Daksha is son of Brahma and one of the Prajapatis. Sati, the consort of Shiva was the daughter of Daksha. Sati had married Shiva against the wishes of her father. The vain Daksha performed a great yagna/ yaga(with the sole aim of insulting Shiva), to which he invited all of the gods and goddesses except his son in law Lord Shiva. Against Shiva's wishes, Sati attended this yagna and was insulted by her father. Unable to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself in the yagna fire.
Enraged at the loss of Satidevi, Shiva opened his third eye. Then appeared Veerabhadra with a 1000 arms and carrying weapons in each hand. He destroyed Daksha's sacrifice and cut off Daksha's head.
Since the yaga was stopped, the Gods feared that many difficulties may arise in the future. The Gods along with Brahma and Vishnu went to Kailas and sought Shiva's help. Shiva was pacified and all of them reached the yaga place and restored the yaga. The dead were brought back to life. Daksha's head was destroyed in the yaga fire and was replaced by a goats head. Daksha pleaded to Shiva for his arrogance and was given Moksha.
After the yaga, every one went back and Lord Shiva took the form of the swayambhu linga next to where Sati immolated herself in the yagna fire. Since all the Trimoorthies or the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva met together at this place, it was known as Koodiyoor (Koodi in malayalam means meet or join). Koodiyoor became Kottiyoor.
So Kottiyoor is believed to be the spot of the ancient Dakshayaga. The auda flowers/ odapoo is considered as the beard of Daksha
