Sati (Hindu goddess)

Sati
Goddess of Marital Felicity and Longevity
Shiva mourns Sati, 19th-century Kalighat painting
Other names	Dakshayani, Dakshakanya
Devanagari	सती
Sanskrit transliteration	Satī
Affiliation	Devi
Abode	Kailasha
Texts	Puranas, Kumarasambhavam, Tantra
Genealogy
Parents	Daksha (father) Prasuti (mother)
Consort	Shiva

Sati (/ˈsʌtiː/, Sanskrit: सती, IAST: Satī, lit. 'truthful' or 'virtuous'), also known as Dakshayani (Sanskrit: दाक्षायणी, IAST: Dākṣāyaṇī, lit. 'daughter of Daksha'), is the Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity, and is worshipped as an aspect of the mother goddess Shakti. Sati was the first wife of Shiva, the other being Parvati, who was Sati's reincarnation after her death.[1]

The earliest mentions of Sati are found in the time of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, but details of her story appear in the Puranas. Legends describe Sati as the favourite child of Daksha, who marries Shiva against her father's wishes. Later, when Daksha organises a yajna (fire-sacrifice) in which he doesn't invite her and her husband, Sati goes to attend it, only to be humiliated by her father. She then immolates herself to protest against him.[2] In Hinduism, both Sati and Parvati, successively play the role of bringing Shiva away from ascetic isolation into creative participation with the world.[3]

Sati's story plays an important part in shaping the traditions of two of the most prominent sects of Hinduism — Shaivism and Shaktism. After Sati's death, Shiva carried her body around the world and started performing Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction. As he did so, the other deities requested Vishnu to stop this and he did so by using his Sudarshana Chakra which divided Sati's body parts falling on the ground at 51 different places. These places are now known as Shakti pithas, and they are sacred to Hindus.

The name "Satī" means "truthful", "virtuous" or "noble" in Sanskrit.[4][5] The word is derived from the "sat" which means "truth".[6]

She is known by various patronymics, though these names can be used for any of the daughters of Daksha. Some of these names include Dakshayani, Dakshakanya and Dakshaja.[7]

According to scholars William J. Winkins and David R. Kinsley, the Vedic scriptures (2nd millennium BCE) do not mention Sati-Parvati but hint to two goddesses associated with Rudra — Rudrani and Ambika.[note 1] In the Kena Upanishad, a goddess called Uma-Hemavati appears as a mediator between the gods and the Supreme Brahman.[note 2][8][9] Both the archeological and the textual sources indicate that the first major appearances of Sati-Parvati were during the period of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (1st millennium BCE).[10][11]

The Mahabharata mentions the destruction of Daksha yajna, the birth of Kartikeya, defeat the Asura Taraka as well as some plays between Shiva and Uma (Parvati). Scholars believe that by the time of the Puranas (c. 4th - 13th century), legends of Sati and Parvati rose to prominence and these were adapted by Kalidasa in his epic poem Kumarasambhavam (c. 5th - 6th century).[10][12] Some of the Puranas which narrate Sati's story are the Vayu Purana, the Skanda Purana, the Bhagavata Purana, the Kurma Purana, the Padma Purana, the Linga Purana, the Shiva Purana, and the Matsya Purana.

Sati was the daughter of Daksha—A Prajapati (agent of creation) and the son of the creator god Brahma—and Prasuti—the daughter of Manu. In some alternate accounts found in the Shiva Purana, Matsya Purana and Kalika Purana, her mother is mention to be Asikni.[13][14] Sati is often mentioned as the youngest and the most beloved daughter of Daksha.[15][16][17] According to the Shakta (goddess-oriented) texts including Devi Bhagavata and the Mahabhagavata Purana, before her birth, Brahma advised Daksha to meditate upon the Great goddess and convince her to take an avatar as their daughter (Sati). The goddess agreed but warned that if he mistreated her, she would abandon her body.[18][19][20][11][21]

Even as a child, Sati adored the tales of Shiva and grew up an ardent devotee. As she grew to womanhood, the idea of marrying anyone else, as intended by her father, became unfair to her. It is believed that Brahma intended to get Sati married to Shiva and bring him into worldly affairs.[19][22][23]

In Hinduism, Sati is considered as an ideal lady. The painting depicts her receiving gifts before her wedding from Kubera and his wife.[24]

Sati is described to be very beautiful but the legends emphasize her penance and devotion, which won the heart of the ascetic Shiva.[25][26] According to the legend, Sati left the luxuries of her father's palace and retired to a forest to devote herself to austerities of a hermetic life and the worship of Shiva. She was often tested by him or his attendants. Finally, Shiva acceded to her wishes and consented to marry. Despite Daksha's unwillingness, the wedding was held in due course with Brahma serving as the priest. Sati moved with Shiva in Kailash. [25] Tension between Shiva and Daksha further arises when Daksha starts to dislike Shiva because of Shiva's odd appearance and behaviour.[3]}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)

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