Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates 鈥楾ryambaka Homa鈥� 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.
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18. Tryambaka Homa
In the context of the 颁腻迟耻谤尘腻蝉测补, Tryambaka Homa is described under S膩kamedha offerings. 颁腻迟耻谤尘腻蝉测补 consists of four monthly sacrifices. These are鈥�痴补颈艣惫补诲别惫补, Varu峁嘺pragh膩sa, S膩kamedha and 艢un膩s墨r墨ya. Amongst these four sacrifices the S膩kamedha is performed in the month of 碍腻谤迟迟颈办补 or autumn season. These offerings are of two days ceremony. On the first day, of S膩kamedha offering carus are offered to Agni 础苍墨办补惫补迟, Maruta 厂腻苍迟补辫补苍补 and Maruta 骋峁沨补尘别诲丑墨.[1] In the afternoon of the same day Mah膩pit峁泍aj帽a is performed. After the performance of Mah膩pit峁泍aj帽a, Tryambaka Homa is performed to Rudra.[3]
Purpose of Tryambaka Homa
The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 mentions that the gods killed 痴峁泃谤补 by performing the great oblation. The gods who were pierced by the Asura鈥檚 arrow, they pulled out those arrows by performing Tryambaka offering. Through the performing of this sacrifice it is desired that no arrow or misfortune will hit their (测补箩补尘腻苍补鈥檚) offsprings. Tryambaka sacrifice is offered to Rudra. The sacrificer protects the born and the children those are not yet born from Rudra, by the performing of this Tryambaka sacrifice.[2]
In the Tryambaka Homa, oblation is offered to Rudra in the north quarter. Because northern quarter is of Rudra鈥檚 quarter. In the 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉, Siva鈥檚 resident is mentioned as 碍补颈濒腻蝉补.[4] A close resemblance has been found between the two quarters because 碍补颈濒腻蝉补 mountain is situated on the 贬颈尘腻濒补测补. And 贬颈尘腻濒补测补 mountain is in the north quarter.[5] This oblation is offered on a road since he (Rudra) roves on a road and also offered on a cross-road because cross-road is favourite haunt of Rudra.[6] In the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺, Rudra is declared as Tryambaka, a remedy or 叠丑别峁箩补 for cows, horses, human beings and blessing for ram and ewe.[7] A mantra has been found addressing to Tryambaka. Now-adays, this mantra is popular by the name of mah膩m峁泃yunjaya mantra.
The mantra is uttered 迟丑耻蝉鈥�
迟谤测补尘产补办补峁� yaj膩mahe sugandhi峁� pu峁ａ弓ivardhanam | urv膩rukamiva bandhan膩tm峁泃yormuk峁Ｄ珁a m膩m峁泃膩t.[8]
R.T.H. Griffith translates this mantra 迟丑耻蝉鈥�
鈥淭ryambaka we worship, sweet augmenter of prosperity. As from its stem a cucumber, may I be freed from bounds of death, not left of immortality.鈥�[9]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
艢补迟补辫补迟丑补-br膩hma峁嘺, 2.5.3.1-4
[2]:
Ibid., 2.6.2.1-4
[3]:
Ibid., 2.6.2.2-19
[4]:
kail膩sav膩sine 艣ambho sarvalok膩峁璦n膩ya ca | namaste parame艣膩ya l墨l膩k膩r膩ya 艣奴line || 艢iva-pur膩峁嘺, 2.3.11.14
[5]:
astyuttarasy膩峁� di艣i devat膩tm膩 him膩layo 苍腻尘补 nag膩dhir膩ja岣� | 碍耻尘腻谤补蝉补尘产丑补惫补, 1.1
[6]:
[7]:
ava rudramad墨mahyava 诲别惫补峁� 迟谤测补尘产补办补峁�...产丑别峁箩补尘补蝉颈 产丑别峁箩补峁� gave艣v膩ya puru峁Ｄ亂a 产丑别峁箩补峁� 蝉耻办丑补峁� me峁Ｄ亂a me峁膩...|| Ibid., 2.6.2.11
[8]:
艢补迟补辫补迟丑补-br膩hma峁嘺, 2.6.2.12; 痴腻箩补蝉补苍别测颈-蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, 3.60