Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Shiva as Jimutketu’ 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.
2.30. Śiva as Jīmutketu
An epithet of Śiva. There is an account in the Vāmana Purāṇa behind the name of Jīmutketu. Once during the summer season, Pārvatī asked her husband Śiva how it was possible to protect oneself in this season, from the hot sun and the strong wind, without a house. Then Śiva replied that he has no home. He always moves in the forest. Pārvatī spent the summer season with her husband Śiva in the shade of trees. Afterthat, the rainy season started and the sky became overcast with clouds. After witnessing the rainy season, Pārvatī again requested her husband for a house. Lord Śiva replied to her that he has no wealth to erect a house. He always wears a tiger’s skin. Śeṣa is his sacred thread, Padma and Piṅgala (two serpents) are his ear rings. Kambala (blanket) and Dhanañjaya (a nāga) are his bracelets. His wrists are arrayed with two bangles—the serpent, Aśvatara on his right and Takṣaka on his left. Saying thus, Śiva went up on the rising bunch of clouds with Pārvatī and sat there. Those clouds looked like the flag of Śiva. From that day, Śiva was known as Jīmutketu.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Vāmana-purāṇa, 1.11-31