[Advaita-l] Stories from the Shiva Purana - 7 (The Commencement of Daksha’s Sacrifice)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from the previous post. The story of Daksha's Sacrifice is one of the most important events in the Shiva Purana, since it reveals
the Destructive Aspect of The Supreme:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226046.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226047.html
Section 2.2, Chapter 26-27)
 
 
Formerly, a great sacrifice was performed by the sages and noble souls who assembled at Prayaga. Lord Shiva, accompanied by His attendants and Sati
came there, the Lord conferring benefit on the three worlds and affording them protection.
 
In the meantime, the lord Daksha, the lord of Prajapatis, came there delighted by shedding lustre everywhere in the course of a casual visit.
Lord Shiva who indulges in diverse sports, sat firmly and did not bow to him. Naturally the Lord who is the cause of protection is Independent.
Seeing Shiva not bowing to him, Daksha, was furious with Shiva.
 
Daksha said, “How is it that this shameless frequenter of cremation grounds does not bow to me now? Let not this Shiva, a resident of cremation grounds,
lacking in nobility of birth and pedigree, expelled by me from sacrifices, an outcaste and ugly-shaped, obtain His share along with the devas”.
 
Nandishvara said, “O foolish Daksha, of roguish and wicked intention, how is it that you have expelled my Lord Shiva from sacrifice? How is it that
you cursed Him whose thought makes all sacrifices fruitful and all sacred places holy?”
 
Sadashiva said, “O Nandin of great intellect, listen. Do not get angry. You have cursed the Brahmins in vain, erroneously thinking that I have
been cursed. I am the sacrifice, the sacrificial rite, the ancillary adjuncts of the sacrifice, the Self of sacrifice and one engrossed in sacrifice.
I am out of sacrifice too. Extracting the fundamental basis of the construction of the universe through the knowledge of reality, be enlightened
and self-assured, O intelligent one. Be free from anger and other emotions.”
 
Thus exhorted by Shiva, Nandikeshvara became calm and free from anger and took up discrimination as the ultimate aim. After enlightening him and
also his favourite Ganas, Shiva returned to His abode accompanied by His Ganas with great delight. Seething with fury and malice against Shiva,
Daksha went to his abode along with the Brahmins.
 
Once a great sacrifice was started by Daksha. To partake in that sacrifice, the celestial and terrestrial sages and devas were invited by Shiva and
they reached the place being deluded by Shiva’s Maya.
 
All the devas, the guardians of the quarters of rising fortune, the subordinate devas with their offers of help and service attended the sacrifice.
Daksha, the evil-minded, did not invite Shiva for that sacrifice, deciding that He was not worthy of taking part in the sacrifice because He was a Kapalin.
In the meantime, Dadhichi, a devotee of Shiva, realising that Lord Shiva was not there became dispirited and spoke thus.
 
Dadhichi said, “Why has not Shiva taken part in the festivities of this sacrifice? Of course, the chiefs of devas, the great sages and the guardians of
the quarters have all come. Yet the sacrifice cannot be perfect and complete without the Noble-souled, Trident-holder Shiva. If Shiva comes here,
the sacrifice will become sanctified, else it will remain incomplete and imperfect. I am telling you the truth.”
 
Daksha said, “Of what avail is Shiva to us in this place? O Brahmin, of course I have given my daughter to Him but that was because I was persuaded by Brahma.
O Brahmin, this Shiva is not a man of nobility. He has neither father nor mother. He is the Lord of goblins, ghosts and spirits and is incorrigible. He is
a haughty self-conceited fool with false prestige and hostility. He is unworthy of this sacred rite. Hence He is not invited by me.”
 
Dadhichi said, “This sacrifice has become ‘Non-sacrifice’ without the presence of Shiva. Indeed your destruction is imminent in this very sacrifice.”
 
The celestial sages deluded by Shiva’s Maya performed the worship of the deities in that sacrifice.
 
 
(To be Continued)