Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)

by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words

This page relates ‘Rudra as Annada and Annapati’ 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.

2.26. Rudra as Annāda and Annapati

Rudra is known as Annāda and Annapati in the 19th kāṇḍa of the Atharvaveda.[1] Here, in this mantra, Agni is regarded as Rudra.

W.D. Whitney defines the mantra thus:

“May I be one not falling short of food; to the food eating lord of food, to Agni as Rudra be homage.”[2]

In the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, it is stated that:

rudro vā eṣa yat agniḥ.[3]

In later literature, Śiva is renowned by the name Annāda, Annapati[4] and Annamaya.[5]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

apścā dagdhānnasya bhūyāsam | annādāyānnapataye rudrāya namo agnaye | sabhyaḥ sabhāṃ me pāhi ye ca sabhyāḥ sabhāsadaḥ || Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 19.55.5

[2]:

Vide, Whitney,W.D., Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Vol.III, p.411

[3]:

Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 1.1.8.4

[4]:

annadāyānnapataye namo’stvannabhavāya ca | Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.30.213

[5]:

tejomayo’mṛtamayo’nnamayaśca sudhāpatiḥ || Śiva-purāṇa, 4.35.15

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