RUDRA in VED:
Vedic deity Rudra (Sanskrit: रुद्रः) is believed to be an early form of Lord Shiva. By the time that the Ramayana was written, the name Rudra is taken as a synonym for Shiva and the two names are used interchangeably. The name Shiva may have been connected with Rudra from a verse in the Vajasaneyi recension of the shukla Yajur Veda, wherein Rudra is thus addressed: "Thou art gracious (Shiva) by name." One of the sacred hymns of the Ved is Rudram, from Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajurved, which invokes Rudra and also mentions the name Shiva several times, not in the current sense but as an epithet of Indra, Mitra and Agni. Rudra is a deity of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible". Rudra has the ability to cause and prevent disease. He is also revered for his ability to protect people from sudden death and snake bites .The image of Rudra presented to us is that of a hunter, eager to release His arrow. Several hymn eulogizing Rudra asks Him to lay down His bow, and take His gentler, calmer form. The Atharva Vedic hymns describe Rudra as as "Sarva" (the Archer), a name by which Shiva is also known.
Rudra in Rig Ved :
The earliest mentions of Rudra occur in the Rig Veda, where four entire hymns viz. 1.43, 1.114, 2.33, 7.46 are devoted to him. There are about seventy-five references to Rudra in the Rig Veda overall. In the Rig Veda Rudra's role as a frightening god is apparent in references to him as “ghora” (terrible), or simply as “asau devam” (that god).
Rigveda (I.43.5) calls Rudra as :
यः शुक्र इव सूर्यो हिरण्यमिव रोचते |
शरेष्ठो देवानां वसुः ||
“luminous like the Sun, gratifying like gold, best among the Deities”.
RV 1.114 is an appeal to Rudra for mercy, where he is referred to as "mighty Rudra, the god with braided hair” :
इमा रुद्राय तवसे कपर्दिने कषयद्वीराय पर भरामहे मतीः |
Rigveda, I.114.2 :
मर्ळा नो रुद्रोत नो मयस कर्धि
“Be gracious unto us, o Rudra, bring us bliss!”
The Rigveda (2.33) describes Him as :
आ ते पितर्मरुतां सुम्नमेतु मा नः सूर्यस्य सन्द्र्षो युयोथाः |
—“The father of Maruts ".
Rig Ved 2.33.11 states He is "fierce like a formidable wild beast" :
सतुहि शरुतं गर्तसदं युवानं मर्गं न भीममुपहत्नुमुग्रम |
Rig Veda 2.33.9:
The RV 2.33.9 calls Rudra as “īśānādasya bhuvanasya” (The Lord or Sovereign of the Universe) :
ईशानादस्य भुवनस्य भूरेर्न वा उ योषद रुद्रादसुर्यम ||
Rigved (2.33.3) mentions Rudra as a holder of vajra :
शरेष्ठो जातस्य रुद्र शरियासि तवस्तमस्तवसां वज्रबाहो |
Rig Veda 6.49.10:
The RV 6.49.10 calls Rudra as “bhuvanasya pitarah” (The Father of the Universe) :
भुवनस्य पितरं गीर्भिराभी रुद्रं दिवा वर्धया रुद्रमक्तौ |
बर्हन्तं रष्वमजरं सुषुम्नं रधग घुवेम कविनेषितासः ||
'Rudra by day, Rudra at night we honour with these our songs, the Universe's Father. Him great and lofty, blissful, undecaying let us call specially as the Sage impels us '
In Rig Veda 7.46, Rudra is described as armed with a bow and fast-flying arrows :
इमा रुद्राय सथिरधन्वने गिरः कषिप्रेषवे देवाय सवधाव्ने |
Rudra was believed to heal from disease, and when people recovered from them or were free of them, that too was attributed to the agency of Rudra. He is asked not to afflict family with disease :
अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव || (RV 7.46.2)
To keep villages free of illness is at RV 1.114.1 :
यथा शमसद दविपदे चतुष्पदे विश्वं पुष्टंग्रामे अस्मिन्ननातुरम ||
He is said to have healing remedies at (RV 1.43.4) :
गाथपतिं मेधपतिं रुद्रं जलाषभेषजम |
As the best physician of physicians is at RV 2.33.4 :
उन नो वीरानर्पय भेषजेभिर्भिषक्तमं तवा भिषजां शर्णोमि ||
As possessed of a thousand medicines is at RV 7.46.3 :
सहस्रं ते सवपिवात भेषजा मा नस्तोकेषुतनयेषु रीरिषह ||
Rig Ved 7.46.3 Rudra discharges "brilliant shafts which run about the heaven and the earth" (RV 7.46.3) :
या ते दिद्युदवस्र्ष्टा दिवस परि कष्मया चरति परि साव्र्णक्तु नः |
, which may be a reference to the destructive power of lightning.
