In the days of ancient mythology, Brahmaa, the Prajapati, mentally created ten sons (Maanas Putra) to carry out his task of creation and destruction. Both Shiv and Daksh were the outcome of such a creation but Shiv had superior powers than others. Daksh, however, never liked the supremacy of Shiv. So, he took Shiv as his rival.

One of the daughters of Daksh, named Satee, was a great devotee of Shiv. She was beautiful and virtuous. Most of the time Sati immersed in the thoughts of Shiv and dreamed of being his wife. Satee, through her sincere and devotional prayers, acquired the blessings of all gods and goddesses. Shiv finally yielded and appeared before Satee. She paid her reverence and kneeling down to Shiv chanted in praise of him.

Shiv asked her to choose a boon. Shiv knew what she would ask but wanted her to speak for herself. Satee was hesitant, "How can I say that I want nothing else but him?" So after a while Satee gathered her courage and started to say, "Lord will you ----"

Shiv did not let Satee complete her question, and he blessed her - "Be my consort Satee." Soon Satee was married to Shiv amidst numerous gods and goddesses. After the wedding, Shiv took Satee to Kailaash where they spent many happy days.

Then one day, Shiv requested Satee to accompany him to Prayaag, today's Ilaahaabaad, to attend a fire-worship ceremony or Yagya. When Shiv entered the Yagya hall, every one stood up to pay respect. After some time Daksh entered the Yagya hall. Everyone stood up to pay respect except Shiv. Daksh felt insulted.

"How dare my son-in-law, Shiv, did not stand up to respect me? This is a deliberate insult to me," Daksh said to himself. Shiv, on the other hand, thought to himself, "Being a superior power, it will not be nice if I stand up, because even some harm may befall on Daksh." so Shiv did not rise. In fact he did not mean to insult Daksh.

Taking this instance as an exception, Daksh intended to insult Shiv in public. He hurriedly returned home and declared that he will hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. He invited all gods and goddesses, but deliberately excluded Shiv. When Satee, Shiv's beautiful wife and Daksh's daughter, noticed a large procession of gods and goddesses passing by, she curiously asked Shiv - "Where are all these Dev and Devee going?" Shiv replied, "To the grand sacrificial ceremony to be held by Daksh, your father." Satee was amazed to hear this. She demanded angrily - "Then why have you not been invited? You should have been the first to be asked to come." Shiv smiled gently at his wife's loyalty and fervor. "Daksh has always been hostile to me, maybe that is why." Shiv tried to explain.

But Satee did not believe this, she asked curiously - "Does my father not realize that you are the supreme power and no one can equal you?" Shiv again replied gently - "You are a good and true wife Satee, but Daksh thinks differently, he takes me as his rival." Satee said furiously - "Invited or not invited, I think we should go. It is after all my own father's house and at least I don't need any invitation from him."

"Then go with my blessings Satee," replied Shiv, "but do not forget that Daksh will shower insults upon me. You must be strong enough to bear it silently and not allow your rage to show in your father's presence. If you are unable to tolerate his insults, I fear it may harm you." Taking Nandee, the gentle white bull who was Shiv's companion and mount, Satee arrived at her father's grand sacrificial ceremony.

Daksh reluctantly received her and publicly condemned Shiv - calling him the demon of death and an impious haunter of cremation grounds. "What place has the goblin Lord of witches and foul spirits in a sacred ceremony such as mine?" Daksh boomed. Satee was hurt by his insults to her husband and begged her father to stop, but Daksh could not contain himself. "It is disgraceful for a so-called god to wear filthy rags, cover himself with snakes and dance like a madman at ceremonies ---" continued Daksh on and on, until Satee could not stand any longer. She remembered her husband's caution - "Do not allow your rage to get over you."

Satee painfully said - "Father, I am ashamed to be known as your daughter. As I have promised my husband not to take any revenge, much less upon you, I merely denounce you before this assembly. I shall consume myself in a fire and return to mother Earth until I am born again to a father whom I can respect." and saying this Satee died there. Daksh ignored the disappearance of Satee and ordered to continue with the sacrifice.

When the news reached Shiv through Nandee, that his beloved wife was dead, he let out a mighty roar that shook Heaven and Earth. He soon created a powerful demon, named Veerabhadra, from a flock his matted hair. Shiv also created a huge army of demons to accompany Veerabhadra. They descended like a hurricane on Daksh's feast, destroying the sacrificial offering and killing all those who dared defend Daksh. Finally every one walked over to Shiv's side to seek refuge with him.

Shiv was about to destroy the Universe, when Brahmaa Jee came with other gods to calm him down. Shiv was still shivering and shaking with wrath and grief at the loss of Satee. All the gods soothed the furious Shiv and pleaded with him to forgive Daksh and allow him to complete the sacrificial ceremony, which he had started, otherwise he would go to hell.