Rudra-Shiva concept (Study)
by Maumita Bhattacharjee | 2018 | 54,352 words
This page relates ‘Ascetic Brahmana incarnation� 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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38. Ascetic ṇa incarnation
In the Ś Purāṇa, a story of Ascetic ṇa incarnation of lord Ś is depicted very beautifully. Here, it is described thus—one day the gods thought that if ᾱⲹ alone gives his daughter to Ś, he could achieve salvation. ᾱⲹ is the storehouse of precious jewels. If he achieves salvation, the name of earth as ٲԲ would become unfruitful. The worried gods went to their preceptor (deva guru ṛh貹پ) and requested him to go to Himavat and stop the mountain’s devotion to lord Ś so that ᾱⲹ will stay on earth itself. The preceptor suggested that they should go with Indra to the abode of and tell him about their problem. After listening to them, said that he won’t be able to denounce Ś since that would be wrong for all times to come. However he suggested that the gods should go to Ś and request him to go to Himavat and denounce himself. All the gods collectively then went to and offered their respect and prayers to Ś. They apprised him of the situation. Ś assured them and in order to help them out, decided to go to the abode of ᾱⲹ. He went there assuming the form of an ascetic ṇa. He got dressed in divine clothes and carried a 岹ṇḍ (stick) and 첹ṇḍ (water-pot) in his hands. Applying a tilaka (mark) on his forehead, Ś held a garland of crystal beads and carried the ś峾 around his neck.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 3.35.3-21