Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rigveda (g): Rudra and Soma’ 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.
1. Ṛgveda (g): Rudra and Soma
There is a hymn in the Ṛgveda where Rudra-Soma is jointly implored. In this hymn, Rudra is connected with Soma in duel and entreated along with the later to bestow good and avert evil.[1] Here, the worshippers pray to them seeking happiness for them and also for their children and animals[2] and Rudra-Soma is invoked together to expel the disease that has entered in their dwellings[3] and to abolish and draw away from them whatever sin they have done which attaches to their body.[4]
Besides these Rudra is paid homage along with other gods. The devotees invoke Rudra in the morning along with other gods, i.e. Agni, Mitra, Varuṇa and Aśvins, etc.[5] and he is also appealed along with Viśvadevā, Agni, Ribhus by his adorers to prevent them from calamity.[6] In the Ṛgveda, Vāgdevī is also found connected with Rudra. Vāgdevī is said to help Rudra in stretching his bow when Rudra makes ready to kill the enemy.[7] She travels with the Rudras and Vasus.[8]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 6.74.1-4
[3]:
somārudrā vi vṛhataṃ viṣucīmamīvā yā no gayamāviveśa | Ibid., 6.74.2
[4]:
Ibid., 6.74.3
[5]:
prātaragniṃ prātarindraṃ havāmahe prātarmitrāvaruṇā prātaraśvinā | prātarbhagaṃ puṣaṇaṃ brahmaṇaspatiṃ prātaḥ somamuta rudraṃ huvema || Ibid., 7.41.1
[6]:
viśve devā no adyā svastaye vaiśvānaro vasuragniḥ svastaye | devā avantvṛbhavaḥ svastaye svasti no rudraḥ pātvaṃhasaḥ || Ibid., 5.51.13
[7]:
ahaṃ rudrāya dhanurā tanomi brahmadviṣe śarave hantavā u | Ibid., 10.125.6
[8]:
ahaṃ rudrebhirvasubhiścarāmyahaṃ ādityai ruta viśvadevaiḥ | ahaṃ mitrāvaruṇobhā vibharmyahamindrāgnī ahaṃ aśvinobhā || Ibid., 10.125.1