2(e): Rudra in the Śatarudriya-adhyāya of the Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā

The 16^th chapter of the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā named Śatarudriya is an exceptional section where Rudra is prayed through numerous names.

As quoted by Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā Agrawala,

“When the author was composing that stotra he meditated on the glory of Rudra in the numerous forms both on the universal and the human planes and coined as many epithets as he could for the sake of offering his homage by using the word namaḥ. Thus the Śatarudriya is the first namaḥ stotra in Sanskrit literature on the model of which many more subsequently composed.”^[1]

The character of Rudra is in a much more developed form in the 16^th chapter of the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā and here the worshipper appeals to him under a great variety of epithets. This chapter of the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā named Śatarudriya section depicts the most exceptional epithets of Rudra which shows the various aspects of his personality. Rudra’s two opposite characters, viz. malevolent and auspicious are clearly portrayed here.

J. Muir says in his book entitled Original Sanskrit Texts that,

‘The imagination of the rishi runs riot in the invention of these epithets, which are the most heterogeneous description.’^[2]

From the title Śatarudriya it seems that hundred names or attributes of Rudra are stated here. But here the word śata does not mean hundred. It is used to portray many. Here, in this section, some contradictory or opposite names are ascribed to Rudra at the same time. He is said to have braided hair as well as shaven haired at the same time. The Śatarudriya section expresses the various names of Rudra with their derivations. So, there is an opportunity to study these names according to their etymologies. Rudra’s different names depict his different duties, nature and aspects of his personality.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vide, Agrawala, Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, Śiva Mahādeva: the Great God, p.29

[2]:

Vide, Muir, J., Original Sanskrit Texts, Vol. IV, p.402