Rig Veda 7.40.5:
Rudra is mentioned along with a litany of other deities in Rig Veda 7.40.5. Here is the reference to Rudra, whose name appears as one of many gods who are called upon:
अस्य देवस्य मीळ्हुषो वया विष्णोरेषस्य परभ्र्थे हविर्भिः |
विदे हि रुद्रो रुद्रियं महित्वं यासिष्टं वर्तिरश्विनाविरावत ||
“ This Varuna, the leader of the rite, and the royal Mitra and Aryaman, uphold my acts, and the divine unopposed Aditi,earnestly invoked: may they convey us safe beyond evil. I propitiate with oblations the ramifications (vayāh) of that divine attainable Vishnu, the showerer of benefits. Rudra, bestow upon us the magnificence of his nature. The Aśvins have come down to our dwelling abounding with (sacrificial) food. “
We may mention here that Mahamritunjaya mantra related to Lord Shiv is from Rig Veda (7-59-12) :
तर्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम |
उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनान मर्त्योर्मुक्षीय माम्र्तात ||
'O Lord! The fragrance of Your glory is a source of strength to me. My breath is attached to my body just like a cucumber is attached to the cucumber plant. I pray to you – do not separate my breath from my body. Protect me from death. Grant me immortality.'
Rudra in Yajur Ved :
In the various recensions of the Yajur Veda is included a litany of stanzas praising Rudra: (Maitrāyanī-Samhitā 2.9.2, Kāthaka-Samhitā 17.11, Taittirīya-Samhitā 4.5.1, and Vājasaneyi-Samhitā 16.1–14). This litany is subsequently referred to variously as the ŚhataRudriyam or simply Rudram. It consists of two parts, the first part as Namakam (because many of the verses commence with the word "namah" ), and the second part, as Chamakam because of the repeated use of the words "Chame". Rudram is divided into 11 sections called Anuvakas. In the first Anuvaka, Rudra is asked to turn away his Ghora rupa (fierce appearance) and to please keep his weapons at bay. Having been pacified, Rudra is requested to destroy the sins of those for whom it is being chanted. It is extolled as the death defying hymn to the diety Rudra . This litany used to be recited during the agnicayana ritual ("the piling of Agni"), and it later became a standard element in Rudra liturgy. Apart from being a hymn devoted to Rudra, SriuRdram also contains may hidden secrets in coded format. For example the verses contain coded instructions for preparing various ayurvedic medicines.
The mantra Panchakshari, appears in Yajurveda, in a Rudradhyaya section of Taittiriya-samhita (IV.5.7) and Satarudriya of Vajasaneyi-samhita (Ch. 16,18). Five mantras of Shiva, corresponding to five letters of Panchakshari, are found in Taittiriya-aranyaka (17.1-5); Sayanacharya regards that the first words of these mantras are the names of the five Shiva’s faces. Shatapatha-brahmana of Yajurveda (VI.1.3.10) say “agnirvai rudraH”.
