Essentials of Hinduism

Essentials of Hinduism

Sri Rudra

Sri Rudra occurs in the Krishna Yajurveda and praises the Greatness of Lord Shiva. More briefly and popularly referred to as the Rudram, this represents a collection of Hymns on Shiva from various parts of the Veda. It is also referred to as Sata-Rudriya. The Rudram is recited during worship at Home or in the Temple when the Shiva Deity is given the Ceremonial Bath (Abhisheka). The Devotee who worships Lord Shiva chanting Rudram repeatedly gains purity of Mind and all his sins burned out as though by fire. Owing to the weight given in Rudram chanting to the expression “Namah”, Rudram is also referred to as Namaka. In the Hindu Religion, its importance is sufficiently indicated as the source of the Greatest Mantra of the Shaivas, the Panchakshari, the five-syllabled “Namah Shivaya,” to which the Shaivaites attach the Highest Sanctity.

The leading feature of the Sata-Rudriya is the description of the pantheistic (identifies Universe with God) form of Shiva as being Anything and Everything in the Universe (Visvarupa), associating Him with every aspect of the Society, Activity and Nature. It forms indeed one of the powerful sadhanas to contemplate God in His all-comprehensive form. Sri Rudra contains eleven Anuvakas (equivalent of Chapters). Chamaka is the same way. Normally, Rudram is chanted first followed by Chamaka. Monday nights and Shiva Pradosha nights (occurs every fortnight) are considered very auspicious for Rudra/Chamaka Chantings.

On the Maha Shivaratri night it is customary to chant one Sri Rudra completely (all the eleven Anuvakas), then the first Anuvaka of Chamaka. Again, Rudram is chanted completely followed by the second Anuvaka of Chamaka. This cycle is continued until the complete Rudram is chanted eleven times and until all the eleven Anuvakas of Chamaka are chanted. During the chantings described as above, Abhishekas are done for the Shiva Linga using milk, holy Ganga Water and so on. These are followed by Sukta recitals. Devoted completion of these rituals will certainly

lead to Longevity, Prosperity and Intellect.

Now the meaning of the eleven Anuvakas of Sri Rudra in a condensed format

I) That form of yours, “O Rudra!, benevolent (caring), not terrible, manifesting itself in things not sinful, with the most benevolent form, You who bestow happiness on Mankind from your mountain home, reveal Yourself to us often. You who abide in the hill, with auspicious words we greet You, that all this World of ours may be free from disease and blessed with a Peaceful Mind. May He, the Eloquent (fluent) One, espouse (support) my cause, destroying all reptiles and all demons, He who is foremost Divine Curer, this ruddy (reddish) blue- necked Rudra who flits (flies) across, the shepherds saw, the servant-maids that bring water saw [this passage emphasizes the fact that the Lord is accessible to the lowliest], and indeed all the beings; may He make us happy. Obeisance (Worship-ful Respect) to You (O Rudra!) of blue neck, of thousand eyes, You infuse Your energy into beings; and whoever be your attendants, to them (too) I pay obeisance.”

II) Obeisance to You of the golden arms, the leader, the Lord of the Quarters. Obeisance to you who are in the form of the green leaved trees, obeisance to the Lord of Cattle. Obeisance to the bright multi-colored grass, obeisance to the Lord of Pathways. Obeisance to Him who lies amidst the tawny (yellowish-brown) cattle, the slayer (of foes), obeisance to the Lord of food. Obeisance to Him who brings to an end the round of transmigration (just as the soul (after death) passes from one body to another); obeisance to the Lord of the worlds; obeisance to the Lord of the fields who protects with drawn bow. Obeisance to the invincible charioteer; obeisance to the Lord of the forests. Obeisance to the ruddy carpenter; obeisance to the Lord of trees. Obeisance to the counsellor (who gives advice), to the merchant, Obeisance to the chief of forest outposts. Obeisance to Him of the Earth and the Waters; obeisance to the Lord of the green herbs. Obeisance to Him, the Lord of the foot- soldiers who shouts encouragement to them in the battle. Obeisance to Him who runs all around the army, the Lord of all strength.

III) Obeisance to the powerful assailant, the Lord of those that fight. Obeisance to the sitting and the lying, the sleeping and the waking, the standing and the running. Obeisance to the assemblies and leaders of assemblies.

IV) Obeisance to those of experience and the chief of such wise men; to groups of men and their leaders and to republics and their spokesmen. Obeisance to those of diverse Nature, Obeisance to those of every kind. Obeisance to great and small. Obeisance to the carpenters and artisans, to potters and blacksmiths.

V) Obeisance to the God who is both benevolent (kind) and terrible, who destroys beings and is their protector as well, who has a dark and a white neck, who has matted locks as well as no hair, who has thousands of eyes and hundreds of bows. Obeisance to the small and puny, the great and aged, to the grown and still growing, to the foremost and first, to the ubiquitous (ever-present) and the adept in moving.

VI) Obeisance to the eldest and the youngest, the elder and the younger, the middle and the juvenile. Obeisance to Him who is born in the animal or vegetable world. Obeisance to Him who is to be lauded (praised) with Hymns and who is also there where Hymns do not reach. Obeisance to Him who is the sound and the echo (or the word and promise). VII) Obeisance to Him who resides in the house and is the guardian of the house-site.

VIII) Obeisance to the gracious and the ferocious, ...Who is ahead as well as far, to Him who kills without ceasing. Obeisance to the Redeemer (rescuer), to the bringer of peace and happiness, to the producer of well being and joy. Obeisance to Him who is the Auspicious One-Par-Excellence. (Here is the sacred Siva-Panchakshari Mantra: Namah Sivaya Ca Sivataraya Cha). Obeisance to Him who is the ford (walk in shallow Water) and the Bank, this and the other shore, the boat and the crossing.

IX) Obeisance to the Lord of the salt-marsh as well as good road, of the rocky as well as habitable ground; Of the cattle-shed and the house, of the couch and the floor, of the jungle and the cave, of the waters of lakes and snow, of the sound and the dust, of the dry logs and green woods of grass and shrubs, of the Earth and rippling water, of the green leaves on the trees and withered ones on the ground.

X) “O Rudra of dark and red form who makes the evil-doers suffer, O Lord of food, Himself bereft (deprieve) of any possessions, of all these men and animals (recited above), do not frighten any one; let not anyone of them perish; let none of them fall ill; O Rudra! that benign (kind) aspect of yours which acts like a daily tonic, a benign remedy for terrible suffering, make us happy with that aspect of yours so that we may live. To Rudra, the almighty God of matted locks who crushes his opponents, we foster this worshipful thought of ours, so that there may be peace to our men and cattle, the world may be well nourished, and this (our) village be free from diseases. O Rudra! Injure not our elder or our child, our youth or the foetus; injure not our father or mother; injure not our dear bodies. Strike not, O Rudra! at our little son, at our life or cattle and horses; slay not in anger our men; we worship you with offering and obeisance.”

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.