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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.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

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. and Ś were affected by this ṃk.

Being affected by egoism, the fifth head of said to Ś,

“O three eyed ܰṣa, I am familiar to you. You are naked and destroyer of all.�

Having heard such insulting words of , lord Ś cut off the head of by the tip of his nail. The skull of was stuck to the palm of Ś. It caused severe grief to Ś. Then lord Ś went to վṣṇ and invoked վṣṇ to free him from this sin. Thereafter, վṣṇ told Ś to take a dip in the divine pond in front of him (վṣṇ) which had lotus flower in it. As soon as Ś took a dip in that pond, the head stuck to his palm got separated and fell down. Ś earned the name ī 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 󳾲ṇa literature where Rudra pierced ʰ貹پ for his illicit deeds.[3]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Ibid., 3.1-49

[3]:

Aitareya-brāhmaṇa, 13.9.33

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