Rudra (रुद्रः)

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Rudra (Samskrit: रुद्रः) is generally considered to be a form of Shiva. One of the Prajapatis, Rudra is said to be of tamasic guna and is known to be of fierce nature. The birth of Rudra is from Brahma. Like Vishnu Rudra is not said to have taken many avataras.

Role of Rudra

Rudra and his more calmer form Shiva (in the later ages), have been revered from Vedic times for his role in creation. Shiva as one of the trimurthis is said to control death and pralaya (destruction of creation). Although a few mantras/suktas of the Rigveda are devoted to describing and praising Rudra, there is a whole section of Taittriya Samhita, the Rudraprasna dedicated to him. Some of the attributes of Rudra are summarized as follows

• भिषक् ॥ Bhishak or Vaidya (वैद्या ॥ doctor) : Rudra is hailed as the bhishak (doctor) as are the Asvini Kumaras in the later ages.
• मृत्युन्जयः ॥ Mrtyunjaya: Rudra or Shiva is one of the main deities worshipped to overcome death and attain immortality. For example Markandeya intensely performed tapas to propitiate Shiva for longevity.
• नटराजः ॥ Nataraja: Known for his cosmic dance, Rudra or Shiva represents the eternal dancer and hence called as Nataraja.
• नीलकण्ठः ॥ Neelakantha: Rudra or Shiva came to be known as Neelakantha after he consumed the kalakuta poison which arose from samudra manthan.

Birth and Family

According to Vishnu Purana, Brahma at the beginning of the kalpa created Sanatkumara and his brothers (Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanatana). Being enlightened, these four rshis not desiring materialistic pleasures were not prepared to obtain progeny. Due to this Brahma became angry to such an extent that he was prepared to destroy the worlds. He became furious, and from his furrowed forehead and eyebrows emanated a figure, Rudra, shining with unbearable radiance like the mid-day sun.

तस्य क्रोधात् समुदूभुतज्वालामालाविदीपितम् । ब्रह्मणोऽभूत् तदा सर्व्व त्रैलोक्यमखिलं मुने ।। ९ ।।

समुत्पन्नस्तदा रुद्रो मध्याह्रार्कसमप्रभः ।। १० ।।

अर्द्धनारीनरवपुः प्रचण्डोऽतिशरीखान् । विभजात्मानमित्युत्तवा तं ब्रह्मान्तर्दधे ततः ।। ११ ।।

तथोक्तोऽसौ द्रिधा स्त्रित्वं पुरुषत्वं तथाकरोत् । बिभेद पुरुषत्वं च दशधा चैकधा च पुनः ।। १२ ।। (Vish. Pura. 1.7.9-12)

Rudra, having a body, half-male and half-female, was terrific, was instructed by Brahma to "divide yourself". Instantly Rudra split himself into a man and a woman. And then he divided the male into one and ten parts. These eleven figures are the eleven Rudras. The names of the eleven Rudras are given differently in different Puranas. Vishnu Purana further explains in Adhyaya 8 of the same chapter about the creation of Rudra and his further role in creation.

रुदन् वै सुस्वरं सोऽथ द्रवंश्च द्रिजसत्तम । किं रोदिषीति तं ब्रह्मा रुदन्तं प्रत्युवाच ह ।। ३ ।।

नाम देहीति तं सोऽथ प्रत्युवाच प्रजापतिम् । रुद्रस्त्वं देव नाम्नासि मा रोदीर्धैर्य मावह ।। ४ ।। (Vish. Pura. 1.8.3-4)

Brahma at the beginning of creation was thinking about a child resembling himself and then on his lap there appeared a child of blue complexion. When he was crying aloud, Brahma asked him "why are you crying"? He replied "I must be named", and because he was crying (rodana), Brahma named him "Rudra" (one who cries). He continued to cry further and since he cried so for seven more times Brahma gave him seven more names, described their forms, gave names of their wives and children.

स्थानानि चैषामष्टानां पत्नीः पुत्रांश्च स प्रभुः । भवं सर्व्वमथेशानं तथा पशुपतिं द्विज ।। ६ ।। भीममुग्रं महादेवमुवाच स पितामहः ।

सूर्यो जलं मही वायुर्वह्निराकाशमेव च । दीक्षितो ब्राह्मणः सोम इत्येतास्तनवः क्रमात् ।। ७ ।। (Vish. Pura. 1.8.6-8)

Pitamaha Brahma named them Bhava, Sarva, Ishana, Pasupati, Bhima, Ugra, and Mahadeva. They reside in Surya (Sun), Jala (water), Earth, Air, Fire, Space, Brahmana who took Diksha (in yajnas) and Soma (Moon) respectively. Suvarchala, Usha, Sukeshi, Shivaa, Svaha, Disha, Diksha, and Rohini respectively are the names of the wives of the eight forms of Rudras named Surya and others. Their offsprings, sons and grandsons have filled the universe. Sanaischara, Suka, Lohitanga, Manojava, Skanda, Sarga, Santana, Budha are respectively the sons of the eight forms of Rudras (Vish. Pura. 1.8.9-12).

