Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)

by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words

This page relates ‘Other 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 in the eleventh Dvāpara yuga, lord Śiva shall be born as Kali at Gaṅgādvāra. In the thirteenth Dvāpara yuga he shall be born as the great sage Bali. In the fourteenth, as Gautama. In the fifteenth aeon, as Vedaśira. In the sixteenth aeon as Gokarṇa. In the seventeenth aeon, lord Śiva will be born by the name of Guhāvāsi. In the eighteenth aeon, he will be born by the name of Śikhaṇḍi, in the nineteenth aeon, by Jaṭi and Mālin. In the twentieth aeon lord Śiva will be born by the name of Aṭṭahāsa. In the twenty-first kalpa he will be born as Dāruka. In the twenty-second aeon, as a great sage in Vārāṇasi. In the twenty-third kalpa, as Śveta muni, in the twentyfourth aeon, as Śūli, in the twenty-fifth aeon as Muṇḍīśvara, in the twenty-sixth aeon, as Sahiṣṇu, in the twenty-seventh aeon, as Somaśarmā and in the twentyeighth Dvāpara yuga, he will appear in the form of Dvaipāyana vyāsa.[1]

The manifestations of Śiva in the Kalī yuga are—Sutāra, Madana, Suhotra, Kaṅkana, Lokākṣi, Yogindra, Jaigiṣavya, Ṛṣabha, Bhṛgu, Ugra, Bali, Gautama, Vedadarśin, Gokarṇa, Guhāvāsa, Śikhaṇḍadṛk, Yajamālin, Aṭṭahāsa, Dāruka, Mahāyama etc.[2]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śiva-purāṇa, 3.5.2-45

[2]:

Kūrma-purāṇa, 1.53.5-9; Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.23.107-214

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