Sati Is Born
But the way to Sati was till full of hurdles. Daksha began by creating sons, five thousand of them. Naranda sent them off, saying they had to meditate. They turned into siddhs, realised souls and never came back. Daksha produced another thousand sons. Narada managed to drive them away as well - they joined their brothers. It was only then that Daksha turned to creating daughters, sixty of them. Sati was here at last, and roughly in position for the next move.

Understandably, even as a child, she lived constantly with the thought of Shiva and when she attained womanhood she spent all her time doing penance with the object of gaining him for husband. The gods came to admire and bless her and Vishnu, assessing the situation correctly, decided it was time to activate Shiva. Brahma, Vishnu and the gods decided to go to Kailasa. Shiva received them with a smile and wanted to know why they had come. Brahma, prompted by Vishnu, spoke first. He skirted the issue, saying that each one of them had his share of demons to kill-Shiva too, as well as his future sons. Vishnu and he had wives and were doing their respective jobs, directed by him. It only remained for him to marry; he had himself announced his decision to do so on an occasion long ago.

Shiva did not yield at once. He argued that he was a detached being, and ascetic, a yogi; an outsider wholly absorbed in himself, hardly a source of joy or happiness; he was unclean and inauspicious by worldy standards. He was disinterested in women and looked upon marriage as bondage. He would not know what their wishes since they were his devotees. He would think about it. They too should give the question some thought. The girl whom he would partner had to be not only beautiful but understanding and resilient. She would have to be a yogini when he chose to be a yogi and a loving wife when he felt like being a fond husband. He would alternate between those two extremes at will. It was clear that he was not only at home with extremes, opposites and Incompatibles- he reveled in them. There was no mention of any adjustments or compromises.

He also hinted at a possible rift- any expression of disbelief in him or his words on hie part would mean separation. But Brahma was too excited to notice. We have just the girl for you; Sati, daughter of Daskha' he said triumphantly. She desires you and is performing penance to get you. Bless her, dear lord. Vishnu too pleaded her case and Shiva finally smiled his consent.

Shiva lost no time in going to Sati. He looked resplendent, his five faces all full of joy, lit up softly by the crescent moon that he wore on his towering coiffure. The Ganga, white and foaming, wove in and out of his hair, tremulous with anticipation.

Sati was overwhelmed. Too shy to look up and face him she stood, head bent, waiting for him to speak. Choose your boon, he said, and then waited, for he knew that this girl would make him a good wife. Shiva repeated his blessing over and over again, and she at last replied, Grant me my heart's desire Before she could complete her thought he said, 'Be my wife. There was an answering glow in her face, an invitation in her pliant body, bent towards him. They stood close, in the happy silence of requited love. Mahadeva, the great god, had succumbed.

Sati gradually lost her shyness and expressed the hope that he would marry her with due ceremony and with her father's permission. Shiva agreed and they went their separate ways. Instinctively, and out of sheer habit, he sat down to meditate but found his thoughts wandering in her direction. Brahma, sensing Shiva's state of mind, offered to convey the suitor's formal offer to his son, Daksha. Daksha too had been told by his daughter of their meeting. He had been wondering how to set about asking Shiva, fearing rejection. Brahma put his mind at rest-he would do the needful.