This is a very popular story from Hindu tradition & is mentioned in several Hindu religious texts. However, here I will rely on Goswami Tulsidas’s Shri Ramcharitmanas.

Mother Goddess Uma was sad & anxious as her own father, Daksha,  had not invited her or Shiv Mahadev to the “Yagya” & festivities organized by him to celebrate his elevation to the position of Prajapati – King of the people literally.

She was distraught at not getting the invite, but requested Her husband Shiv Mahadev that She should be allowed to go as going to her parental house, as She thought, didn’t necessarily call for an invitation.

Shiv Mahadev tried to reason with her that going to any such function, uninvited, was not right but she was adamant. Finally, He organized an escort of Ganas (body guards) & deputed His Nandi to take Her to Her parental house where festivities were in full swing. En-route She could see Devtas, Rishis & several other invited guests proceeding to her parent’s house, many in procession.

On Her arrival at Her parent’s house She found that the response of Her father & other family members towards Her was unwelcoming. Rather She felt ignored. Only Her mother welcomed Her.

(the story goes that Daksha did not like Shiv Mahadev because of his ascetic nature etc; but that story is for some other day)

When she entered the arena where “Yagya” was to be performed she found that no place was reserved for Shankar Mahadev. The space should have been marked out, normally, even if He had not come there physically, as per the tradition in vogue.

Mother Uma was enraged. She denounced Her father, Devtas, Reshis  & all others who had gathered there for the “Yagya”. She said that no “Yagya” was complete without due respect being paid to Shiv Mahadev.

She declared that She was unable to bear with the disrespect shown to Shiv Mahadev by Her father. She thundered & told those who tried to  argue with Her & wanted Her to calm down & understand the peculiar situation that it was unbecoming of any society to compromise on disrespect shown to Shiva & thus settlement through logical arguments had no meaning. She rebuked all the participants in the ‘Yagya” & announced the following in disgust:

“Listen carefully, all of you in the gathering; all of you who spoke or listened to the disrespectful words against Shiv Mahadev. (wittingly or unwittingly too)

You’ll face the consequences of what you’ve done; my father will also repent for his undoing,

Listen all of you who are gathered here; anyone who speaks in derogatory terms against Shiv, Vishnu or the saints,

Their tongues should be pulled out & slashed (if you have the capability to do that); or you should plug your ears & leave the gathering (where Shiva is being spoken against),

You must remember that Shankar Mahadev is the Conscious Keeper of the universe & by nature is benevolent & looks after wellbeing of all,

My father, a dimwitted person, has abused Shankar Mahadev with his nasty actions; it’s unfortunate that I am his daughter,

Since I cannot bear with the abuse & disrespect of Shankar Mahadev by My father; I will leave this world with the image of “Chandramouli” (another name of Shiv) permanently etched in my heart”

Saying this Mother Goddess Uma consigned herself to flames ignited by energies commanded through “Yoga”; causing great commotion in the gathering & everyone started running helter-skelter fearing the imminent wrath of Shankar Mahadev.

When the Ganas accompanying Uma saw what had happened right in front of their eyes they fell upon the gathering of Devtas, Rishis & whatever else they could lay their hands on. The “Yagya” was saved by the timely intervention of Bhrigu Rishi.

When the news of “Sati” by Uma reached Shankar Mahadev he was enraged & uncontrollable. He dispatched his “Gana”, Virbhadra, to avenge the “Satidom” of Uma. Virbhadra destroyed everything that he came across at the location of the “Yagna” & eventually seized Daksha, the father of Uma. He beheaded him & threw his head into the flames of the “Yagna”.

This is a well known story, so says Goswami Tulsidass, & that is why, he says, he has kept it short.