Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra as Ardhakaghatin’ 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.
2.22. Rudra as Ardhakaghātin
In the 11th kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda, the name Ardhakaghātin has been used in connection with Rudra.[1] It is a unique epithet of Rudra which has not been found in other texts.
Sāyaṇācārya interprets the term ardhakaghātin as:
ardhakaghātinā senāyā ardhaṃ hantuṃ śīlaṃ asya[2]
“One who alone is able to kill half of the armies is called Ardhakaghātin.”
So, Rudra is known by this new name.
Whitney defines the term ardhakaghātin as ‘half-smiter’[3] and Griffith defines the term as the ‘slaughterer of Ardhaka.’[4] In the Rāmāyaṇa, Rudra is mentioned as the slayer of Antaka.[5] After reading the reference of Araṇyakāṇḍa of the Rāmāyaṇa, J. Muir comments that ‘Rudra is elsewhere said to be the slayer of Andhaka or Antaka’.[6]
Footnotes and references:
[3]:
Vide, Whitney, W.D., The Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Vol.II, p.398
[4]:
Vide, Griffith, R.T.H., The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, Vol. II, p.57
[5]:
sa papāta kharo bhūmau dahyamānaḥ śarāgninā | rudreṇeva vinirdagdhaḥ śvetāraṇye yathāntakaḥ || Rāmāyaṇa, 3.30.27