Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Oblation to Soma and Rudra’ 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.
16. Oblation to Soma and Rudra
After the jewel-offering of the Rājasūya sacrifice, a caru is offered to Soma and Rudra. The caru is cooked in milk of a white cow having a white calf. There is a beautiful account behind the reason of this offering. It is said thus—once a demon named Sarbhānu covered the sun with darkness. Since the sun was covered in darkness, it did not shine. Soma and Rudra removed the darkness from the sun. When a king brings ayajñiyān or those who are unworthy of sacrifice in touch with yajña, he enters in darkness. That darkness of a king is eliminated by the offering to Soma and Rudra. Here, a question arises as to why this caru is cooked in milk of a white cow which has a white calf. Then the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa beautifully mentions the reason behind this—the darkness is black and the darkness is removed by white colour. For this reason also, the sacrificial fee of this oblation is white cow having a white calf.[1] This oblation may be offered by those people who are qualified for fame but not yet famous.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, 5.3.2.1-2