Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra as Harikesha’ 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.
2.18. Rudra as Harikeśa
Harikeśa is depicted as a designation of trees. Uvaṭa also remarks that the green leaves of the trees look like green-coloured hair of the trees. Here, Rudra is identified with trees and reverence is paid to Rudra as Harikeśa.[1] According to Uvaṭa, Harikeśa is one who has red-coloured hair.[2] But according to Mahīdhara, he is a possessor of blue-coloured hair.[3] Lord Śiva is portrayed as Harikeśa.[4] This is a common epithet of Rudra and Śiva.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
...namo vṛkṣebhyo harikeśebhyaḥ paśūnāṃ pataye namo namaḥ ...harikeśāyopavītine puṣṭānāṃ pataye namaḥ || Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, 16.17
[2]:
harikeśāya lohitakeśāya | Uvaṭa, Ibid.
[3]:
Mahīdhara, Ibid.
[4]:
(a) Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.30.220 (b) dīrghaśca harikeśaśca sutīrthaḥ kṛṣṇa eva ca || Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.65.68