Lord Shiva – Only Object worth knowing through all the Veda

[DISCLAIMER : -  Dear readers, as title of this article says Shiva to be known through all Vedic Scriptures is not to convey (in any manner) that other deities like Adi-Shakti, Lord Vishnu, Ganesha etc are subsidiary.  All forms are the form of Parmeshwar Shiva so other form like Vishnu, Adi-Shakti etc are as important as Lord Shiva himself. Again, this article is unequivocally NOT to convey any other form of Lord as inferior to Shiva – the Lord of all.  So don’t nurture erroneous concept that other form of Maheshwar (Adi-Shakti, Vishnu, Ganesha, Kumara, Hiranyagarbha Martaand viz Sun-God etc are inferior to Maheswar. This article is not alluded to hurt anyone’s sentiment.  So all forms of lord are idiosyncratic and counterpart to each other. Yet if someone’s take this article otherwise it is their own interpretation, and not the opinion of author.]

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                                              || हरिः ॐ ||

Lord Shiva is the Ultimate Godhead. He is the Supreme among all; yet nothing differs from Mahadeva- The Lord of all deities. Therefore, Veda explicitly declares “सर्वो वै रुद्र” which means everything is verily Rudra.  So, there is nothing which is different from Parvati-Pati.

Entire Creation is not different from Creator, and Lord Shiva (Creator) himself manifested as Everything (Creation). We will learn it in this article itself. Lord Shiva is the creator of Veda, Sustainer of Veda, Sole Object worth knowing from studies of all the Vedic Scripture and again it is Lord Shiva in whom all the Veda(s) shall merge in the end.

That is the reason that in Veda Only and Only Parvati-Pati (पार्वती-पति) alone is declared to be the Veda-Purusha (वेद - पुरुष). Taittirya Aranyaka 10:24:1 of Yajurveda says “पुरुषो वै रुद्रः” which means Lord Shiva is the Purusha of the Veda.

Therefore, by all the Veda sung the Glories of Ved-Purusha who is none other than Parvati-Pati.

1.     Now let us Understood this divine Secret from the Veda itself.

Lord Shiva – Object to be known in all vedic scripture as per Veda(s).

इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहुरथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान |
एकं सद विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाहुः || (Rig-Veda 1:164:46)

indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇamaghnimāhuratho divyaḥ sa suparṇo gharutmān |
ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyaghniṃ yamaṃ mātariśvānamāhuḥ || 

They (Enlightened seers) call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, Divya, Suparna, Garutmaan, Yama and Maatarishvaa etc. God is One, wise call him by many names.

So, it is crystal clear that there is Only One Divinity (ॐ) which is denoted and praised by many names in Veda. Therefore, that Ultimate reality is One and Only One, which Veda praises under different names.

The Ultimate God is called Indra in Veda but again Indra is designation and it is none other then Lord Shiva who is recognised as Indra in the Veda(s).

1.1   Shiva as Indra in the Veda.

The Sri Rudram of Yajur-Veda denotes Lord Shiva as Indra and Yama as following.

“namo yaamyaya cha kshemyaya cha |” (Salutations to him to him who punishes in hell and to him who grants favours in heaven.) – (YajurVeda 4:5:6.1.6)

Not only this but also there are many references to conclude that Vedic Indra is indeed Shiva.

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

This clearly says that Lord Shiva (who is called Vratya) becomes Indra. Not only this but also there are many references to conclude that Vedic Indra is indeed Shiva.

Regarding it, Shatpath Brahman also reveal the same fact.

“tamabravīdaśanirasīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodvidyuttadrūpamabhavadvidyudvā
aśanistasmādyaṃ vidyuddhantyaśanirabadhīdityāhuḥ so ‘bravījjyāyānvā ato ‘smi
dhehyeva me nāmeti |” (Shatapatha Brahmana 6:1:3:14)
“He said to him, ‘Thou art Asani.’ And because he gave him that name, the lightning became suchlike, for Asani is the lightning: hence they say of him whom the lightning strikes, ‘Asani has smitten him.’ He said, ‘Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!’”

This Asani is none other then Lord Shiva as confirmed by Kaushitaki Brahmana.

“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”.

This is clear to Understand that again it is Lord Trayambak who is called Indra in the Vedas.

Hymn from Atharva Veda called as “Hymn to ‘Bhava’ and ‘Sarva’” eulogizes lord Shiva in his two aspects (names) viz. Bhava and Sarva. If we understand these names with reference to Sri Rudram hymn from Yajurveda, then it would become clear to us that Rudra is called ‘Bhava’ because he is the source of all and everything which exists (bhavati); and Rudra is called as ‘Sarva’ because he destroys everything from creatures to gods to galaxies to entire universe at the end of time. Hence, he is called the one who destroys everything (sarvam) hence the name ‘Sarva’.

