Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘3e. Oblation to Soma-Rudra (Somaraudra-yaga)’ 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.
3e. Oblation to Soma-Rudra (Somāraudra-yāga)
The Baudhāyana Śrauta Sūtra mentions that one who desires of offspring or progeny has to offer cooked rice to Soma-Rudra. Again if a person wishes to practise exorcism or abhicāra karma, he also should offer cooked rice to SomaRudra. If a person who has been suffering from a chronic disease for a long time, the affected person should offer cooked rice to Soma-Rudra. If one who desires to produce a foe against a person in his own abode, he also has to offer cooked rice to Soma-Rudra.[1]
The Baudhāyana Śrauta Sūtra mentions that one who is seeking for the splendour of Brahman, he has to offer cooked rice or caru to Soma-Rudra. This oblation is offered on the full-moon day of tiṣya nakṣatra or puṣya.[2] In this ritual, clarified butter has to be used. This clarified butter must be churned out of the milk of a white cow having white calf.[3]
The Mānava Śrautasūtra also delineates the same ritual which is performed on the full-moon day of Pauṣa. Here, in this ritual a person has to offer cooked rice of white paddy in ghee to Soma-Rudra. This ghee is to be prepared from the milk of a white cow.[4]
In the Taittirīya Saṃhitā, the reason behind this ritual is stated thus—once when the sun did not shine, the gods sought a reimbursement for him. For him (sun) the gods offered an oblation to Soma and Rudra. Then Soma-Rudra bestowed brightness upon him (sun). From this reference, it can be understood that if a person desires to get splendour of Brahman, he must offer this oblation on the full-moon day of the month of tiṣya. Rudra is called Tiṣya and Soma is full-moon.[5]
From the references of the Śrautasūtras, it is crystal clear that Rudra occupies an important position in the field of Śrautasūtras.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
somāraudraṃ caruṃ nirvapetprajākāma iti | tasyā ete bhavataḥ somārudrā vi vṛhataṃ viṣūcīṃ somārudrā yuvametānīti | somāraudraṃ caruṃ nirvapedabhicaranniti | tasyā ete eva bhavataḥ | somāraudraṃ caruṃ nirvapet…somāraudraṃ caruṃ nirvapedyaḥ kāmayeta sve’smā āyatane bhrātṛvyaṃ janayeyamiti | B.S.S., 13.18
[2]:
The eight of the 27 constellations, also called puṣya. Vide, Apte, Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, The Student’s Sanskrit-English Dictionary, p.235
[3]:
yo brahmavarcasakāmaḥ syāttasmā etaṃ somāraudraṃ caruṃ tiṣyāpūrṇamāse nirvapediti | sa yo brahmavarcasakāmaḥ syātsa taiṣyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ somāraudraṃ caruṃ nirvapati | pariśrite yājayatyatha vai bhavati śvetāyai śvetavatsāyai dugdhaṃ mathitamājyaṃ bhavatyājyaṃ prokṣaṇamājyena mārjayante| Baudhāyana-śrautasūtra., 13.17
[4]:
M.Ś.S., 5.1.6.1-11
[5]:
Taittirīya-saṃhitā, 2.2.10.1-2