4i. Rudra’s enumeration in some events

In the Hiraṇyakeśī Gṛhyasūtra, it is stated that if a fruit unexpectedly falls down on a person then that very person must worship god Vāyu.^[1] Wind is said to be Rudra’s arrow.^[2] Reverence is paid to Rudra who has been described as a protector of beings in the Hiraṇyakeśī Gṛhyasūtra elaborately. The Hiraṇyakeśī Gṛhyasūtra describes that if a person is at a dung-heap, he should pay homage to Rudra. When one comes to a place where serpents are moving all time, he should recite the name of Rudra. When one who is overtaken by a cyclone, at that time he murmurs the name of Rudra. If a person falls into river, and if he comes to a beautiful place, a sacrificial site or a big tree he should utter the name of Rudra. Here, Rudra is portrayed as one who lives on cross-roads, among cattle and serpents, in the air, water, beautiful places, sacrificial sites and big trees.^[3] His all pervading nature is delineated by these references.

From these references, it can be understood that he is a protector of human beings and destroyer of evils of these places. Cross-roads, water, air, big trees, dung heap etc., are the residing place of Rudra. According to the Pāraskara Gṛhyasūtra, when one is going to a path, a cross-road, to cross mountain, when one aspires to swim across a river, when one is in a forest, a funeral place and in a cow-shed, he should utter the name of Rudra.^[4] The Pāraskara Gṛhyasūtra, accepting the view of Veda stated that Rudra is the universe.^[5]

From the above analysis, it can be said that Rudra occupies a unique position in the Gṛhyasūtras. He is invoked for the welfare of beings and for protection the life of men and animals from diseases, calamities.