Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra and Ambika’ 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.
8. Rudra and Ambikā
A reference has been found in the context of the Tryambaka offering of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, where Ambikā is said to be Rudra’s sister. A share is offered to Rudra and he (Rudra) is invoked to accept his share along with Ambikā, Rudra’s sister.[1] In the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, autumn season is identified with Ambikā. Ambikā is Rudra’s sahacārīṇī. Rudra kills the creatures along with Ambikā.[2] In the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā, Mahīdhara remarks that Ambikā kills her enemies by taking the form of autumn and spreading fever etc., diseases.[3] Here, Ambikā is delineated with Rudra as a ferocious deity. Her dreaded form is reflected very clearly.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
eṣa te rudra bhāgaḥ saha svasrāmbikayā taṃ juṣasva svāhetyambikā ha vai nāmāsya svasā...|| Ibid., 2.6.2.9
[2]:
eṣa te rudra bhāgassaha svasrā’mbikayetyāha | śaradvā asyāmbikā svasā | tayā vā eṣa hinasti...|| Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 1.6.10.75
[3]:
sā cāmbikā śaradrūpaṃ prāpya jarādikamutpādya taṃ virodhinaṃ hanti | Mahīdhara on Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, 3.57