This is how 51 Shaktipeeths were established

Lord Shiva was married to Sati, daughter of Brahma’s son Prajapati Daksh. After some time, Daksh was made the ruler of the entire universe. This made Daksh proud. He started considering himself the best. When Lord Shiva did not bow down to himself during a yagya, Daksh said many abusive words to him. Daksha cursed Shiva that he would not get his share in the Dev Yagya.

Hearing this, Nandi also cursed Daksh that the mouth with which he was criticizing Shiva would become that of a goat.

After some time Daksh organized a grand yagya. All the Gods and Goddesses were invited but the arrogant Daksha excluded Shiva from that Yagya. Somehow when Sati came to know about this, she asked Shiva for permission to go to that yagya. At first Shiva explained to her but when she did not agree, he allowed Sati to go there. When Sati reached her father’s house, Daksh turned his eyes away from her. Sati became angry after not seeing Shiva’s part in the Yagya and started saying bad things to everyone.

Hearing this, Daksh also started criticizing Shiva. Hearing this, Sati felt very sad and burnt her body with Yogagri. Seeing this, Shiva’s followers attacked Daksh Yagya but the gods chased them away from there. He went to Shiva and narrated the entire incident. Hearing this, Shiva became very angry. He uprooted one of his locks and hit it on the ground due to which Veerbhadra and Mahakali appeared. Shiva ordered both of them to destroy Daksh’s yagya. They destroyed Daksh’s Yagya within a moment and Veerbhadra cut off Daksh’s head and threw it in the Yagya Kund.

Seeing this, there was panic among the gods and they started praising Shiva. Praising him, he gave life to everyone and by placing a goat’s head on Daksh’s body, he brought him back to life. Later, with the permission of Shiva, Daksh completed his yajna. Shiva started roaming around the entire universe with the dead body of his beloved wife.

The entire creation started burning due to his glory. Then Vishnu cut Sati’s body into 51 pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra. Wherever these pieces fell, Shaktipeeths were established.

When Sati’s entire body got cut and fell, God became very sad and went to Kailash and took samadhi in solitude.”