“Namo bhavaya cha rudraya cha | namah sharvaya cha pashupataye cha |” (Yajurveda Sri Rudram- Anuvaka 5)
“Salutations to Rudra who is the source of all things (Bhava) and to Him who is the destroyer of all ills (Rudra). Salutations to the destroyer of everything (Sharva) and to the protector of all beings in bondage (Pashupati)”.

Atharva Veda’s hymn to Bhava and Sarva depicts Rudra’s these two names as two aspects and praises him with a song. But essentially Rudra is truly one. That hymn calls Rudra (Bhava / Sarva) as the slayer of demon “Vritra” as follows:

“sahasrākṣáu vr̥trahánā huveháṃ dūrégavyūtī stuvánn emy ugráu |
yā́v asyéśathe dvipádo yáu cátuṣpadas táu no muñcatam áṃhasaḥ |” (Atharva Veda IV: 28:3)
“The thousand-eyed slayers of Vritra both do I invoke. I go praising the two strong gods (ugrau) whose pastures extend far. Ye who rule all these two-footed and four-footed creatures, deliver us from grief and trouble”.

Not only Rudra is called slayer of Vrita, but the Same Rudra is called wielder of thunder-bolt which is weapon of Indra.

“śreṣṭho jātasya rudra śriyāsi tavastamastavasāṃ vajrabāho |
parṣi ṇaḥ pāramaṃhasaḥ svasti viśvā abhītī rapaso yuyodhi |” (Rig Veda 2.33.3)
” In glory thou art the most glorious of all that exists, O Rudra, the strongest of the strong, thou wielder of the thunderbolt! Carry us happily to the other shore of our anguish, and ward off all assaults of mischief”.

So again, it is proved beyond any doubt that Vedic Indra is none other than Mahadeva.

1.2   Shiva as Mitra (Sun-God) in the Veda.

The Sun rather सूर्य देव is regarded as प्रतयक्ष् देवता and again it is Lord Shiva Only who is present in the form of Sun-God.

Veda says that Sun is verily the form of Shiva. In fact, every other thing is the form of Shiva. Entire Universe is the Manifestation of Shiva. Then how can Sun can remain separate from त्रिपुरारी परमेश्वर 

(YajurVeda 4:5:1.7)

“asau yastamro aruna uta babhruh sumangalah |” 

This Sun who is copper-red when he arises, then golden-youllow, this highly auspicious and beneficent one is truly Rudra)

(YajurVeda 4:5:1.8)

“asau yoavasarpati nilagrivo vilohitah |” 

The black-throated Rudra who has assumed the form of the sun that glows red when rising 

Thus, Yajurveda says that Sun is just the Manifestation of Parvati-Pati.  The Very same thing is mentioned in the Atharvaveda.

“sá yád devā́n ánu vyácalad ī́śāno bhūtvā́nuvyàcalan manyúm annādáṃ kr̥tvā́ |” (Atharva Veda XV: 14:10)
“He, when he went away to the Gods, went away having become Isana(Sun)  and having made Passion an eater of food”.

[NOTE: - Isana is the name of Shiva, but as per the Shatpath Brahman 6:1:3:17 from the name “Isana” Shiva manifested himself as Sun therefore in the above verse the Isana means Sun.]

“He said to him, 'Thou art Îsâna (the Ruler).' And because he gave him that name, the Sun became suchlike, for Îsâna is the Sun, since the Sun rules over this All. He said, 'So great indeed I am: give me no other name after that!” [Shatpath Brahman 6:1:3:17]

So, it should be clear that indeed Lord Shiva is present in the form of Sun.

1.3   Shiva as Varuna in the Veda.

Again, it is Lord Shiva who is praised under the name of “Varuna”. Let’s analyse the same.

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

Thus, Veda clearly says that it is Lord Shiva who is manifested as Varuna.

1.4   Shiva as Agni in the Veda.

In Vedas, again it is Lord Shiva ONLY who is praised as Agni or वैश्वानर so it is Lord Shiva only who take the form of Agni.

The Atharva Veda clearly says that Shiva manifested as Agni.

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

The Shatpath Brahman too claims the same.

“tadvā agnaya iti kriyate agnirvai sa devastasyaitāni nāmāni śarva iti yathā prācyā
ācakṣate bhava iti yathā bāhīkāḥ paśūnām patī rudro ‘gniriti
tānyasyāśāntānyevetarāṇi nāmānyagnirityeva śāntatamaṃ tasmādagnaya iti kriyate
sviṣṭakṛta 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”.

Once again Shatpath Brahman says the same fact.

