Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Atharvaveda-samhita (b): Different names of Rudra’ 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.
4. Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (b): Different names of Rudra
In the Atharvaveda Saṃhitā, Rudra is well-known by several names. But most of these names are already mentioned in the Ṛgveda and Yajurveda. Among them some attributes are unique and these unique epithets also bring into focus some new ideas in the growth of the personality of Rudra. He is known as Bhava, Śarva,[1] Ugra,[2] Sahasrākṣa,[3] Nīlaśikhaṇḍa,[4] Vājin, Astrā, Ardhakaghātin,[5] Karmakṛt,[6] Mṛṇan, Śyāvāśva and Kṛṣṇamasita.[7]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 11.2.1; 4.28.1
[2]:
Ibid., 11.2.10
[3]:
Ibid., 11.2.3; 7; 17
[4]:
Ibid., 2.27.6
[5]:
Ibid., 11.2.7
[6]:
Ibid., 2.27.6