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Rigveda (7.46) is a short sukta consisting of four rks, two of which are as follows<blockquote>इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिर: क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥१॥</blockquote><blockquote>स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मन: साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव ॥२॥</blockquote>Summary : This sukta in praise of Rudra describes Him as a protector (as one bearing a strong bow capable of shooting fast arrows), nourisher (providing anna or food), and provider of astras which makes His worshippers as winners. He is known as one who brings prosperity to both the beings of Prthvi (earth) and Svarga (heavens) and protects one who worships Him by dispelling diseases and granting many divine aushadhas (medicinal herbs). The sukta says - O Rudra!  do not harm our children and their progeny, and let us not be part of those bound by your Krodha (anger). Do not kill us but do not leave us, please come for our yajnas and protect us.<ref>Pt. Ramgovind Trivedi. (1954) ''Hindi Rigveda''. Prayaga:Bharat's Press Ltd (Pages 828-829)</ref>
 
Rigveda (7.46) is a short sukta consisting of four rks, two of which are as follows<blockquote>इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिर: क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥१॥</blockquote><blockquote>स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मन: साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव ॥२॥</blockquote>Summary : This sukta in praise of Rudra describes Him as a protector (as one bearing a strong bow capable of shooting fast arrows), nourisher (providing anna or food), and provider of astras which makes His worshippers as winners. He is known as one who brings prosperity to both the beings of Prthvi (earth) and Svarga (heavens) and protects one who worships Him by dispelling diseases and granting many divine aushadhas (medicinal herbs). The sukta says - O Rudra!  do not harm our children and their progeny, and let us not be part of those bound by your Krodha (anger). Do not kill us but do not leave us, please come for our yajnas and protect us.<ref>Pt. Ramgovind Trivedi. (1954) ''Hindi Rigveda''. Prayaga:Bharat's Press Ltd (Pages 828-829)</ref>
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Scholars<ref name=":42" /> opine that from the Rigvedic times, the mantras of the five Rudra Suktas have been used in the daily worship of people, a practice seen even in the present day. These suktas are known famously as the Pancha Rudra Suktas. They include mantras in suktas 1.43.9 (Kanva), 1.114.11 (Kutsa Angirasa), 2.33.15 (Ghrtsamada), 6.74.4 (Bharadvaja), and 7.46.4 (Maitravaruna Vasishta). Some others include the rks 4.3.1 and 5.42.11 also for the worship of Rudra.
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Rigveda Sukta (7.59) also called as मृत्युविमोचनी ऋक्। mr̥tyuvimocanī r̥k। Mrtyuvimochani Rk emphasises the important quality for which Rudra is worshipped - as one who protects from the death (Mrtyunjaya - one who wins over Mrtyu in a sense attains Moksha).<blockquote>त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥१२॥ (Rig. Veda. 7.59.12)</blockquote>Scholars<ref name=":42" /> opine that from the Rigvedic times, the mantras of the five Rudra Suktas have been used in the daily worship of people, a practice seen even in the present day. These suktas are known famously as the Pancha Rudra Suktas. They include mantras in suktas 1.43.9 (Kanva), 1.114.11 (Kutsa Angirasa), 2.33.15 (Ghrtsamada), 6.74.4 (Bharadvaja), and 7.46.4 (Maitravaruna Vasishta). Some others include the rks 4.3.1 and 5.42.11 also for the worship of Rudra.
    
