Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Shiva as Kapalin’ 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.
2.31. Śiva as Kapālin
In ancient times, the entire world was in the ocean. There was no existence of sun, moon, fire. All were in water. Darkness was spread throughout the universe. At that time, the Ultimate Reality was sleeping endlessly for thousand years and at the end of the night the Supreme Reality assuming the form of rajas, created everything. Then a being originated from rajas with three eyes, braided hair, a trident in one hand and a garland of beads in another hand. After that the Supreme Being created egoism. Brahmā and Śiva were affected by this ahaṃkāra.
Being affected by egoism, the fifth head of Brahmā said to Śiva,
“O three eyed puruṣa, I am familiar to you. You are naked and destroyer of all.”
Having heard such insulting words of Brahmā, lord Śiva cut off the head of Brahmā by the tip of his nail. The skull of Brahmā was stuck to the palm of Śiva. It caused severe grief to Śiva. Then lord Śiva went to Viṣṇu and invoked Viṣṇu to free him from this sin. Thereafter, Viṣṇu told Śiva to take a dip in the divine pond in front of him (Viṣṇu) which had lotus flower in it. As soon as Śiva took a dip in that pond, the head stuck to his palm got separated and fell down. Śiva earned the name Kapālī due to this event.[1] The same story has been found in the Matsya Purāṇa also.[2]
The source of this story may be taken from the Brāhmaṇa literature where Rudra pierced Prajāpati for his illicit deeds.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 3.1-49
[2]:
Matsya-purāṇa, 185