4. Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (g): Rudra’s relation with other gods

The seer prays to Rudra along with Mitra, Varuṇa and Indra for bestowing splendour.^[1] Rudra is prayed in the morning for good intellect along with Agni, Indra, Mitrāvaruṇā, Aśvins, Bhaga, Pūṣaṇ, Brahmaṇaspati and Soma.^[2] In another Atharvavedic mantra, Rudra is implored along with other deities like Indra, Viṣṇu, Savitṛ, Agni, Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhin, Virāj, Vaiśvānara to bind an amulet for safety.^[3]

Sun is regarded as Rudra and Mahādeva.^[4] In another mantra of the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Agni is regarded as Rudra.^[5]

In this context, Sāyaṇācārya states that:

rudrāya rodayitre rudrātmakāya vā agnaye namaḥ.^[6]

It is defined as reverence is paid to Agni like Rudra. Rudra is invoked along with Ādityas, Vasus^[7] Vāyu, Tvaṣṭṛ, Indra.^[8] Rudra is implored along with Soma to throw out or eradicate the diseases that have entered their (worshippers’) houses^[9] and to locate his medicines in the worshipers’ bodies.^[10]

The entire 13^th kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā is dedicated to Rohita or sun. Here, in these hymns, incessant reverence is paid to Rohita or Āditya. Rohita is regarded as Aryaman, Varuṇa, Rudra and Mahādeva.^[11] In another mantra of this kāṇḍa, Rohita is regarded as Rudra, winner of good.^[12]

In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, it is said that Rudra breaks the chariot of Keśīn.^[13] According to Sāyaṇācārya, Keśīn is a demon—keśī nāma asuraḥ.^[14] But there is a mantra in the Ṛgveda, where the name of Rudra is mentioned along with Keśī.^[15] Here, Keśī is mentioned as Sūrya—keśī raśmibhiryuktaḥ sūryaḥ.^[16] J.Muir in his book entitled Original Sanskrit Texts says that “Vāyu agitated for him; the long-haired [being] breaks down the things which are unbending by means of the vessel of water (visha) which he drank along with Rudra.”^[17]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 3.22.2

[2]:

prātaragniṃ prātarindraṃ havāmahe prātarmitrāvaruṇā prātaraśvinā | prātarbhagaṃ pūṣaṇaṃ brahmaṇaspatiṃ prātaḥ somamuta rudraṃ havāmahe || Ibid., 3.16.1

[3]:

asmai maṇiṃ varma badhnantu devā indro viṣṇuḥ savitā rudro agniḥ | prajāpatiḥ parameṣṭhī virāṅ vaiśvānara ṛṣayaśca sarve || Ibid., 8.5.10

[4]:

so’ryamā sa varuṇaḥ sa rudraḥ sa mahādevaḥ | Ibid., 13.4.4

[5]:

apaścā dagdhānnasya bhūyāsam | annādāyānnapataye rudrāya namo agnaye | Ibid., 19.55.5

[6]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[7]:

Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 6.68.1

[8]:

Ibid., 6.141.1

[9]:

somārudrā vi vṛhataṃ viṣūcīmamīvā yā no gayamāviveśa | bādhethāṃ dūraṃ nirṛtiṃ parācaiḥ kṛtaṃ cidenaḥ pra mumuktamastat || Ibid., 7. 43.1

[10]:

somārudrā yuvametānyasmad viśvā tanūṣu bheṣajāni dhattam | ava syataṃ muñcataṃ yatno asat tanūṣu bahvaṃ kṛtameno asmat || Ibid., 7.43.2

[11]:

Ibid., 13.4.4

[12]:

sa rudra vasuvanirvasudeye namovāke vaṣatkāro’nu saṃhitaḥ | Ibid., 13.6.5

[13]:

śyāvāśvaṃ kṛṣṇamasitaṃ mṛṇantaṃ bhīmaṃ rathaṃ keśinaḥ pādayantam | pūrve pratīmo namo astvasmai || Ibid., 11.2.18

[14]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[15]:

Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 10.136.7

[16]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[17]:

Vide, Muir, J., Original Sanskrit Texts, Vol.IV, p.318