Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Rudra as Vritrahana’ 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.
2.29. Rudra as Vṛtrahaṇā
In an Atharvavedic mantra, Bhava and Śarva are jointly prayed. Here in this mantra, Vṛtrahaṇā, an epithet, is ascribed to Bhava and Śarva jointly.[1]
Whitney translates the mantra thus—
“I call on the (two) thousand-eyed, Vṛtra-slayer; I go praising the (two) formidable ones, having pastures a far: who lord it etc.”[2]
It is already said in the above points that Bhava and Śarva are the attributes of Rudra.
Sāyaṇācārya takes the word vṛtrahaṇ [vṛtrahan?] in the sense of one who is the slayer of Vṛtra, a demon—
In the Ṛgveda, the epithet Vṛtrahaṇ is attributed to Indra.[4] It is applied around 70 times to Indra in the Ṛgveda. Griffith defines this term vṛtrahaṇ as ‘foe-destroyers’.[5] So, some aspects are identical with Rudra and Indra in the Vedic literature.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
sahasrākṣau vṛtrahaṇā huve’haṃ dūregavyūtī stuvannemyugrau | yāvaśyeśāthe dvipado yau catuṣpadastau naḥ muñcatamaṃhasaḥ || Atharvaveda-saṃhitā, 4.28.3
[2]:
Vide, Whitney, W.D., Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Vol.I, p.326
[5]:
Vide, Griffith, R.T.H., The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, Vol. I, p.169