This story is a retelling of a tale from India's rich mythology.

The Dance of Destruction

by Moushumi Chakrabarty

Way back in the mists of time, Brahma decided to create ten sons. He manifested their bodies and souls and they took form in the Universe. Two of these were Daksha and Shiva. Both were illustrious, but by far, Shiva was the more powerful.

Daksha began to resent the mighty Shiva without realizing that he was actually one of the trinity of Gods. In time, Daksha had a beautiful daughter, virtuous and comely. He named her Sati.

From the time Sati entered womanhood, her mind was made up. She wanted to be Shiva's wife more than anything else. She prayed and performed many penances, endured hardships while fasting and concentrating on the image of her Lord.

Up on Mount Kailash where Shiva resided, he felt the tug that Sati exuded, answered her cry of love and married her. A grand wedding it was too! All the gods and goddesses were invited to the wedding. Shiva, decked in his animal skins, with wild flowing hair, and Sati, the maiden with joy radiating from her entire being - a match made in Heaven!

The happy couple lived on Mount Kailash amid thundering rivers of the purest iced water, tall pines and myriad flowers. Their mornings passed listening to the bird song, the whisper of the winds, the tinkling of the waterfalls. At night they watched the stars in their heaven, their eyes looking on the great Universe. Their souls were joined as one, singing the song of eternal love of the two halves of the Self.

They descended to Prayag once for a yagna, a fire ceremony. Amid the thousands gathered in the hall, everyone rose in respect when Shiva, the great mendicant entered. He took his seat along with Sati. When Daksha entered, all present arose except Shiva.

"He is my son-in-law and he did not show respect by rising! I will get even, I vow!"

Daksha ground his teeth and clenched his fists though outwardly he remained calm.

Shiva was thinking to himself, "He did not understand that I cannot rise to greet him. Since I am more powerful, it will only mean harm will befall him if I rise. But he cannot see beyond the obvious."

A few months after this incident, Daksha, seething with suppressed anger, organised a massive yagna. He invited all, from the Earth and Heavens. Numerous gods and holy men, commoners and kings were to attend the event. Huge arrangements were made as Daksha strove to outdo every other yagna ever performed. He was consumed by jealousy and rage while planning this magnificent event.

"I will show that good for nothing how powerful I am. I will not invite him. That will be insult enough!" he gloated, surveying the arrangements from his palace windows.

On Mount Kailash, Sati noticed a stream of travellers journeying downwards. She approached Shiva, "My lord, where is everyone going?"

Shiva was silent for some moments. Then he gently said, "They are going to the yagna organized by your father, Daksha."

Sati was bewildered, "Then why were you not invited?"

By the special tie that bound them, she understood that it was because of the feelings of jealousy and rivalry that her father harboured in his heart for Shiva. She looked into his eyes and said, "Grant me my wish, I want to go to the yagna. A girl does not need invitation to go to her father's house, does she?"

Shiva only said with great sadness, "Beloved, you will not be able to face the insults offered to me. Do not go."

But Sati pleaded till Shiva's heart melted and he permitted her to go, making her promise to keep her cool.

When Sati reached the yagna, there were thousands already congregating beside the holy fire. The flames leapt as Daksha jeered, "So, daughter, you have come? Where is your husband, the one who sits amid the goblins of cremation grounds? Can he even not dress properly as befits his status, instead of those animal skins and ashes?"

Sati was pained as she tried to explain, "Father, my husband is a great soul, a mendicant like no other. He is above the ordinary"

Ha! You call him a mendicant? Look, these are holy men, those who look like this. They have all come to my yagna! Your husband is a good for nothing vagabond, spending his time amid ghouls and spirits.

Sati could bear it no longer. She covered her ears as tears fell in vain. Her long flowing hair whipped up in the wind. All around them, kings and holy men stared, shocked at Daksha's words.

But he didn't stop. His hurtful words continued, falling like live coals on Sati's ears.

At last, she opened her eyes, and wiped the tears. With a deep sigh, she said, "I will return to Mother Earth. I cannot bear to hear my lord berated. I am ashamed to call you father. I will be born of a different father in my next birth."

Sati walked into the leaping flames and was consumed. The world darkened as a portent of terrible times to come. But Daksha, maddened with his rage and jealousy, continued with his yagna.


Shiva on Mount Kailash let out a terrible roar when he heard the news. With his powers, he created an army of demons and rushed towards the yagna. With Sati's half burnt body on his shoulders, mad with grief and anger, Shiva started his dance of destruction, the Tandava. There was havoc everywhere in the Universe. All of his latent energy passed on to his dance and the destruction of the world seemed imminent.

Lord Vishnu conferred with Brahma on how to diffuse Shiva's deep anger and grief. With the rotating wheel of Lord Vishnu, the Sudarshan Chakra, Sati's body was cut up into parts and fell to the earth - each of these places became holy sites in time. Brahma managed to calm down Shiva before he destroyed the world.

Shiva went into deep meditation after that and the world was saved.