1. A Brief Introduction

Vedic Origin of Śiva In Vedic days Śiva was called Rudra. From very ancient times Śiva was worshipped as the Supreme God. The Śaiva Cult, is devoted to worship of the god Śiva. The word Śiva is an adjective meaning kind, friendly, gracious, or auspicious. As a proper name it means “The Auspicious One”, used as a euphemistic name for Rudra.^[1] In the Ṛgveda Rudra is mentioned as the fearful and vengeful God. He is also described as the god of sickness, disease, death, destruction and calamity.^[2] In the Śataradrīya of the Yajurveda there is an invocation offered to the god Agni to avert his wrath and pacify him after he transforms himself into Rudra. The hymn depicts him both as terrifying and pleasing. The prayer is offered to Rudra to bring health and prosperity to the people as a divine physician and also to save them from his own wrath. He is eulogized as lord of all beings.^[3] The term Śiva was first mentioned in the Śukla yajurveda. The Atharvaveda has more references to this God suggestive of his growing popularity. Rudra is implored not to harm the cattle and the people.^[4] In the Atharvaveda as well as the Yajurveda, Śiva is addressed variously as Śarva, Bhava, Nīlakaṇṭa, Paśupati, Nīlagrīva, Śitikaṇṭha etc.^[5] The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa mentions eight names of Rudra. In one place he is mentioned as Rudra-Śiva. In some cases he is also identified with Agni. This work explains how Śiva got his name as Rudra.^[6] The two great epics of India, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa, deal extensively with stories of Śiva.^[7]