Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra as Girishanta, Giritra, Girisha’ 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.
2.14. Rudra as Giriśanta, Giritra, Giriśa
In the Vedic literature, Rudra is addressed by these epithets. In this context, Uvaṭa explains the word giriśanta thus:
giriśanta girau parvate’vasthitaḥ kailāsākhye sukhaṃ tanotīti giriśanta.[1]
It means he who bestows happiness, residing in Kailāsa mountain, is called Giriśanta. The term giritra denotes the one who protects his worshippers residing in Kailāsa, a mountain.[2] Another term giriśa means he who sleeps in Kailāsa mountain.[3] Śiva is known by the epithet Giriśa[4] in the Purāṇas. And he is portrayed as the resident of Kailāsa mountain frequently.[5]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Uvaṭa on Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, 16.3
[4]:
(a) anādimadhyanidhano giriśo giribāndhavaḥ Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.98.37 (b) anādimadhyanidhano giriśo girijādhavaḥ || Śiva-purāṇa, 4.35.9 (c) Matsya-purāṇa, 132.18;Vāyu-purāṇa, 2.35.166
[5]:
Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa, 2.25.9; Śiva-purāṇa, 4.35.109; Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.98.136