Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)

by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words

This page relates ‘Rudra in the Atharvaveda-samhita (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.

4. Rudra in the Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (Introduction)

There are so many references in the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, through which it can be known that, god Rudra is further developed and he occupies a higher platform in the Atharvaveda. The study of the origin and development of RudraŚiva worship is most importantly based on the position of Rudra in the Atharvaveda.

In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, it is mentioned that Rudra stands in the antarikṣa.[1]

Sāyaṇācārya states that:

yo rudraḥ antarikṣe ākāśe nirādhārapradeśe viṣṭabhitaḥ viśeṣeṇa stambhitaḥ niruddhagatistiṣṭhati.[2]

It means Rudra resides in the ākāśa or antarikṣasthāna.

In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Sāyaṇācārya remarks Rudra is:

jvarābhimāni devaḥ;

“Presiding god of fever.”

And also derives the term rudra as—

rudrāya rodayati upatāpena aśruṇi mocayatīti rudro jvarābhimānī devaḥ.[3]

It is defined as Rudra makes everybody cry by increasing heat of the body temperature.

In another two mantras, Sāyaṇācārya derives the term rudra as one who makes enemies weep[4] and rudraḥ rodayitā śūlarogābhimānī devaḥ or he is the presiding god of diseases.[5] routi [roti/rauti?] śabdāyate tārakaṃ brahma upadiśatīti rudraḥ.[6] Here the word rudra denotes who explores the knowledge of Upaniṣad.

Sāyaṇācārya remarks that:

rudraḥ paśūnāṃ abhimantā pīḍākaro devaḥ.[7]

It means Rudra is one who gives pain to all beings.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

yo’nantarikṣe tiṣṭhati viṣṭabhitoyajvanaḥ pramṛṇan devapīyūn | tasmai namo daśabhiḥ śakvarībhiḥ || Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 11.2.23

[2]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[3]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 6.20.2

[4]:

rudraḥ rodayati śatrūn iti rudraḥ | Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 7.92.1

[5]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 6.90.1

[6]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 2.27.6

[7]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 6.141.1

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