Daksha Yajña, Satī and Vīrabhadra

The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells of the great conflict at Daksha’s yajña (fire ritual) in Chapters 2 to 4. It begins with a quarrel between Brahmā and Rudra, in which Śiva cuts off Brahmā’s fifth head. The brahmahatyā (the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa) that follows makes Śiva wander as Kapālī. The account ends with Satī giving up her body when she learns of the insult at the yajña, and the destruction of the yajña by Vīrabhadra and Bhadrakālī.

Brahmā’s pride and the fifth head

While Daksha’s yajña was being arranged, a conflict rose between Brahmā and Rudra over rank and respect. During this quarrel Śiva cut off Brahmā’s fifth head, the head that had spoken with pride and falsehood. This act was brahmahatyā, because a brāhmaṇa’s head had been struck down. The pāpa (sin) of brahmahatyā took the form of a terrifying woman and attached itself to Mahādeva Śiva.

Śiva wanders as Kapālī

The skull of Brahmā stuck to Śiva’s palm, and the brahmahatyā followed close behind him. Śiva wandered through the sacred tīrthas of Bhārata, hoping to be freed. He went to Gayā, to Prayāga, and to many holy meeting-places of rivers. The brahmahatyā clung to him through all of them.

At last Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared and sent Śiva to Vārāṇasī. This is the city over which Śiva himself rules as Viśvanātha, and there alone the pāpa could be washed away. Śiva entered Vārāṇasī. The skull of Brahmā fell from his hand by itself. The tīrtha that made this freedom holy came to be known as Kapālamocana tīrtha, and it is famous to this day.

Satī gives up her body

Daksha, son of Brahmā, arranged a great yajña. He left out both Śiva and Satī from the invitations, because of his long dislike and scorn for Śiva’s unusual ways.

When Satī learned that her father had arranged this great rite and had not called her husband, she burned with shame and grief. Śiva advised her not to go, but she insisted on attending. At the yajña, Daksha insulted Śiva in public with harsh words. Satī could not bear the dishonour done to her husband. In front of the gathered brāhmaṇas and devas she gave up her body by the power of yoga (prāṇa-tyāga), an act born of devotion and anger, and left this world.

Vīrabhadra destroys the yajña

When the news of Satī’s death reached Śiva, his grief turned into fury that shook the worlds. From his matted locks and the blazing fire of his anger, Vīrabhadra was born, a being of unmatched power and terrible form. With him arose Bhadrakālī, born from the wrath of Devī Durgā. Together, at the head of Śiva’s gaṇas, they came down upon the place of the yajña.

The ground of the yajña was shattered. Daksha’s head was cut off. The devas were wounded and scattered. The great yajña was completely destroyed.

When Vīrabhadra’s destruction was at its height, Bhagavān Vishṇu himself entered the battle to protect the devas. The fight between Vishṇu and Vīrabhadra was of great force. Vīrabhadra’s power was such that even Bhagavān Vishṇu could not overcome him by force alone.

Sources

• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 2 (Brahmā’s fifth head, brahmahatyā)
• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 3 (Śiva as Kapālī, Vārāṇasī, Kapālamocana)
• Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 4 (Satī’s prāṇa-tyāga, Vīrabhadra and the destruction of the yajña)