Shiv Salutes Shree Raam

Satee Tests Shree Raam Disguising as Seetaa
But Satee was not satisfied by this reply. She wanted to test, whether Shree Raam was really an incarnation of Vishnu or not. She disguised herself as Seetaa and went to Shree Raam. But Shree Raam recognized her real identity and addressed her as Mother. Satee asked Raam as to why did Shiv salute to her."

Raam narrated the following story to her - "Once, Shiv requested Vishwakarmaa to construct a grand palace and a magnificent throne for Vishnu. When everything was ready, Shiv invited all the deities for the crowning ceremony of Vishnu. Vishnu was requested to be seated on the throne and was worshipped by all the deities including Shiv himself. He assured Vishnu that all of his (Vishnu's) incarnations would be shown respected by his (Shiv's) devotees and I (Raam) am the incarnation of Vishnu."

Satee was now completely satisfied. She felt pity that she had doubted Shiv's words. She went back to Shiv. Shiv stopped looking at Satee, as her consort, because she had personified herself as mother Seetaa. This fact was even corroborated by a heavenly voice. Now Satee's heart was filled up with sorrows. She followed Shiv to the Kailaash Mountain, where he commenced his meditation and went into Samaadhi. She sat down without saying a word. When Shiv came out from his Samaadhi, he saw her sitting there. He felt pity on her and drove away her guilt and sorrows, by giving discourses, but Satee could not be satisfied.

Daksh Yagya - Why Gods were killed

Brahmaa Jee told Naarad that all the incidents happened during the Daksh Yagya were due to the curse of Sage Dadheechi -

Story of King Kshuva
Read the Story of Sthaaneshwar also

In the ancient times, there was a king named Kshuva, who was a great friend of Sage Dadheechi. For some reasons both of them developed animosity towards each other. Dadheechi considered himself superior because of being a Braahman, on the other hand Kshuva considered himself superior on account of his wealth. The dispute took a worse turn and Dadheechi punched him on his head. As a result Kshuva felt down unconscious. When he regained his consciousness he attacked sage Dadheechi with his Vajra which injured Dadheechi.

Dadheechi sought the help of Shukraachaarya. Shukraachaarya healed his wounds by his Mantra. He also taught Dadheechi the Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra. Dadheechi then performed a tremendous penance to please Shiv Jee. Shiv Jee appeared before him and blessed him with three boons, they were (1) his bones, would become as hard as lightning (Vajra), (2) he would not be killed, (3) he would never be humiliated.

Armed with these three boons, Sage Dadheechi went to fight with Kshuva. He kicked him, in return Kshuva too attacked him with his weapon named Vajra, but it did not have any effect on Dadheechi as his bones had become as hard as lightning.

King Kshuva did a tremendous penance to please Vishnu. Vishnu revealed to him that Dadheechi had become immortal because of the blessings of Shiv, but assured him that he would certainly help him in defeating Dadheechi. Vishnu then visited the hermitage of Sage Dadheechi, disguised as a Braahman. Sage Dadheechi, by his Yaugik power came to know about the real identity of the Braahman. He told Him that he had understood that He was Vishnu in the form of a Braahman.

After receiving the hospitality of Dadheechi, Vishnu then went back to Kshuva and instructed him to go to sage Dadheechi and act as if he had accepted his superiority. "Kshuva went to sage Dadheechi and did as he was instructed to do, but Dadheechi did not believe his words. At this Vishnu became angry and tried to kill him by his Sudarshan Chakra, but He could not kill him, as the Chakra, which was given to him by Shiv himself, could not at all harm a devotee of Shiv. Vishnu then tried to kill Dadheechi by shooting volley of arrows. The deities too attacked with their weapon. At this Sage Dadheechi threw only a handful of Kush grass, initiated with Mantra towards them, which destroyed all the weapons of the deities.

In the meantime Brahmaa Jee arrived on the scene accompanied by Kshuva. He told the deities that it was futile to kill Dadheechi as he was invincible, due to the boon given by Shiv." Ultimately King Kshuva begged his forgiveness for his offence. Dadheechi forgave him.

Dadheechi curses Vishnu
Sage Dadheechi cursed Vishnu including all the deities that "they would be burnt to ashes by the wrath of Rudra." "This was the reason why all the deities and Vishnu attended the Yagya, organized by Daksh and got defeated by Veerbhadra."

Brahmaa and Shiv

Once Shiv laughed at Brahmaa Jee. Brahmaa Jee sad to Naarad Jee - "Since the day Shiv had laughed at me, I had grudges against him and wanted to take revenge. I wanted to subdue the arrogance of Shiv by proving it to him that even he could be bonded by attachment, so I asked Daksh and sages like Mareechi as to how this feat could be achieved."

Brahmaa Jee instructed Kaam Dev to influence Shiv by his powers along with Rati's powers. Brahmaa Jee and Daksh became worried and during that time they exhaled fragrant air through their nostrils, which resulted into the creation of spring season. The spring season was looking divinely beautiful in her physical form. He handed over her to Kaam Dev and thus all the three of them (spring season, Kaam Dev and Rati) went to influence Shiv who was in his deep state of meditation. Kaam tried his best to bring Shiv under his influence but could not. All the living creatures were spell bound by his powers except Shiv and Ganesh. Seeing his failure Kaam Dev returned to Brahmaa Jee and told him about his unsuccessful attempts. Brahmaa Jee sighed heavily. From his sighs were created the ferocious Gan. These Gan were named as Maar.

