[Ganesha]] and [[Kartikeya]].

One of the daughters of Daksha, often said to be the youngest, was Sati, who had always wished to marry Shiva. Daksha forbade it, but later reluctantly allowed her and she married Shiva.

Once, Daksha organised the Brihaspatistava [[Yajna]] and intentionally did not invite Shiva and Sati. Even though discouraged by Shiva, who told her not to go to a ceremony performed by Daksha where her husband and she were not invited, the parental bond made Sati ignore social etiquette and her husband's wishes. Sati went to the ceremony alone. She was snubbed by Daksha and insulted by him in front of the guests. Sati, unable to bear further insult, ran into the sacrificial fire and immolated herself.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Omesh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8rTDwAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+sati+shiva&pg=PA199 |title=History of Ancient India Revisited, A Vedic-Puranic View. |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=BlueRose Publishers |pages=199 |language=en}}</ref> Shiva, upon learning about the terrible incident, in his wrath invoked [[Virabhadra]] and [[Bhadrakali]] by plucking a lock of hair and thrashing it on the ground. Virabhadra and the [[Bhutagana|bhutaganas]] marched south and destroyed all the premises. Daksha was decapitated, and the site of the ritual was devastated during the rampage.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Omesh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8rTDwAAQBAJ&dq=daksha+sati+shiva&pg=PA199 |title=History of Ancient India Revisited, A Vedic-Puranic View. |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=BlueRose Publishers |pages=200 |language=en}}</ref> [[Bhrigu]], the chief priest of the Yajna, invoked the Ribhus to fight the Ganas, but the former was tied to a pillar and his beard was forcibly plucked off. According to [[Horace Hayman Wilson]], Vahni's hands were cut, [[Bhaga]]'s eyes were plucked out, [[Pushan|Pusha]] had broken teeth, [[Yama]]'s mace was broken, Goddesses' noses were cut, [[Soma (deity)|Soma]] was pummelled, while [[Yajneshwara]], the [[Indra]] of Swayambhuva [[Manvantara]], tried to escape in the form of a deer, but was decapitated. Daksha also tried to escape, but Virabhadra held him and cut off his head (some legends say that he plucked off Daksha's head with his own hands). The head was thrown to the fire, and Virabhadra returned to [[Kailasa]], along with his hordes.

Later, Shiva was pacified. He forgave Daksha and resurrected him, but with a goat's head.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=O'Flaherty |first1=Wendy Doniger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7mBwsmp-g0C&dq=daksha+goat+head&pg=PA99 |title=Other Peoples' Myths: The Cave of Echoes |last2=Doniger |first2=Wendy |date=November 1995 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-61857-9 |pages=99 |language=en}}</ref> Bhrigu and the others were restored their respective parts. With Vishnu as the chief priest, Daksha offered a share of the oblations to Shiva, and the sacrifice was successfully completed.