Rudra in Atharva Ved :
A selection of these stanzas, augmented with others, is included in the Paippalāda-Samhitā of the Atharva Veda (Paippalada Samhita 14.3—4). This selection, with further additions Paippalada Samhita at the end, circulated more widely as the Nīlarudram (or Nīlarudra Upanishad).
Atharva veda (IV.28.3; II.2.7; X.1.23) describe Him as a thousand-eyed God and a killer of Vritra. Sayanacharya while commenting upon the verse IV.28.1 of Atharvanaveda, tells us that the Lord is called Bhava for having everything coming out of His body, and that He is called Sharva, because of His destructive character at the time of dissolution. Shatapatha-brahmana (VI.1.3.17) says that Ishana, the highest form of Rudra, is same as Aditya.
Shetasvatara Upanishad describes Rudra as the supreme Godhead :
yo devānāṃ prabhavaś codbhavaś ca viśvādhiko rudro maharṣiḥ /
hiraṇyagarbhaṃ paśyata jāyamānaṃ sa no buddhyā śubhayā saṃyunaktu //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.12
“He, the creator of the gods and the bestower of their powers, the Support of the universe, Rudra the omniscient, who at the beginning gave birth to Hiranyagarbha−may He endow us with clear intellect!”
ajāta ity evaṃ kaścid bhīruḥ prapadyate /
rudra yat dakṣiṇaṃ mukham tena māṃ pāhi nityam //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.21
“It is because Thou, O Lord, art birthless, that some rare souls, frightened by birth and death, take refuge in Thee. O Rudra, may Thy benign face protect me for ever!”
mā nas toke tanaye mā na āyuṣi mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ /
vīrān mā no rudra bhāmito vadhīr haviṣmantaḥ sadam it tvā havāmahe //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.22
“O Rudra, do not, in Thy wrath, destroy our children and grand−children. Do not destroy our lives; do not destroy our cows or horses; do not destroy our strong servants. For we invoke Thee always, with oblations, for our protection. “
"Om Shanti Shanti Shanti"
Vedic deity Rudra (Sanskrit: रुद्रः) is believed to be an early form of Lord Shiva. By the time that the Ramayana was written, the name Rudra is taken as a synonym for Shiva and the two names are used interchangeably. The name Shiva may have been connected with Rudra from a verse in the Vajasaneyi recension of the shukla Yajur Veda, wherein Rudra is thus addressed: "Thou art gracious (Shiva) by name." One of the sacred hymns of the Ved is Rudram, from Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajurved, which invokes Rudra and also mentions the name Shiva several times, not in the current sense but as an epithet of Indra, Mitra and Agni. Rudra is a deity of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible". Rudra has the ability to cause and prevent disease. He is also revered for his ability to protect people from sudden death and snake bites .The image of Rudra presented to us is that of a hunter, eager to release His arrow. Several hymn eulogizing Rudra asks Him to lay down His bow, and take His gentler, calmer form. The Atharva Vedic hymns describe Rudra as as "Sarva" (the Archer), a name by which Shiva is also known.
Rudra in Rig Ved :
The earliest mentions of Rudra occur in the Rig Veda, where four entire hymns viz. 1.43, 1.114, 2.33, 7.46 are devoted to him. There are about seventy-five references to Rudra in the Rig Veda overall. In the Rig Veda Rudra's role as a frightening god is apparent in references to him as “ghora” (terrible), or simply as “asau devam” (that god).
Rigveda (I.43.5) calls Rudra as :
यः शुक्र इव सूर्यो हिरण्यमिव रोचते |
शरेष्ठो देवानां वसुः ||
“luminous like the Sun, gratifying like gold, best among the Deities”.
RV 1.114 is an appeal to Rudra for mercy, where he is referred to as "mighty Rudra, the god with braided hair” :
इमा रुद्राय तवसे कपर्दिने कषयद्वीराय पर भरामहे मतीः |
Rigveda, I.114.2 :
मर्ळा नो रुद्रोत नो मयस कर्धि
“Be gracious unto us, o Rudra, bring us bliss!”