=== Yajurveda ===
 
=== Yajurveda ===
Rudradhyaya present in both Krishna Yajurveda (Taittriya samhita, Kanda 4, 5, 7 Prapathakas) and Shukla Yajurveda Samhita (Adhyaya 16) is a very important part dedicated to Rudra describing his qualities.
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Rudradhyaya present in both Krishna Yajurveda (Taittriya samhita, Kanda 4, Prapathakas 5 and 7) and Shukla Yajurveda Samhita (Adhyaya 16) is a very important part dedicated to Rudra describing his qualities and a prayer to win His favour. Rudra or Shiva are worshipped in the form of Linga, with the recitation of these mantras along with the Mahamrtyunjaya mantra. The Shiva Panchakshari mantra is also a part of the Rudraprashna.
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==== Sri Rudram ====
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Sri Rudram comprises of mantras of the kanda four called as  '''Namakam''' (in  prapathaka five, 11 mantras) and '''Chamakam''' (of the seventh prapathaka) are preeminent Vedic mantras addressed to Rudra, the fearful aspect of Shiva and are recited daily throughout Bharatavarsha both in the households as part of devatarchana and in Shiva temples. 
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==== Panchakshari Mantra ====
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<blockquote>नमः शम्भवे च मयोभवे च नमः शंकराय च मयस्कराय च नमः शिवाय च शिवतराय च । (Yaju. Samh. 4.5.8.1)<ref>Yajurveda Samhita (Krishna Yajurveda Shaka [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/तैत्तिरीयसंहिता(विस्वरः)/काण्डम्_४/प्रपाठकः_५ Kanda 4 Prapathaka 5])</ref></blockquote>The sacred Panchakshari mantra is in the Namakam (kanda 4, prapathaka five) part of the Sri Rudram.  
    
=== Atharvaveda ===
 
=== Atharvaveda ===
The 11th Kanda, sukta 2 of Adharvaveda pertains to Rudra. In whom the Adityas, Rudras and Vasus are held together; in whom are set firm the worlds; that which was and that which shall be, "Tell me of that Support who may He be?" (Atharvaveda Samhita X.7.22)
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The 11th Kanda, sukta 2 of Atharvaveda pertains to praising the form of Rudra. It mentions his fearful aspect, role in destruction and making people cry, as pashupati, as a powerful protector, and dispeller of diseases such as fevers and grants longevity.<ref>Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya. (2002) ''Atharvaveda Samhita, Part 2 (Kanda 11 to 20) With Hindi Commentary.'' Haridwar : Brahmavachas (Pages 7-10)</ref>
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He is described as the deity of the Antariksha mandala.
    
== Number of Rudras ==
 
== Number of Rudras ==
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Both Vamanapurana and Matsyapurana represent Virabhadra and Nandikesvara as two Rudras who are the masters of Bhutas. (Matsyapurana 181, 2; Vamanapurana 4, 17).  
 
Both Vamanapurana and Matsyapurana represent Virabhadra and Nandikesvara as two Rudras who are the masters of Bhutas. (Matsyapurana 181, 2; Vamanapurana 4, 17).  
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In Vamana Purana, the number of Bhutas is given as 11 crores. Skanda, Sakha, Bhairava are the chief among them. Under them are innumerable Bhutas, Ashes
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In Vamana Purana, the number of Bhutas is given as 11 crores. Skanda, Sakha, Bhairava are the chief among them. Under them are innumerable Bhutas. (Vamana Purana 67, 1-23).
 
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and Khatvamga etc. are their weapons. The emblem
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on the banner is a cow or a bird. That is how the
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Gananayakas have got the titles like "Mayuradhvaja",
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"Mayuravahana". (Vamana Purana 67, 1-23).
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4) War with Asuras. In the war between Siva and
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Andhakasura, the Bhutas fought on the side of Siva.
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It was Vinayaka, the master of the Bhuta hordes who
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first came into conflict with the Asura. In that battle
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Andhaka defeated Vinayaka. After that, Nandi, another
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leader of the Bhutas, attacked Andhaka jointly
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with Vinayaka and defeated him. At last, Andhaka
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approached Siva himselffor protection, and Siva received
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him and appointed him as commander of one of his
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hordes of Bhutas. It is this Andhakasura who later
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became famous under the name of Bhriigi.
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In this way, the Bhutas had fought many battles with
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the Asuras, joining the party of the Devas. But at the
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time of Daksa's yajna, they joined the party of the Asuras
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and opposed the Devas.
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Sri Rudram occurs in the fourth Kanda of the Taittirya Samhita in the Yajur Veda. It is a preeminent Vedic hymn to Lord Shiva as the God of dissolution, chanted daily in Shiva temples throughout India.
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== References ==
 
== References ==
 
[[Category:Devatas]]
 
[[Category:Devatas]]

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