Vedic Rudra indeed is Parvati-Pati

Hello Readers, while browsing some online sites(Quora) I founded that some people who claim themselves to knowing about Vedas (Not sure about they've undergone Ved-Abhyasam) says that Vedic "Rudra" is somehow morphed to Puranic Shiva. Well someone says that Shiva is not mentioned in Vedas. To all such argument they don't provide any strong reason for the same.

Anyway, this Article would eradicate all the above mentioned assumptions. So before starting Article, let us mention some key-points which is to be analyse here.

CLAIMS : - 

• Vedic Rudra is not Puranic Shiva which is currently praised by Shaivites.
• There is no mention of Shiva in Vedas, there is mentioned of Rudra-s (Plural) or storm gods but not Shiva.
• Indra, Agni, Varuna etc are main gods of Vedas. And Puranic Scripture demean Vedic Deities to propund their sectarian Deities. 

 So there are major 3 Claims which we would analyse and such claims will be refuted in this article.  We shall evaluate Vedic and Puranic Scripture to find out the reality. Anywhere if Puranic Literature contradicts with Vedic Scriptures we shall refute that portion of Purana (which is never going to happen since Vedas are root and Puranas are Fruit so there is no question of contradiction of any Vedic Principle). Tie up the belt and Let's Begin.

 Claim-1: - Vedic Rudra is not Puranic Shiva which is currently praised by Shaivites.

This is really laughable claim, isn't it? 

Well, it seems we should know about who is Rudra in Vedas. And what could be more exellent then Sri-Rudram of Yajur-Veda. So let's analyse "Rudra" of Sri-Rudram and Puranic Shiva.

nama̍ste astu bhagavan viśveśva̱rāya̍ mahāde̱vāya̍tryamba̱kāya̍ tripurānta̱kāya̍ trikāgnikā̱lāya̍

kālāgniru̱drāya̍ nīlaka̱nthāya̍ mrtyuñja̱yāya̍ sarveśva̱rāya̍sadāśi̱vāya̍ śrīmanmahāde̱vāya̱ nama̍" ||    (Sri Rudram)

Salutations (namaste) to Lord Rudra: who is the Lord of the Universe (viśveśvarā); who is the great God (mahā-devā); who has three eyes (tryambakā); who is the annihilator of Tripura – the city of the demon; Tripura also represents our ego (Tripura-antaka); who is the master of sacrificial fire of three times (trikāgnikālāya); who is the Rudra who consumes everything as the fire of kāla -agni at the time of destruction; To that Lord whose throat is blue (nīla-kanthā); who is the conqueror of death (mrtyuñjayā); who is the Lord of all (sarveśvara); who is always auspicious (sadā-śiva). Salutations to Rudra who is the celebrated and great God (śrīman-mahādevā).

So from the above mentioned let's take some characteristics of Vedic Rudra. 

• Rudra is Lord of Universe
• Rudra who has three eyes
• Rudra is destroyer of tripura,
• Rudra is kAlAgni-Rudra (deity responsible for destruction of creation).
• Rudra is Neel-Kanth.
• Rudra is Maha-Dev. 

This above mentioned points are verily depicted in Purana(s) to describe Lord Shiva. So the Lord Shiva who is Lord of Universe (विश्वनाथ or विश्वेश्वर), is having three eyes(त्र्यंबक), Destroyer of Tripura(Parvati-Pati as destroyer of Tripurasura is also verified by Shiv-Purana), Kalagni Rudra (deity responsible for the Destruction.), who is having Blue Throat(नीलकंठ), and he is verily glorified as Mahadeva(Parvati-Pati) in Puranas. So this clearly proves that Vedic Rudra is identical with Puranic Shiva. 

Let's analyse other verses of शतरुद्रीय  hymns, 

namo gaṇebhyo gaṇapatibhyaśca vo namo 
namo vir ūpebhyo viśvarūpebhyaśca vo namo  (Sri Rudram)

Here Lord Shiva is said to be

• Lord of all Gunas,
• Vishwaroopam.

Now, one may wonder Vedic Rudra is having Universal Form, Why Lord Shiva never depicted as having Universal form? Lord Shiva is mentioned and had displayed his Universal form in Itihasa(Mahabharata),  Clearly portrayed Lord Shiva as having Universal  Form. 

