Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)

by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words

This page relates ‘Shiva as Jatadhara and Kalarupa’ 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.

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2.32. Śiva as Jaṭādhara and Kālarūpa

When Śiva heard the news of Satī’s death in the Dakṣa yajña, he went to the sacrificial ground. Having seen the angry Śiva, all the gods left that place as fast as possible. Becoming angry, lord Śaṅkara killed numerous gods by blowing his trident. He destroyed everything with the fire that arose from his third eye. He destroyed the teeth of Pūṣan. Infuriated, Śiva slapped the face of Bhaga, as a result of which both of his (Bhaga’s) eyes fell to the ground. Thereafter Śiva went near the sacrificial altar and looked at the three sacrificial fires with his fierce eyes. Then the yajña turned himself in to the form of a divine deer and flew away to the sky. Then Maheśvara in the form of Kāla pierced yajña with his Pāśupata arrow. Lord Śiva with his half part was popularly known as Jaṭādhara and his other half part in the sky was called Kālarūpa.[1]

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