“What is this yajna that is being held?” exclaimed Rudra. “Brahma had asked me to perform the act of creation and I had gone away to acquire powers so that I might create. Who then are all these people who have come to attend the yajna? Where did they spring from? Who created them? I will destroy them all. Why did creation take place in my absence?”

Rudra roared in anger and sparks issued from his ears. From these sparks were born fierce spirits, demons and ghosts. These entities created havoc at the ceremony. They plucked out the eyes and knocked out the teeth of Bhaga and Pusha, who were the officiating priests at the ceremony. Brahma asked the gods to pacify Rudra. They prayed to him and promised him a share in the sacrificial offerings. Rudra was appeased and the yajna could proceed again.

As a token of appeasement, Daksha’s daughter Dakshayani (or Gouri) was married to Rudra