“vadantyagnı̃ mahādēvaṁ tathā sthāṇũ mahēśvaram |ēkākṣaṁ tryambakaṁ caiva viśvarūpaṁ śivaṁ tathā ||” (Mahabharat 13:161:2)“The Rishis describe Mahadeva as Agni, and Sthanu, and Maheswara; as one-eyed, and three-eyed, of universal form, and Siva or highly auspicious”.

This clearly says that Lord Shiva is described as having Universal Form. The very same is being said by Padma-Purana and Kurma-Purana.

The below are the words of Sri Rama himself when he witnesses universal Form of Lord Vishwanath.  

"O Ultimate God! O lord who eliminate the sufferings when gets delighted! O lord of the universe (Vishweshwara)! O Lord you are eulogised by the world (Vishwavandhya)! O Gangadhara! O Chandramouli! kindly be pleased with me. I’m like an orphan now, kindly provide your shelter to me from the fear of Samsaara. O Eswara! Just like trees take birth and die on earth; similarly  these entire universes took birth from you, reside in you and hey Shiva! they get dissolved in you alone! O Lord who is possessing trident in his hand! Inside your face resides Brahma, Indra, and groups of Maruts, gandhervas, Yakshas, Demons, Siddhas; Ganga and other mighty river groups; seven great oceans.  O wearer of crescent moon! This entire universe is created by your Maya (illusion). it became visible also inside you only, but out of ignorance humans are getting illusioned by not realizing these facts." (Padma- Purana : Shiv-Gita Ch-7; Verse 23-26)

Infact Shiv-Gita Chapter-7 of Padma-Purana is called Vishwaroopa Sandarshana Yoga and Ishwar Gita Chapter-5 too depict Lord Shiva as Universal Form. (here verses are not quoted as it is difficult to quote entire chapter).

So from this it is proved that Lord Shiva is verily same in Veda and Puranas. Let's analyse other Verses of शतरुद्रीय 

namo bhavāya ca rudrāya ca namaḥ śarvāya ca 

pa śupataye ca namo nīlagrīvāya ca śitikaṇṭhāya ca

nama ḥkapardine ca vyuptakeśāya ca namaḥ

sahasr ākṣāya ca śatadhanvane ca.  (Sri Rudram)

Prostration to the Lord Rudra who is Creator and Destroyer of the Universe; prostration to the Rudra the Remover of sins and the Protector of all beings; prostration to the Lord who is blue-necked One and the fair-necked One; prostration to the Lord Rudra having matted-locked One and the clean-shaven One; prostration to the Rudra who possess thousand-eyed One (in the form of Indra) and Him who wields multiple bows. 

All the attributes can easily be found in Puranas as well, except the following

• prostration to the matted-locked One and the clean-shaven One;

We all knew that Lord Shiva is referred and portrayed as having matted-hair lock, but only few people are aware that Lord Shiva is also portrayed as Clean Shaven head.

“vaiśampāyana uvāca 

ēvaṁ prayatamānānā

 vṛṣṇīnāmandhakaiḥ saha.

kālō gṛhāṇi sarvēṣā 

̃ paricakrāma nityaśaḥ |1

karālō vikaṭō muṇḍaḥ puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇapiṅgalaḥ.
gṛhāṇyāvēkṣya vṛṣṇīnā 

nādṛśyata kvacitkvacit |2

tamaghnanta mahēṣvāsāḥ śaraiḥ śatasahasraśaḥ.
na cāśakyata vēddhu 

 sa sarvabhūtātyayastadā |” (Mahabharat 16:2:1-3)

“[Vaishampayana said:] While the Vrishnis and the Andhakas were thus endeavouring (to avoid the impending 

calamity), the embodied form of Time (death) every day wandered about their houses. He looked like a man of 

terrible and fierce aspect. Of bald head, he was black and of tawny complexion. Sometimes he was seen by the 

Vrishnis as he peered into their houses. The mighty bowmen among the Vrishnis shot hundreds and thousands of 

shafts at him, but none of these succeeded in piercing him, for he was none else than the Destroyer of all 

creatures”.

Here in the Mahabharata Lord Shiva is depicted as Bald headed, and Krsnapingalam (Androgynous Form). Thus again it is proved that Vedic Rudra is not different from Parvati-Pati.