The Rigveda (2.33) describes Him as :
आ ते पितर्मरुतां सुम्नमेतु मा नः सूर्यस्य सन्द्र्षो युयोथाः |
—“The father of Maruts ".
Rig Ved 2.33.11 states He is "fierce like a formidable wild beast" :
सतुहि शरुतं गर्तसदं युवानं मर्गं न भीममुपहत्नुमुग्रम |
Rig Veda 2.33.9:
The RV 2.33.9 calls Rudra as “īśānādasya bhuvanasya” (The Lord or Sovereign of the Universe) :
ईशानादस्य भुवनस्य भूरेर्न वा उ योषद रुद्रादसुर्यम ||
Rigved (2.33.3) mentions Rudra as a holder of vajra :
शरेष्ठो जातस्य रुद्र शरियासि तवस्तमस्तवसां वज्रबाहो |
Rig Veda 6.49.10:
The RV 6.49.10 calls Rudra as “bhuvanasya pitarah” (The Father of the Universe) :
भुवनस्य पितरं गीर्भिराभी रुद्रं दिवा वर्धया रुद्रमक्तौ |
बर्हन्तं रष्वमजरं सुषुम्नं रधग घुवेम कविनेषितासः ||
'Rudra by day, Rudra at night we honour with these our songs, the Universe's Father. Him great and lofty, blissful, undecaying let us call specially as the Sage impels us '
In Rig Veda 7.46, Rudra is described as armed with a bow and fast-flying arrows :
इमा रुद्राय सथिरधन्वने गिरः कषिप्रेषवे देवाय सवधाव्ने |
Rudra was believed to heal from disease, and when people recovered from them or were free of them, that too was attributed to the agency of Rudra. He is asked not to afflict family with disease :
अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव || (RV 7.46.2)
To keep villages free of illness is at RV 1.114.1 :
यथा शमसद दविपदे चतुष्पदे विश्वं पुष्टंग्रामे अस्मिन्ननातुरम ||
He is said to have healing remedies at (RV 1.43.4) :
गाथपतिं मेधपतिं रुद्रं जलाषभेषजम |
As the best physician of physicians is at RV 2.33.4 :
उन नो वीरानर्पय भेषजेभिर्भिषक्तमं तवा भिषजां शर्णोमि ||
As possessed of a thousand medicines is at RV 7.46.3 :
सहस्रं ते सवपिवात भेषजा मा नस्तोकेषुतनयेषु रीरिषह ||
Rig Ved 7.46.3 Rudra discharges "brilliant shafts which run about the heaven and the earth" (RV 7.46.3) :
या ते दिद्युदवस्र्ष्टा दिवस परि कष्मया चरति परि साव्र्णक्तु नः |
, which may be a reference to the destructive power of lightning.
Rig Veda 7.40.5:
Rudra is mentioned along with a litany of other deities in Rig Veda 7.40.5. Here is the reference to Rudra, whose name appears as one of many gods who are called upon:
अस्य देवस्य मीळ्हुषो वया विष्णोरेषस्य परभ्र्थे हविर्भिः |
विदे हि रुद्रो रुद्रियं महित्वं यासिष्टं वर्तिरश्विनाविरावत ||
“ This Varuna, the leader of the rite, and the royal Mitra and Aryaman, uphold my acts, and the divine unopposed Aditi,earnestly invoked: may they convey us safe beyond evil. I propitiate with oblations the ramifications (vayāh) of that divine attainable Vishnu, the showerer of benefits. Rudra, bestow upon us the magnificence of his nature. The Aśvins have come down to our dwelling abounding with (sacrificial) food. “
We may mention here that Mahamritunjaya mantra related to Lord Shiv is from Rig Veda (7-59-12) :
तर्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम |
उर्वारुकमिवबन्धनान मर्त्योर्मुक्षीय माम्र्तात ||
'O Lord! The fragrance of Your glory is a source of strength to me. My breath is attached to my body just like a cucumber is attached to the cucumber plant. I pray to you – do not separate my breath from my body. Protect me from death. Grant me immortality.'
