Rudra literally means “he who has a fearsome cry In the Shata-Rudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana, Mahadeva’s 11 Rudra Avatars are mentioned with great reverence. The actual number of Rudras is incomprehensible, with Hindu texts and hymns such as the powerful Shatarudriya from the Vedic Samhitas describing a hundred thousand forms of Rudra.
In the Vedic religion, he is a supreme deity, who creates and destroys and has the responsibility of looking after every living being. Since then, Rudra has developed into an aspect of Shiva, and in the Puranic literature, his eleven most powerful forms are mentioned, listening or reading about which is believed to remove sins and negativity from life.
According to the sacred Purana, Shiva took the form of eleven Rudras to help the gods in their battles against the Asuras. The Rudras were born from Surabhi, the wife of sage Kashyapa, and were accompanied in the battle by numerous Rudras who were their followers and assisted them in the wars, defeating the demons with their mighty valor.
Lord Shiva- Interesting Facts and His Avatars
According to the Shiva Purana, Devas headed by their Lord Indra, were thrown out of Amaravati, the city of gods by demons after their defeat. With nowhere to go, the gods approached sage Kashyapa, a learned Rishi, and asked him for a solution. Seeing the condition of the gods, Kashyapa went to Kashi, the city of Shiva, and performed great austerities.
Pleased by his Tapasya, Shiva appeared in front of Kashyapa and bestowed upon him a boon. The sage then pleaded with Shiva to help the gods, by incarnating as his son and ending the torments of the demons. Shiva obliged and was born as the Eleven Rudras.
The 11 Rudras as listed in the Shiva Purana are- 1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohita 6) Shastra 7) Ajapaad 8) Ahirbudhnya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhava. The texts of iconography and sacred art such as Rupamandana and Vishvakarmashilpa contain detailed descriptions of the appearance and attire of the 11 Rudras.
👉 KAPALI - Literally “he who is holding the Kapala or skull” in his hand, Kapali Rudra Shiva is a reminder of the transient nature of life and death, displaying the human head in his hand as a symbol of acceptance of death and being fearless in it. This form of Shiva-Rudra is associated with the cremation grounds.
👉 PINGAL - This aspect of Rudra-Shiva is associated with the Pingala Naadi, one of the three channels that run from the spine to the brain. Pingala is linked with the energy and radiance of the Sun and Pingal Rudra is a manifestation of life-affirming powers.
👉 BHEEM - As Bheem Rudra (Bheem- mighty, enormous, powerful), Shiva is an unparalleled warrior, embodying strength and vigor beyond any living or divine being. In the Vedic rituals, Bheem Rudra Homa, a ritual sacrifice is performed in order to gain physical prowess and confidence,
👉 VIRUPAKSHA - In the Vishvakarma Shilpa, the Virupaksha form of Rudra-Shiva is described, as a divine being with multiple, weapon yeilding hands. Virupaksha carries Khadaga, Shula, Damru, Ankusha, Sarpa, Chakra, Gada, Akshamala (right hands) and Khetaka, Khatvanga, Shakti, Parashu, Tarjani, Ghata, Ghanta and Kapala (left hands).
👉 VILOHITA - The name itself mentions a bright red color or the color of a burning fire and is also the name of one of the many tongues of Agni (fire). Embodying the virility and strength of fire that destroys, lightens and purifies, Vilohita Rudra is a potent aspect of Shiva, who vanquishes evil and darkness.
👉 SHASTA - A majestic warrior carrying weapons, Shasta is a Vedic name, associated with Shiva as well as Hari Hara Putra, a deity worshipped in South India. According to philosophical works on Shaivism, Shasta is the aspect of Shiva which has the perception to see all dualistic and non-dualistic things and is thus a master or Lord (shasta) of all these elements.
👉 AJAAPADA - Aja is someone who is unborn, formless and beyond the rules of life and death. Ajaapad form of Rudra is also mentioned first in the Rig Veda as a powerful warrior deity who overcame the forces of an Asura. He is also called Ajaa Eka Paada, meaning- he who stands on Eka or one leg.
👉 AHIRBUDHNYA - This form of Shiva as Rudra is believed to be the protector against storms and other such unforeseen natural calamities. According to the Vishvakarma Shilpa, he carries- Gada, Chakra, Khadag, Damru, Mudgar, Shula, Ankusha, and Akshamala in his right hands and Tomara (a club made of iron), Pattisa (a type of sword), Dhaala (shield), Kapala, Tarjani, Ghata, Shakti and Parashu or sword in left hands.
👉 SHAMBHU - A popular name for Shiva, Shambhu as Rudra is a benevolent and calm aspect, associated with the creation of the Universe. Some textual traditions believe that Shambhu is the first and foremost deity, worshipped from the Vedic period as the originator of the Creation.
👉 CHAND - Chand Rudra is a valiant and warrior aspect of Shiva. The term “chand” means ferocious, thus this form of Rudra is fearsome to behold and is a guardian against the forces of evil.
👉 BHAVA - Bhava means the “world”. In the Atharvaveda, Bhava is mentioned as the “king of all beings”. The color of his skin is “nilapitadivarna” or blue and yellowish, and this aspect of Rudra, like the rest is rooted in Vedic culture.
Chanted today as one of the names of Shiva, “Rudra” is one of the oldest titles for the deity who is worshipped in Vedic literature as the mind-born son of Brahma, who was responsible for the protection of gods and sustenance of the world. Rudra as a single divine entity is compared to Agni (fire god) and Surya (sun god) in the Vedas and is revered as the source of energy for all beings and the devourer of evil.
Later Puranas provide different lists of the 11 Rudras, but the number eleven remains constant. In their battles with the demons, Rudras are accompanied by their Shaktis-
★ Dhi
★ Vritti
★ Usana
★ Urna
★ Niyuta
★ Sarpis
★ Ila
★ Ambika
★ Iravati
★ Svadha
★ Diksha
Like the differences in the names of Rudra in different sources, certain names of Rudranis (female counterparts of Rudras) also vary. Rudra also emerges as a single warrior deity in the battles of the great goddess Durga in the Shakta Puranas, where he acts as the commander and fights against the demon armies.
The name of Shiva is also echoed in the powerful Rudrabhisheka- the ritual consecration of Shiva with chants on Shivaratri, during the months of Saavan/Shraavan, Somvar (Monday), and special occasions and the Rudrashtakam- the divine hymn of Rudra. One of the first deities to be revered in Indian culture, Rudra-Shiva in all his forms, remains an omnipresent divine, a symbol of the cosmic energies that are behind the creation, sustenance and destruction of the Universe.
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