Daksha is a renowned Prajapati. He was born from the thumb of
Lord Brahma. Daksha was the chief of the patriarchs. Daksha had twenty four daughters by his wife
Prasuti.
Daksha had twenty-seven other daughters, who were afterwards stellarised in the lunar mansions.
The full account of the great sacrifice of Daksha can be found in
Vayu Purana.
Sati, one of the daughters of Daksha was married to
Lord Shiva. But as Daksha was offended with Shiva, he did not invite both Sati and her husband during his sacrifice. But, Sati came herself to attend the sacrificial ceremony but when Daksha insulted and abused her husband, she jumped in the flames of the sacrifice and ended her life.
On hearing about the death of
Sati,
Lord Shiva was infuriated. The angered Shiva tore off a lock of his hair and cast it with violence to the ground. It took the form of Vira Bhadra, who had a thousand hands. Then, Lord Shiva sent him to destroy the sacrifice of Daksha. According to some legends, it is believed that Vira Bhadra cut off Daksha`s head
Again, as per the
Vishnu Purana, Vira Bhadra, the killer of Daksha was created from Shiva`s mouth. It is said that the gods displayed at the conduct of Vira Bhadra, who destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha. Hence, all the gods went to the Lord Brahma and complained against him. Thereafter,
Lord Brahma went to Lord Shiva and requested him on behalf of
Daksha to negotiate the matter. Then Lord Shiva went to the scene of disorder and revived Daksha. But, as his head was not found, it was replaced with that of a ram.
The exploits of the Rudras on the occasion are particularly specified in the
Kurma Purana and the
Bhagavata Puranas. It is said there that
Indra and
Yama were knocked down in the sacrifice of Daksha by the followers of Shiva. Saraswati and the Matris have their noses cut off. Mitra or Bhaga has his eyes pulled out. Pusha`s teeth were knocked down to his throat, Chandra was punched, Vahni`s hands are cut off and
Bhrigu lost his beard.
The Brahmans present in the sacrifice of Daksha were pelted with stones and the Prajapatis are beaten. The gods and demigods are run through with swords or stuck with arrows. Other accounts state that Daksha himself propitiated the mighty god, the holder of the trident, Maheshwara.
