31/07/2025
The myth behind Virabhadra
Once, long ago, in the realm of gods and mountains, there lived a powerful and wild deity named Shiva—the great yogi, lord of transformation, who danced on the edge of the world. He was married to Sati, a radiant goddess who loved him deeply. But her father, King Daksha, did not approve of this strange, ash-covered yogi who lived in the forest and meditated among ghosts.
One day, King Daksha held a grand ritual, a sacred fire ceremony to honor the gods. Every deity in the cosmos was invited—except Shiva and Sati.
Sati, heartbroken by the exclusion, went to the ritual anyway, hoping to be received in peace. But when she arrived, her father humiliated her and mocked Shiva in front of everyone. Sati, overcome with sorrow and shame, felt she had no place in the world. She stepped into the fire and gave up her body.
When Shiva heard what had happened, his heart broke open in fury and grief. He let out a roar so thunderous that the heavens shook. From the fire of his rage, he tore a lock of his hair and cast it to the earth.
From that lock sprang a mighty warrior—Virabhadra—a being born of divine fire, created for one purpose: to stand up for truth, to act on behalf of love.
But the story doesn’t end in violence.
When Shiva arrives and sees the wreckage, his rage melts into sorrow. He gathers Sati’s spirit, and over time, she is reborn as Parvati—a symbol of transformation, renewal, and unconditional love.
Do you include virabhadrasana in your practice?
