4. Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (e): Rudra’s formidable characters

In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Rudra is frequently prayed to pierce the enemies of his worshippers with his arrows. These enemies may be the invoker’s own or outsider.^[1] In the 11^th kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Rudra is depicted as Ardhakaghātin or one who is able to slay half an army at once as well as vigorous and Rudra’s terrible character is cleared in this mantra where the devotees earnestly desire that not to collision with Rudra.^[2] Bhava and Śarva, the epithets of Rudra are known as thousand-eyed, slayer of enemies, fierce gods.^[3] Neither god nor men can avoid their destroying stroke.^[4] In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, the devotees appeal to them (Bhava and Śarva) jointly to hurl their thunderbolt against the yātudhāna, who practises sorcery,^[5] against the evil doer^[6] and to save their adorers from calamity^[7] and the worshippers also pray to remove the evil poison of Bhava and Śarva to other place.^[8] For destroying the universe Rudra carries a yellowish golden bow in his hands, which smites thousands and kills hundreds.^[9] Rudra attacks wicked person with his weapons–fever and cough.^[10] He is invoked so that he does not harm people with fever, cough, poison and heavenly fire.^[11] Rudra’s worshippers pray to him for the welfare of their cattle, men, goats and sheep thus—do not harm our cattle, our men, goats and sheep. O fierce god turns your weapon in another direction; kill the progeny of wicked persons.^[12] There is a mantra in the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, where it can be said that the disease of the cattle is believed to be inflicted by the arrows of Rudra.^[13]

In another mantra of the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Sāyaṇācārya says that Rudra is a presiding deity of fever.^[14] A reverence is paid to Rudra’s arrow in different positions—when it is being hurled, aimed, when it is flying and hits something.^[15] The terrible character of Rudra is cleared by these references.