Let's analyse more verse from Sri Rudram;

namo giriśāya ca śipiviṣṭāya ca namo mīḍhuṣṭamāya  (Sri Rudram)
Prostration to Lord Rudra who resides in the mountains(Kailasha) and to Lord Rudra who is Śipivista(who assumes the form of Vishnu).

Here once again Vedic Rudra is described to resides in the Mountain. Same is the Case of Lord Shiva who resides in the Mountain(Kailasha).  So once again Lord Shiva is identical in Veda and Puranas. 




namaḥ somāya ca rudrāya ca namastāmrāya 
cāruṇāya ca namaḥ śaṅgāya ca paśupataye ca nama
ugrāya ca bhīmāya ca.  (Sri Rudram)
Prostration to (that) Lord who has Uma as His consort and who causes to flee all sorrows (of samsara); prostration to Rudra who is crimson-coloured (as the rising sun) and is reddish (as the sun risen above the horizon); prostration to Him who brings about the peace (and happiness) of beings and protects all creatures; prostration to Him who is terrible (to foes) and fearful (to those who oppose Him). 

The above Anuvaka of Sri Rudram clearly says that Rudra is having Uma as his consort. Does we require any evidence to verify that Uma or Parvati is wife of Lord Shiva in Puranas too?

So once again Vedic Rudra is none other then Lord Shiva. 

sahasrāṇi sahasradhā bāhuvostava hetayaḥ,

tāsāmīśāno bhagavaḥ parācīnā mukhā kṛdhi. (Sri Rudram)

Lord! In Your (infinite) hands are infinite weapons of diverse types; You are master over them all. Condescend to turn their faces away from us. 

It may sound new that Lord Shiva is depicted as thousand(Infinite) hands,  in which he is  holding thousand weapons. But as we have seen that Lord Shiva is विश्वरूप and hence Shiva having infinite hands is not at all new concept. Yet we shall analyse other Scripture which says Lord Shiva as Universal Form. As we had already seen Shiv-Gita Ch-7, were Lord Shiva shows his Universal Form to Sri Rama, it is beyond doubt that Lord Shiva is having Infinite hands. Svetasvatara Upanishad(3:14), (Kaushitaki Brahmana 6:02),  (Satapatha Brahmana

9:1:1:6-7) and Rig-Veda clearly proves that Lord Shiva is having infinite hands. 

We shall analyse Purana since we are proving that Lord Shiva is having infinite hands. In Ishwara-Gita Chapter 5: verse-8 of Kurma-Purana Lord Shiva is verily depicted as having thousand(Infinite) hands. 

"The one who has thousand heads, thousand feet, thousand arms, adorned with matted-locks of  hair, and had crescent moon over head." (Ishwar Gita 5: 08) 

So once again it is proved beyond doubt that Lord Shiva is indeed Vedic Rudra. 

Let's analyse last verse of Sri Rudram for this Section (CLAIM-1). The same mantra exists in Rigveda (7:59:12) also.

tryaṁbakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam,

urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyor-mukśīya mā'mṛtāt. (Sri Rudram)

We worship the Three-Eyed One, fragrant , increasing strength and prosperity ; may I (we) be freed from death for the sake of immortality, as a cucumber is freed from its hold. 

Here Rudra of Veda who is having three eyes is adored and prayed to give salvation. The very same thing is mentioned in Puranas. 

It is always a Shiva’s mantra. Puranas have many stories to support this –

1. Daksha Prajapati cursed Chandra to suffer from leprosy, chandra worshiped lord Rudra with his Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra and got cured by his grace and that’s how Somanatha-Jyotirlinga of lord Shiva was established by Chandra (One may refer to any Purana where Somanatha Jyotirlinga story is discussed).

2. Shukracharya obtained Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra with which he gained “Mrita-Sanjeevani-Vidya” again because it was Mahadeva’s grace and his Mantra’s potency..

3. Markandeya wrote a hymn on Lord Shiva which runs under the name of “Maha-Mrityunjaya-Stotram”

4. Sage Kashyapa prays to Bhagawan Rudra calling him Tryambaka and puShtidam in Harivamsa Parva which is an appendix to Mahabharata as follows. puShtidam (Health giver) is a synonym of puShtivardhanam (health increaser). Therefore clearly this mantra cited below is a derived from Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra alone…

“tryaMbakaM puShTidaM vo bruvANaM | dharmaM viprANAM varadaM yajvanAM cha |

varAdvaraM raNajetAramIshaM | devaM devAnAM sharaNaM yAmi rudram ||” (Harivamsa Parva 2:72:45)

”I seek refuge in Lord rudra (mahAdeva) who has three eyes, who flourishes all, who advises brahmins and vice men on dharma, who provides the wishes of the masters of the sacrifice, who is the best of the best, the lord who is the winner of battles, who is the lord of gods”.

