Daksha Prajapati, a revered ancient sage and one of the progenitors of mankind, had a daughter named Sati. Sati married Lord Shiva against her father's wishes.
Daksha held a grand Yagna (fire sacrifice) but did not invite Lord Shiva. Feeling insulted and angry, Sati self-immolated in the Yagna fire. In grief, Lord Shiva retrieved Sati's body and performed the Tandava, a cosmic dance of destruction. In the process, Sati's body was dismembered into 51 pieces, which fell at various places across India. The Daksha Mahadev Temple is believed to be the spot where the Daksha Yagna took place and where Sati's father Daksha was later forgiven by Lord Shiva.
