The Skanda Purana

by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words

This page describes Origin of Eleven Rudras which is chapter 276 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the two hundred seventy-sixth chapter of the Tirtha-mahatmya of the Nagara-khanda of the Skanda Purana.

Chapter 276 - Origin of Eleven Rudras

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-2. Similarly, there are others too installed here viz the eleven rudras. They originated here, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, with a desire for the welfare of the sages.

If they are duly visited, worshipped, eulogized or bowed to by a man he becomes free from sins and relieved of all defects.

The sages said:

3. Only one Rudra is heard about (mentioned in the Veda) and no second one. His beloved wife is Gaurī and Skanda is glorified as his son?

4. Therefore, we know only one Rudra and none at all as Īśa (Almighty). Hence, O highly esteemed oṇe, mention all these in detail.

Sūta said:

5. O highly esteemed ones, it is indeed the truth that has been cited. Rudra is one only. There is no second one at all.

6. But, I shall describe how these eleven Rudras originated. Listen with concentration.

7. Formerly, the sages of praiseworthy holy rites congregated together at Vārāṇasī. They were eager to visit Lord Hāṭakeśvara.

8-9. They made one agreement and started to reach there. They vied with one another saying, “I will view the Lord first. I will view the Lord first.” Everyone wanted to be the first to visit Lord Hāṭakeśvara in Pātāla. “Whoever does not go at the outset and does not see the Lord shall alone bear the brunt of the sin of all arising out of the effort.”

10. After saying thus they set out from Vārāṇasī running with very great speed.

11-14. In the meantime, the Lord named Hāṭakeśvara understood their intention to view him with very great devotion and their mutual rivalry too. He went out through a very minute serpent-hole from Pātāla immediately. He assumed seven distinct forms having the same charming features, holding the trident, three-eyed and decorated with Kaparda (matted hairs). Each had the crescent moon as crest jewel and wore a garland of headless bodies. Lord Śaṅkara thus stood within their simultaneous view.

15. Then, on seeing the Bull-emblemed One standing before, they knelt down on the ground and began to eulogize.

16. One of them thought, ‘O, This Lord Mahādeva, the Lord of Devas, endearing to the devotees has appeared before me at the outset.’

17. Another thought, ‘The excellent one among the ascetics appeared before me at the outset.’ O excellent Brāhmaṇas, they knelt on the ground and eulogized:

The ascetics said:

18. Obeisance to the presiding deity of Devas. Obeisance to the quiescent one, to the subtle one. Obeisance to the Lord who split (killed) Andhaka.

19. Obeisance to all the Rudras who have occupied heaven always. They enliven the earth with the winds of diverse kinds.

20. Obeisance to all the Rudras who are stationed in the western quarters and protect all the worlds from the danger of the wicked-minded Piśācas.

21. Obeisance to all the Rudras who have resorted to the northern quarters and who protect all the worlds from the danger of the devouring goblins.

22. Obeisance to all the Rudras who have resorted to regions beneath and above and always protect all the worlds from the danger of the Kūṣmāṇḍas.

23. Obeisance to those numberless thousands of Rudras who have resorted to the earth. They protect us from ailments.

24. On being eulogized by the eleven ascetics, those eleven Rudras spoke to the ascetics who stood humbly with devout feelings:

The Rudras said:

25. I who have assumed eleven forms am pleased with your excessive devotion, O excellent ascetics. Whatever is desired may be requested now:

The ascetics said:

26. If you are pleased with us, O Lord, if you are ready to grant what is desired, then you should stay here always in all those eleven forms.

27. Then we shall stay here in the auspicious holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara containing all the Tīrthas. We shall continue to propitiate you.

Śrī Bhagavān said:

28. I shall stay here always in all these forms of eleven kinds assumed by me.

29. My original and primordial form shall resort to Kailāsa and stay always on the excellent mountain.

30. But these forms of mine shall stay here always, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, for the welfare of all the worlds.

31. Men shall take their holy ablution in the Viśvāmitra Hrada (whirlpool) and worship these forms of mine uttering your names in order, O Brāhmaṇas. They will attain the greatest goal, O Brāhmaṇas.

32. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, of what avail is the repeated utterance of many words? The adoration performed unto them shall have eleven times more benefit.

33. After saying thus the Three-eyed Lord vanished there itself. They too built their hermitages there. They were endowed with great faith. By propitiating those forms they attained the greatest region.

34. Any other man who propitiates them with faith goes to that greatest region where Lord Maheśvara is present.

35. Ever since then they became the eleven Rudras having the physical forms of Maheśvara, the Lord of Devas.

36. All of them united together are highly excellent in their refulgence. They are three-eyed and trident-armed.

Thus everything I have been asked, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, has been recounted to you.

37-38. I have explained how Maheśvara assumed the eleven forms.

He who devoutly adores them on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Caitra, attains the greatest goal. One who has no wealth attains wealth. One without a son shall beget sons.

39. A sick man shall be rid of ailments. A vanquished man shall meet with destruction of enemies. Through their propitiation alone one shall realize infinite desires.

40. Listen to the benefit obtained by one who propitiates them after being blessed with Śivadīkṣā (initiation) and becoming engaged in Bhasma (holy ash) bath.

41. He shall attain (in return to worship performed) with a single flower that benefit which another man attains as a result of adoration with the utterance of the six-syllabled Mantra.

42. He who practises Śivadīkṣā obtains hundred times more the benefit. A devoted Pāśupata obtains hundred times more benefit than a Śaiva. Kālāmukha[1] obtains hundred times more benefit than the previous one and a Mahāvaratadhara still hundred times more.

43. Those who are humble and worship those forms devoutly shall have hundred times more benefit.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A sect of Śaivism. For details see David N. Lorenson,. The Kāpālikas and Kālamukhas, Thomson Press, New Delhi 1972.

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