Thus Maha-Mrityunjay mantra is Verily Shiva's Mantra. So Rudra of Veda is beyond doubt Lord Shiva who is adored and worshiped presently by Shaivites. 

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CLAIM-2: - There is no mention of Shiva in Vedas, there is mentioned of Rudra-s (Plural) or storm gods but not Shiva.

This Claim clearly reflecting sheer ignorance of those people who propagate such things.  To those people who says Shiva is not mentioned in Vedas The following Verses are strong Jolt to them. 

yā te rudra śivā tanūh śivā viśvāha bheṣajī,

śivā rudrasya bheṣajī tayā no mṛḍa jīvase. (Sri Rudram)

Rudra! That which is your auspicious form, auspicious as the universal panacea for all ills, auspicious as the bestower of (knowledge and realisation of) Your Rudra form—with that make us live in happiness. 

The famous Panchakshari mantra(five-syllable mantra) itself is from Vedas. 

namaśśaṁbhave ca mayobhave ca namaḥ śaṁkarāya
ca mayaskarāya ca namaḥ śivāya ca śivatarāya ca. (Sri Rudram)
Prostration to Him who is the source of bliss, spiritual as well as temporal; prostration to Him who dispenses all happiness, heavenly as well as earthly; prostration to Him who is the Auspicious One, and is more auspicious than anything else. 

yā ta iṣuḥ śivatamā śivaṁ babhūva te dhanuḥ,
śivā śaravyā yā tava tayā no rudra mṛḍaya. (Sri Rudram)
This, Thy arrow that has become exceedingly peaceful (to the devout); Thy bow  become a source of auspiciousness, and Thy quiver of blessedness; with these, O Valiant One (Rudra), make us happy. 

yā te rudra śivā tanūraghorā'pāpakāśinī, 
tayā nastanuvā śantamayā giriśaṁtābhicākaśīhi. (Sri Rudram)
Rudra! That blessed and benign form of Thine, which obliterates the trace of all sins—with that most hallowed and calm phase of Thy being, reveal Thyself to us, O Radiator of Peace from the Mount of Kailasa! 

yāmiṣuṁ giriśaṁta haste bibharṣyastave, 
śivāṁ giritra tāṁ kuru mā higṁsīḥ puruṣaṁ jagat. (Sri Rudram)
O Benefactor from the Mount of Kailasa! That arrow which Thou wieldest for aiming at enemies, make that benign (in respect of us). Harm not human beings or others in creation, O Protector on the sacred Mount! 

Hope this itself proves that Rudra is clearly addressed as Shiva in Vedas. To all those people who still have doubt that Shiva is not mentioned in Veda and Only Rudra is mentioned, let's end this section with last verse from Veda where Lord Shiva himself says that I am Sada-Shiva. 

iishaanaH sarvavidyaanaamiishvaraH sarvabhuutaanaaM |
brahmaadhipatirbrahmaNo.adhipatirbrahmaa shivo me astu sadaashivom.h |” (Taittiriya Aranyaka 10.21.1) “May the Supreme who is the ruler of all knowledge, controller of all created beings, the preserver of the Vedas and the one overlord of Hiranyagarbha, be benign to me. I am the Sadasiva described thus and denoted by Pranava"

Coming to Rudras (Plural) are mentioned, then that 11 Rudras are just Manifestation of Rudra(Parvati-Pati) and this is clearly explained in Parvati-Pati - Father of 11 Rudras  article.
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CLAIM-3  Indra, Agni, Varuna etc are main gods of Vedas. And Puranic Scripture demean Vedic Deities to propund their sectarian Deities. 

Well, Veda(s) don't praises multiple deity but it is ONE Divinity, whose glories are sung by Veda(s). 

“इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् ।एकं॒ सद्विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥४६॥ (Rig Veda 1.164.46)They called him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; and he is heavenly Garuda, who has beautiful wings. The truth is one, but the sages (or learned ones) call it by many names or describe him in many ways; they called him Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.

Before moving to any above mentioned Deity, let's analyse one secret which is mentioned in above verse. 

