Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)

by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words

This page relates ‘Eleven incarnations of Shiva’ 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.

In the Śiva Purāṇa, it is stated that Lord Śiva was born of Kaśyapa and Surabhi assuming eleven forms.

The names of the eleven Rudras are—

  1. Kapālin,
  2. Piṅgala,
  3. Bhīma,
  4. Virūpākṣa,
  5. Vilohita,
  6. Śāsta,
  7. Ajapāt,
  8. Ahirbudhnya,
  9. Śambhu,
  10. Caṇḍa and
  11. Bhava.

They helped the gods and slew the asuras in the battle. They were heroic and of great strength.[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

kapālī piṅgalo bhīmo virūpākṣo vilohitaḥ | śāstā’japādahirbudhnyaḥ śambhuścaṇḍo bhavastathā || Ibid., 3.18. 26

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