Rudra - Form of Agni

Rigveda mentions Rudra as Agni "तमग्नेरुद्रो" while Atharvaveda proclaims "तस्मै रुद्राय नमो अस्त्वग्नये"। Another version of the eight forms of Rudra representing the earthly materials are as follows

Forms of Rudra	Represents
Rudra	Agni
Sarva	Jala (water)
Pashupati	Medicinal herbs
Ugra	Vayu (Air)
Ashani	Vidyut (electricity)
Bhava	Parjanya (Clouds)
Mahadeva	Chandra (Moon)
Ishana	Aditya (Sun)

In this way, Rudra represents Agni, which resides in every form of the creation, as well as the Agni tejas with which he shines forth.

Rudra in Vedas

Earliest mention of Rudra occurs in the Vedas and he is praised for his valour and as a vaidya. He is described as one of the important but considered lesser than Indra, Agni etc deities in whose praise there are many suktas in Rigveda.

Rigveda

While the highest number of suktas in Rigveda pertain to Indra, Rudra has been exclusively praised in only three suktas and mentioned about 50 times in context with other devatas. In Rigveda Rudra occupies a place of lesser importance, however Atharvaveda Rudra plays a prominent role.

Rudra Sukta (1.1.43) of Rig Veda praises the qualities of Rudra that he is a Jnani (Knowledgeable), as one who gives good health and happiness along with longevity and as one who removes all the causes for ill-health. Along with Mitra, Varuna, Rudra aids in dispelling causes of diseases and ill-health.

Rigveda (2.33.1) further describes Rudra as the father of Marutganas. He is extremely fierce in dealing with those on the wrong path, while he is very kind to his bhaktas.

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.

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)

AJAIKAPAT I. He was one of the eleven Rudras, who were born to Sthanudeva, the son ofBrahma. The eleven Rudras are :

1 . Mrgavyadha 7. Dahana

2- Nirrti 8. I^vara

3. Ahirbudhnya 9. Kapali

4. Pinaki 10. Bharga

5. Sarpa 11. Sthanu.

6. Ajaikapat

The names of the Eleven Rudras given in the Visnu Purana, Part I, Chapter 5 are: Hara, Bahurupa, Tryambaka, Aparajita,Vrsakapi, Sambhu, Kapardi, Raivata, Mrgavyadha, Sarva, Kapali. 

A total number of 100 Rudras are mentioned in the Puranas.

Aparajita : One of the eleven Rudras, the other

ten being Hara, Bahurupa, Tryambaka, Vrsakapi,

Sambhu, KapardI, Raivata, Mrgavyadha, Sarpa and

Kapali. (Agni Purana, Chapter 18) .

3) Bhuta Chief. In the Puranas, Rudra is acknowledged

as the Bhuta chief. That is why Rudra is known by such

names as "Bhutanayaka", "Gananayaka", "Rudranucara",

"Bhavaparisada" etc. But since the common

name Rudra is used for the ruler (king) of all the

Bhutas, Vamana Purana declares that Rudra is not an

individual. Both Vamanapurana and Matsyapurana

represent Virabhadra and Nandikesvara as two Rudras

who are the masters of Bhutas. (Matsyapurana 181,

2; Vamanapurana 4, 17).

In Vamana Purana, the number of Bhutas is given as

1 1 crores. Skanda, Sakha, Bhairava are the chief among

them. Under them are innumerable Bhutas, Ashes

and Khatvamga etc. are their weapons. The emblem

on the banner is a cow or a bird. That is how the

Gananayakas have got the titles like "Mayuradhvaja",

"Mayuravahana". (Vamana Purana 67, 1-23).

4) War with Asuras. In the war between Siva and

Andhakasura, the Bhutas fought on the side of Siva.

It was Vinayaka, the master of the Bhuta hordes who

first came into conflict with the Asura. In that battle

Andhaka defeated Vinayaka. After that, Nandi, another

leader of the Bhutas, attacked Andhaka jointly

with Vinayaka and defeated him. At last, Andhaka

approached Siva himselffor protection, and Siva received

him and appointed him as commander of one of his

hordes of Bhutas. It is this Andhakasura who later

became famous under the name of Bhriigi.

In this way, the Bhutas had fought many battles with

the Asuras, joining the party of the Devas. But at the

time of Daksa's yajna, they joined the party of the Asuras

and opposed the Devas.

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.