"The truth is one, but the sages (or learned ones) call it by many names or describe him in many ways"

The same truth is explained by Upanishad(s)

“Rudra is truly one; for the knowers of Brahman do not admit the existence of a second, He alone rules all the worlds by His powers. He dwells as the inner Self of every living being. After having created all the worlds, He, their Protector, takes them back into Himself at the end of time”. (Svetaswatara Upanishad 3:02)

There is a hymn on Vratya (Ascetic Shiva) in Atharva Veda which details out how Vratya (Shiva) transformed himselfinto various gods and manifested them from his form. Let’s see the verses now.

Shiva became Indra:

“sá yád dákṣiṇāṃ díśam ánu vyácalad índro bhūtvā́nuvyàcalad bálam annādáṃ kr̥tvā́ |”“He, when he went away to the southern region, went away having become Indra, and having made Strength an eater of food”. (Atharva Veda XV:14:2)

Even Kaushitaki Brahmana says the same 

“sa.vai.tvam.ity.abravīd.aśanir.eva.iti yad.aśanir.indras.tena |” (Kaushitaki Brahmana 6:3:41)“Prajapathi said to Rudra ‘Thou art Asani’ ; for Asani is Indra”.

Shiva became Varuna:

“sá yát pratīć īṃ díśam ánu vyácalad váruṇo rā́jā bhūtvā́nuvyàcalad apò ‘nnādīḥ́ kr̥tvā́ |”“He, when he went away to the western region, went away having become King Varuna, and having made the Waters eaters of food”. (Atharva Veda XV:14:3)

Shiva became Agni:

“sá yán manuṣyā̀n ánu vyácalad agnír bhūtvā́nuvyàcalat svāhākārám annādáṃ kr̥tvā́ |”“He, when he went away to men, went away having become Agni and having made the exclamation Svāhā an eater of food”. (Atharva Veda XV:14:8)

Shatpath Brahman too says the same. 

“tadvā agnaya iti kriyate | agnirvai sa devastasyaitāni nāmāni śarva iti yathā prācyāācakṣate bhava iti yathā bāhīkāḥ paśūnām patī rudro ‘gnirititānyasyāśāntānyevetarāṇi nāmānyagnirityeva śāntatamaṃ tasmādagnaya iti kriyatesviṣṭakṛta iti |” (Shatapatha Brahmana 1:7:3:8)“That (offering) then is certainly made to ‘Agni,’ for, indeed, Agni is THAT god;–his are these names: Sarva, as the eastern people call him; Bhava, as the Bâhîkas (call him); Pasûnâm pati (‘lord of beasts,’ Pasupati), Rudra, Agni. The name Agni, doubtless, is the most auspicious (sânta), and the other names of his are inauspicious: hence it is offered to (him under the name of) ‘Agni,’ and to (him as) the Svishtakrit”.

Mahabharata itself states various vibhootis of lord Shiva where lord Shiva is praised by the following verse.

“ādityānāṃ bhavān viṣṇur vasūnāṃ caiva pāvakaḥ |pakṣiṇāṃ vainateyaś ca ananto bhujageṣu ca |” (Mahabharat 13:14:158)“Among the Adityas thou art Vishnu (Upendra), among the Vasu thou art Pavaka, among birds thou art the son of Vinata (Garuda), and among snakes thou art Ananta (Sesha)”.

(So Lord Shiva is verily Garuda too. Infact "nothing is different from Lord Shiva" as Veda says "सर्वे  वै रुद्र" switching back to Veda(s)...)

Shiva became Yama:

“sá yát pitr̥̄ń ánu vyácalad yamó rā́jā bhūtvā́nuvyàcalat svadhākārám annādáṃ kr̥tvā́ |" 

“He, when he went away to the Fathers, went away having become King Yama and having made the exclamation Svadhā an eater of food”.  (Atharva Veda XV:14:7)

 Moreover, Ishwar Gita and Shiv-Gita too depict various Vibhootis of Lord Shiva. So all the Deities, in Vedas be it Indra, Varuna, Maitra, Agni etc all are "Position". They are epithet to address Parvati-Pati under various names.

CONCLUSION: - Lord Shiva is "वेद-पुरुष " as mentioned by Vedas. And all epithet like Indra, Maitra, Varuna, Agni etc are different names through which veda praises Consort of Bhavani.