Kopeshwar Temple, Khidrapur – Legends
As per legend, Daksha, one of the Prajapati, son
of Lord Brahma did not like his youngest daughter Sati marrying Lord
Shiva. Later, Daksha conducted
a great Yagna. He
invited all the gods, Prajapatis and kings to attend the yajna and
intentionally avoided inviting Lord Shiva and Sati. Sati came to know about the
grand yajna organized by her father and asked Lord Shiva to attend the yajna. Lord
Shiva refused her request, saying that it was inappropriate to attend a
function without being invited.
She constantly pleaded and urged Lord Shiva to let her
attend the ceremony. Finally, Lord Shiva allowed her to go to her parents'
home, along with his followers including Nandi, and attend the ceremony,
but refused to accompany with her. Upon arriving, Sati tried to meet her
parents and sisters; Daksha was arrogant and avoided interacting with Sati. He
repeatedly snubbed her in front of all the dignitaries. The shameless insult
and humiliation of her and her beloved, eventually became too much to bear.
She cursed Daksha for acting so atrociously toward her
and Shiva and reminded him that his haughty behaviour had blinded his
intellect. She cursed him and warned that the wrath of Shiva would destroy him.
Unable to bear further humiliation, Sati committed suicide by jumping into the
sacrificial fire. The onlookers tried to save her, but it was too
late. They were only able to retrieve the half-burnt body of Sati. Lord Shiva
was deeply pained upon hearing of his wife's death.
His grief grew into a terrible anger when he realized
how Daksha had viciously plotted a treachery against him; but it was his
innocent wife who fell into the trap instead of him. Lord Shiva learned of Daksha’s
callous behaviour towards Sati. Shiva's rage became so intense that he plucked
a lock of hair from his head and smashed it on the ground, breaking it into two
with his leg.
Armed and frightening, two fearsome beings Virabhadra and
Bhadrakali (Rudrakali) emerged. Lord Shiva ordered them to kill Daksha and
destroy the yajna. The ferocious Virabhadra and Bhadrakali, along with the
Bhutaganas, reached the yajna spot. The invitees renounced the yajna and
started running away from the turmoil. All those who participated, even the
other Prajapatis and the gods, were mercilessly beaten, wounded or even
slaughtered.
Daksha was caught and decapitated. Lord Vishnu pacified
Lord Shiva where upon he
restored the head of the Daksha with the head of a ram. Lord Vishnu brought the
furious Lord Shiva to this place in order to calm him down. Thus, Lord Shiva of
this temple came to be called as Kopeshwar (furious Lord Shiva). Lord Vishnu
who accompanied Lord Shiva to this place can be seen in the Linga form under
the name Dhopeshwar in the temple premises.
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