PRAGATI SHAHI & ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, OCT 09
The origin of these Shakti Peethas has an interesting myth associated with the death of lord Mahadev’s first wife Sati Devi, in Hindu religion. It is said in the Puranas that Dakshya Prajapati, father of Sati Devi once organised a grand religious feast in which all deities of the universe that were married to Dakshya’s 330 million (tettis koti) daughters were invited. However, infuriated at his most beloved daughter’s (Sati Devi’s) marriage with Yogi Lord Mahadev (also known as Lord Shiva), he didn’t invite Sati Devi and Mahadev.
Irked at her father’s disregard of her and her husband, Sati Devi pressed Mahadev to let her go and visit her father once. Despite Mahadev’s refusal, Sati, reached her father’s grand feast where all her 330 sisters with their respective husbands were present. Upon reaching there, she asked her father the reason for his hatred of her and Mahadev.
Stating that his hatred was for Mahadev, Dakshya said that he always wanted to invite Sati to the feast but couldn’t due to Mahadev, who according to Dakshya, was good for nothing. Furthermore, he scorned the power of Mahadev saying that his power was useless in front of his 33 crore son-in-laws. He criticised Mahadev’s ways of living and even called him uncivilized.
Furious at her father’s disregard of her husband, Sati Devi sacrificed herself by jumping into the ceremonial bonfire. Sati Devi died but Agni, the fire god dared not burn her body due to fear of Mahadev’s rage. At Sati’s death all present fled from the feast. Learning of his wife’s death from Nandi, the messenger of the gods, Shiva came and beheaded his father-in-law Dakshya Prajapati.
Crazed with grief, Mahadev picked up Sati’s dead body and performed the Tandava, the dance of destruction, in the universe. Mahadev showed no signs of stopping as long as Sati’s body was on his shoulder. Fearing the destruction of the entire universe, Vishnu created a divine house-fly which ate away at Sati’s body by degrees. The various parts of the body fell at 51 spots all throughout the Indian subcontinent and formed the sites which are known as Shakti Piths today.
At all Shakti Peethas, the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by Lord Bhairava (a manifestation of Lord Shiva). Nine of those spots fell into Kathmandu Valley where each day starting from Ghatasthapana, the first day marking Dashain, the devotees visit to worship the goddess and pay their offerings.
According to Hindu belief, sacrificing animals at Shakti Peethas during this period has its own significance. Hari Acharya, one of the priests at Bhadrakali temple said that sacrifice is mainly aimed at pleasing the mother Goddess Durga. “It is the time when Durga achieved victory over a devil called Mahisasura,” he said. “Therefore, sacrificing is a symbol of celebration of feast on the victory of good over evil. It is believed that pleasing the Goddess by offering her blood pleases her, thereby bringing happiness to mankind. If the Goddess is properly worshiped and pleased during this period of time, good fortune is certain.”
Animal activists are calling for a stop to animal sacrifices during Dashain and other religious festivals but these bloodless rituals have firm foundation in Nepal’s culture. “Festivals and pujas need to be harmonising and enjoyable experiences for all members of the community, including children. Rituals that involve cruelty are promoted to attract more business,” said Pramada Shah, chairperson of Animal Welfare Network Nepal.
Published in The Kathmandu Post -- October 10
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