Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘4f. Rudra in the Vrishotsarga ceremony’ 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.
4f. Rudra in the Vṛṣotsarga ceremony
The Vṛṣotsarga ceremony is performed immediately after the Śūlagava sacrifice. This ceremony is performed on the full-moon day of the month of Kārttika or on the month of Āśvina under revatī nakṣatra.[1] This rite is performed in connection with Rudra. This ritual is performed by releasing a bull for the purpose of heavenly reward, cows, sons, wealth, fame and long-life.[2] After offering a mess of sacrificial food to Pūṣan the sacrificer brings an ox and that very ox should be either one coloured or two coloured. That bull protects the herd or the bull is protected by the herd. That bull should be the best bull out of his herd and should have all its limbs complete.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
(a) kārttikyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃrevatyāṃ vāśvayujasya || Pāraskara-gṛhyasūtra, 3.9.3 (b) kārttikyāṃ pūrṇimāyāmāśvinasya revatyāṃ revatīnakṣatre vā kartavya...| Harihara, Ibid.
[2]:
tataścāsminnapi svargapaśuputradhanayaśāyuṣkāmasyādhikāraḥ | Harihara, Ibid., 3.9.2