Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Some derivations of the epithets of Rudra-Shiva (Introduction)’ of the study on the Rudra-Shiva concept in the Vedic and Puranic literature, starting with the concept of God as contemplated by the Rishis (Vedic sages). These pages further deal with the aspects, legends, iconography and eulology of Rudra-Shiva as found in the Samhitas, Brahamanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads Sutras and Puranas. The final chapters deal with descriptions of his greatness, various incarnations and epithets.
2. Some derivations of the epithets of Rudra-Śiva (Introduction)
Here, a discussion is made on some epithets of Rudra-Śiva along with their derivative meaning found in the Vedic as well as Purāṇic literature.
The Śiva Purāṇa states that he (Śiva) is called Ādideva, since he is the beginning. He is Aja, because he is unborn. He is also known as Prajāpati, because he protects all beings.[1] He is designated as Ātman because of attaining the sense objects, because he takes up the sense objects and because he swallows up the sense objects.[2] He is called Sthāṇu because he is always standing.[3] Since he surpasses all the gods, sages and demons by means of his brilliance, he is called Mahādeva.[4] Lord Śiva is the greatest among all gods. That is why he is called as Mahādeva.[5] He is designated as Brahmā because of his enormousness. Since he is superior to all, he is called Parameśvara. He is considered as Ṛṣi, Hara, Svayambhū because he is omnipresent, he is the dispeller of everything, unborn and prior to all respectively. He is known as Nārāyaṇa because he is the goal (ayanaṃ) of men.[6] He is present everywhere, he is called Viṣṇu. He is extolled as Bhagavān and Sarvajña because he knows everything. He is auspicious. That is why he is regarded as Śiva. He is present everywhere so he is extolled as Vibhu. As he removes all from miseries, he is designated as Tāraka.[7] He is glorified as Para because he is greater than all beings.[8] Since he is resplendent, he is called Vaidyuta. He is extolled as Supreme Brahman because of his extremely huge size (bṛhattvāt) or because of his expansion or multiplication (bṛṃhaṇatvāt).[9]
Some derivations of the epithets of Rudra-Śiva have been mentioned below—
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
yadāpnoti yadādatte yaccātti viṣayānayam | yaccāsya satataṃ bhāvastasmādātmā nirucyate || Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.70.96
[3]:
Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa, 1.9.89
[4]:
Ibid., 1.9.91
[5]:
(a) deveṣu ca mahādevo mahādeva iti smṛtaḥ | vṛhatvācca smṛto brahmā paratvātparameśvaraḥ || Kūrma-purāṇa, 1.4.60 (b) pāti yasmātprajāḥ sarvāḥ prajāpatiriti smṛtaḥ | deveṣu ca mahāndevo mahādevastataḥ smṛtaḥ || Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.70.101
[6]:
deveṣu ca mahādevo mahādeva iti smṛtaḥ | bṛhatvācca smṛto brahmā paratvātparameśvaraḥ || vaśitvādapyavaśyatvadīśvaraḥ paribhāṣitaḥ| ṛṣiḥ sarvatragatvena hariḥ sarvaharo yataḥ || anutpādācca pūrvatvātsvayaṃbhūriti sa smṛtaḥ | narāṇāmayanaṃ yasmāttena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ || Kūrma-purāṇa, 1.4.60-62
[7]:
[8]:
sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ paratvātpara ucyate || Liṅga-purāṇa, 2.16.16
[9]:
vidyotayati yastasmādvaidyutaḥ parigīyate | bṛhatvādbṛṃhaṇatvācca bṛhate ca parāpare || Ibid., 2.18.20