According to a legend, Goddess Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, one of the first sons of Lord Brahma, married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father. Thus, Daksha did not invite her and her husband to a grand yagya arranged by him.

When Sati came to know about the event in her father’s house, she thought it to be a slip of mind and proceeded to participate in the event despite the warnings of her husband.But once she reached there, she realised her fault and was infuriated by the insult of her husband. As a penance for her disobedience, she entered the fire. When Lord Shiva came to know of her sudden demise, he was furious.

Even after he controlled his anger, he started a severe meditation and renounced all work.

The world’s balance soon crumbled in his absence and Sati took rebirth as Goddess Parvati to try and win Lord Shiva’s heart and wake him up from his trance.

When she had exhausted all her feminine ways, she invoked the help of Kamadava, the cupid-god, who agreed to help her in the cause of the world despite the risks involved. He shot his love-arrow on Shiva’s heart.

Disturbed in his trance, Lord Shiva opened his third eye that instantly incinerated Kamadeva. It is said that it was on the day of Holi that Kamadeva had sacrificed himself for the good of all beings. Later, when Lord Shiva realised his mistake, he granted Kamadeva

immortality in invisible form.