Brahmaa Jee then sent these Gan to Shiv along with Kaam Dev and Rati to give it a second try. Once again their attempts went futile. All of them returned to Brahmaa Jee and expressed their inability in influencing Shiv.

Brahmaa Jee then remembered Vishnu Jee, who appeared there instantaneously. Brahmaa Jee told Vishnu about his grudge and failed attempts to create attachment in Shiv. Vishnu told him that it was foolishness on his part to have grudge towards Shiv. But when Brahmaa Jee kept on insisting, He revealed to him that this could be only achieved only by the blessings of Goddess Paarvatee Jee. Vishnu said - "If she becomes pleased with you, then she could help you in achieving your goal by taking birth in a human form and having Shiv as her husband. Instruct Daksh to do penance so that Paarvatee Jee takes birth in his house."

Hearing this Brahmaa Jee started meditating on the form of goddess Paarvatee. Pleased with Brahmaa Jee's Tapasyaa she appeared before him. Brahma Jee said - "I need your help in binding Shiv with your Maayaa." Paarvatee Jee told Brahmaa Jee that Shiv in his incarnation of Rudra was beyond the reach of any kind of Maayaa, but when Brahmaa kept insisting then Durgaa agreed to help him in his effort. She said - "All right, I will take birth as the daughter of Daksh Prajaapati and try to please him by my penance." After assuring so to Brahmaa Jee she vanished and Brahmaa too went to his abode.

Brahma Jee had already got assured the support of Daksh to him in the matter of Shiv. With the instructions of Brahmaa Jee, Daksh did penance to please Paarvatee Jee for very long period. As a result of his penance Jagdambaa appeared before him. She blessed him by saying that she would take birth as his daughter and by her tremendous penance would attain Rudra as her husband. But she warned Daksh that if he showed any kind of disrespect to her, she would end her life.

Paarvatee Jee was born to Daksh from his wife Veeranee. She was named Satee. Satee was brought up with great love and affection. Satee used to worship Shiv by singing devotional songs in his praise. When Satee attained marriageable age, Daksh started worrying. Satee understood the reason behind her father's worries. She went to her mother Veeranee and expressed her desire of marrying Shiv. Her mother made all the arrangements so that Satee could worship Shiv without any problem. Satee commenced her austerity named Nand Vrat which continued for a year. Being impressed by her austerities, all the deities descended down to see her from heaven.

All the deities and the sages requested Shiv to get married, but Shiv did not want to curtail his freedom by getting married. When the deities insisted he told them to find a suitable match for him. Brahmaa and Vishnu told Shiv about the tremendous penance Satee was doing for him (Shiv) to get him as her husband. They also requested him to go to Satee and fulfill her desire. Shiv agreed. Shiv appeared before her and asked her to ask for anything. Satee because of her shyness could not say anything. Shiv knew about her desire so he said - "You will have me as your husband." Satee's face beamed with joy, but she requested Shiv to keep this proposal before Daksh. Shiv agreed and said- "So be it.". He then went back to his abode - Kailaash. Satee narrated the whole story to her parents. Both of them became very happy with this news.

Brahmaa Becomes Mediator

Shiv then instructed Brahmaa Jee to put a formal proposal to Daksh regarding his marriage with Satee. Brahmaa Jee went and informed Daksh about Shiv's proposal. Daksh was very happy at the proposal. Shiv was anxiously waiting for Brahmaa Jee's arrival. When Brahmaa Jee arrived he curiously asked about Daksh's response. Brahmaa Jee told him that Daksh had agreed to marry his daughter Satee to him. Shiv got very pleased at this.

Shiv proceeded towards Daksh's abode on the auspicious moment of Phaalgun, Krishn Paksh, on the 13th day, in Phaalgunee Nakshatra. Sitting on the back of Nandee and accompanied by all the deities including Brahmaa and Vishnu he reached Daksh's residence. The marriage procession was received by auspicious married women in an auspicious Lagna. Being pleased, all the deities eulogized Shiv and danced in joy. Daksh presented invaluable things to his daughter - Satee as dowry. Similarly the Braahman were also presented with large quantities of wealth. Brahmaa Jee was enchanted by the divine beauty of Satee. When Shiv discovered this, he wanted to kill him, but the deities prayed to spare his life. Vishnu eulogized and worshipped him and only then his anger was subdued.

Brahmaa Worships Shiv in the Earth

Shiv Jee had forgiven Brahmaa Jee, yet he asked him to apologize by bowing down his head. Brahmaa Jee did so. Brahmaa Jee became ashamed and asked him as to how he could atone for his sins. Shiv instructed Brahmaa Jee that by worshipping him he could appropriately atone for his sins. He than instructed Brahmaa Jee to go to the Earth where he would worship him as 'Rudra Shir'. Shiv said - "Your worship would help the Braahman in accomplishing every kinds of work. Taking lessons from you, people would not dare to have any extramarital affairs".