Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra and Prajapati’ 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.
7. Rudra and Prajāpati
The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa identified Rudra with Manyu. This Brāhmaṇa mentions that when Prajāpati had become disjointed, the deities left him. At that time, only one god named Manyu did not leave him (Prajāpati). Prajāpati cried his tears that fell down settled on Manyu. Then Manyu became the hundredheaded, thousand-eyed and hundred-quivered Rudra. And the other drops that fell down became innumerable as they spread throughout these worlds. Since they originated from crying, they were called Rudras. That hundred-headed, thousand-eyed, hundred-quivered Rudra, with his bow and arrow ready to shoot, generated fear among gods, while he was searching for food.[1] This reference brings forth Rudra’s dreadful or terrible nature.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, 9.1.1.6-7