5. Review of literature

For preparation of this dissertation, many books, articles, dictionaries published by various organisations, institutions etc., have been consulted. Among them the original works, i.e. the four Vedas including their Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas, Upaniṣads, Śrautasūtras and Gṛhyasūtras, Dharmasūtras and the Purāṇas have been consulted. The Bṛhaddevatā of Śaunaka, Yāska’s Nirukta also deserve special mention.

Western scholars have contributed a lot in the field of Vedic literature and mythology. R.T.H. Griffith’s English translation of the Ṛgveda and Śukla Yajurveda, Aitareya-brāhmaṇa Keith and A.A. Macdonell’s Vedic Index of Names and Subjects are worth mentioning. J. Muir’s Original Sanskrit Texts in five volumes is also noteworthy. It explains and interprets the passages and hymns of the Vedic Saṃhitās, Brāhmaṇas, Upaniṣads, Rāmāyana, Mahābhārata and Purāṇas along with their English translations. The fourth Volume of this work has given many references to Rudra. Vedic Mythology of A.A. Macdonell, The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads of Aitareya-brāhmaṇa Keith deserve special mention. Macdonell discusses on the Vedic conceptions of the world and its origin, origin of gods and men. This book throws light on the characteristic features of different gods. Besides these above mentioned works, Vaiṣṇavism, Śaivism and Minor Religious Systems by R.G. Bhandarkar, Śiva in Medieval Indian Literature of Amal Sarkar are remarkable. Śiva in Medieval Indian Literature consists of three chapters. It deals with the evolution of the god (Śiva); the major and minor characteristics of Śiva from Vedic to Purāṇic literature.

Mahadev Chakravarti also contributed a lot in the field of Rudra-Śiva studies. His work entitled The Concept of Rudra-Śiva Through the Ages is a very popular one. This book consists of three chapters and it carries a discussion on the gradual development of the concept of Rudra-Śiva. It describes how Śiva occupied an exalted position in the Brāhmaṇical pantheon. Rudra-Śiva in the Vedas of P.M. Rath, Hinduder Devdevi: Udbhav o Kramabikash of Hangsanarayan Bhattacharya are noteworthy. The book Rudra-Śiva in the Vedas is divided into five chapters. This book delineates on the nature, dimension of Rudra’s personality, mode of worship and position in the Vedic period, Rudra’s relation with other gods etc. Hinduder Devdevi: Udbhav o Kramabikash contains two Volumes. In this book, the writer gives so much information about Rudra-Śiva from Vedic to Purāṇic period. The second volume throws light on different topics regarding Rudra such as Rudra as a destroyer, Rudra as Śiva, Rudra as physician, derivations of the term of Rudra, several names of Rudra, origin of Rudra-Śiva etc. The Presence of Śiva by Stella Kramrisch throws glimpses of light on the various aspects of Śiva-Rudra, birth of Rudra, manifestations and realizations of Rudra, the family of Śiva etc. Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Śiva by W.D. O’Flaherty is considered to be a contribution in this field. Śiva’s different characteristics features, his (Śiva’s) relation with Brahmā and Kāma, Vedic antecedents of Śiva are discussed in this book very beautifully. Viṣṇuvism and Śaivism A Comparison by J. Gonda has been consulted for preparing this dissertation. This book deals with the character of Viṣṇu and Rudra-Śiva, the development of these two gods in Indian thoughts, myths and legends of Śiva and Viṣṇu. This book gives some information of the ritual and ceremonies of Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism.

All the names of the works could not be mentioned here in this thesis for the sake of precision and accuracy. In the bibliography of this thesis, all the names of the books have been pointed out very clearly.