Rudra in Yajur Ved :
In the various recensions of the Yajur Veda is included a litany of stanzas praising Rudra: (Maitrāyanī-Samhitā 2.9.2, Kāthaka-Samhitā 17.11, Taittirīya-Samhitā 4.5.1, and Vājasaneyi-Samhitā 16.1–14). This litany is subsequently referred to variously as the ŚhataRudriyam or simply Rudram. It consists of two parts, the first part as Namakam (because many of the verses commence with the word "namah" ), and the second part, as Chamakam because of the repeated use of the words "Chame". Rudram is divided into 11 sections called Anuvakas. In the first Anuvaka, Rudra is asked to turn away his Ghora rupa (fierce appearance) and to please keep his weapons at bay. Having been pacified, Rudra is requested to destroy the sins of those for whom it is being chanted. It is extolled as the death defying hymn to the diety Rudra . This litany used to be recited during the agnicayana ritual ("the piling of Agni"), and it later became a standard element in Rudra liturgy. Apart from being a hymn devoted to Rudra, SriuRdram also contains may hidden secrets in coded format. For example the verses contain coded instructions for preparing various ayurvedic medicines.
The mantra Panchakshari, appears in Yajurveda, in a Rudradhyaya section of Taittiriya-samhita (IV.5.7) and Satarudriya of Vajasaneyi-samhita (Ch. 16,18). Five mantras of Shiva, corresponding to five letters of Panchakshari, are found in Taittiriya-aranyaka (17.1-5); Sayanacharya regards that the first words of these mantras are the names of the five Shiva’s faces. Shatapatha-brahmana of Yajurveda (VI.1.3.10) say “agnirvai rudraH”.
Rudra in Atharva Ved :
A selection of these stanzas, augmented with others, is included in the Paippalāda-Samhitā of the Atharva Veda (Paippalada Samhita 14.3—4). This selection, with further additions Paippalada Samhita at the end, circulated more widely as the Nīlarudram (or Nīlarudra Upanishad).
Atharva veda (IV.28.3; II.2.7; X.1.23) describe Him as a thousand-eyed God and a killer of Vritra. Sayanacharya while commenting upon the verse IV.28.1 of Atharvanaveda, tells us that the Lord is called Bhava for having everything coming out of His body, and that He is called Sharva, because of His destructive character at the time of dissolution. Shatapatha-brahmana (VI.1.3.17) says that Ishana, the highest form of Rudra, is same as Aditya.
Shetasvatara Upanishad describes Rudra as the supreme Godhead :
yo devānāṃ prabhavaś codbhavaś ca viśvādhiko rudro maharṣiḥ /
hiraṇyagarbhaṃ paśyata jāyamānaṃ sa no buddhyā śubhayā saṃyunaktu //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.12
“He, the creator of the gods and the bestower of their powers, the Support of the universe, Rudra the omniscient, who at the beginning gave birth to Hiranyagarbha−may He endow us with clear intellect!”
ajāta ity evaṃ kaścid bhīruḥ prapadyate /
rudra yat dakṣiṇaṃ mukham tena māṃ pāhi nityam //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.21
“It is because Thou, O Lord, art birthless, that some rare souls, frightened by birth and death, take refuge in Thee. O Rudra, may Thy benign face protect me for ever!”
mā nas toke tanaye mā na āyuṣi mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ /
vīrān mā no rudra bhāmito vadhīr haviṣmantaḥ sadam it tvā havāmahe //
…….Shetasvatara Up. 4.22
“O Rudra, do not, in Thy wrath, destroy our children and grand−children. Do not destroy our lives; do not destroy our cows or horses; do not destroy our strong servants. For we invoke Thee always, with oblations, for our protection. “
"Om Shanti Shanti Shanti"
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