Of the various legends that have been associated with the temple, the first legend is that despite the disapproval of her husband Lord Shiva, Sati went to a yagna performed by her father Prajapati Daksha.
Daksha had not invited Shiva and even abused him in front of other invitees. Unable to bear the insult, she committed suicide. When Shiva heard the tragic incident, he took dead Sati's body on his shoulders and began a dance of destruction.