 “tamabravīdrudro ‘sīti | tadyadasya tannāmākarodagnistadrūpamabhavadagniva rudro
yadarodīttasmādrudraḥ so ‘bravījjyāyānvā ato ‘smi dhehyeva me nāmeti |” (Shatapatha Brahmana 6:1:3:10)
“He said to him, ‘Thou art Rudra.’ And because he gave him that name, Agni became suchlike (or, that form), for Rudra is Agni: because he cried (rud) therefore he is Rudra. He said, ‘Surely, I am mightier than that: give me yet a name!’”

So, it should be known that Agni is none other than Lord Shiva himself.

1.5   Shiva as Garuda as per Scriptures.

The Garuda in Hinduism is known as King (Foremost ruler) among the birds (entire manifestation), and this Garuda is none other then Lord Shiva. So, Verily Shiva/Garuda (Parmatma) is the ruler of birds (Individual Souls).

Now this Garuda is the Vehicle of Bhagavan Vishnu, (here no esoteric meaning of Garuda needs to be taken) So, Sriman Vishnu rides Garuda and this Lord Vishnu is none other then one of the forms of Parabramha. Lord Shiva himself manifestes as Vishnu hence again we can conclude that Vehicle (Garuda) is Shiva and rider of Garuda too is Shiva (in the form of Vishnu).

Sri Rudram eulogize Parvati-Pati as the following

namo rathibhyo'rathebhya śca vo namo
namo rathebhyo rathapatibhya śca vo namaḥ. (Sri Rudram) 

That’s why Scripture says "सर्वो वै रुद्र" which means everything is rudra.

Mahabharata (the 5^th Veda) mentions Garuda as Vibhhoti of Lord Shiva. 

“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)”.

1.6   Shiva as Yama as per Veda.

The Sri Rudram of Yajur-Veda denotes Lord Shiva as Yama.

“namo yaamyaya cha kshemyaya cha |” (Salutations to him to him who punishes in hell and to him who grants favours in heaven.) – (YajurVeda 4:5:6.1.6)

The very same is stated in the Atharva-Veda.

“sá yát pitr̥̄́n ánu vyácalad yamó rā́jā bhūtvā́nuvyàcalat svadhākārám annādáṃ kr̥tvā́ |” (Atharva Veda XV: 14:7)
Shiva (Vratya), when he went away to the Fathers, went away having become King Yama and having made the exclamation Svadhā an eater of food”.

2.     Direct Reference from the Veda.

Now let us load Direct Vedic Reference for the same context.

Rudra is in the Vedas and in the Vedanta (Upanishads) as per the Yajurveda 4:5:6.1.8

“Namo shlokyaa cha vasanyaya cha |”

 (Salutations to Rudra who is praised in the Vedas and to him (Rudra) who is praised at the end of Vedas.) – (YajurVeda)

Moreover, Only Ultimate Truth can liberate us from the cycle of birth and death and can liberate us. Also, it is none other then Lord Shiva who is source of Salvation.

(YajurVeda 4:5:8.1.9)

“Nama sambhave mayo bhave cha |” 

(Salutations to Rudra who is the source of pleasures of this world and to Rudra who is the source of salvation.)

Also, the Atharva-Veda confirms the same truth.

“sá uttamā́ṃ díśam ánu vy àcalat |
tám ŕ̥caś ca sā́māni ca yájūṃṣi ca bráhma cānuvyàcalan |
r̥cā́ṃ ca vái sá sā́mnāṃ ca yájuṣāṃ ca bráhmaṇaś ca priyáṃ dhā́ma bhavati yá eváṃ véda |” (Atharva Veda 15:6.3)
“sá br̥hatī́ṃ díśam ánu vy àcalat |
tám itihāsáś ca purāṇáṃ ca gā́thāś ca nārāśaṃsī́ś cānuvyàcalan |
itihāsásya ca vái sá purāṇásya ca gā́thānāṃ ca nārāśaṃsī́nāṃ ca priyáṃ dhā́ma bhavati yá eváṃ véda |” (Atharva Veda 15:6.4)
“He(Vratya – Ascetic Form of Shiva) went away to the last region. Richas, Sāmans Yajus formulas and Devotion followed him. He who possesses this knowledge becomes the dear home of Earth and Agni and herbs and trees and shrubs and plants. He (Vratya/Shiva) went away to the great region. Itihāsa and Purāna and Gāthās and Nārāsansis followed him. He who possesses this knowledge becomes the dear home of Earth and Agni and herbs and trees and shrubs and plants”.

Thus, Veda Clearly acknowledge that it is Lord Shiva who is to be known through all the Veda.

Lord Shiva – Object to be known in all vedic Scriptures as per Vedanta (Upanishads)

The same truth is again confirmed in Upanishad(s).

“Thou (Rudra or Lord who is with Uma) art He whom in the sacrifices the knowers of Brahman adore with Vedic Songs, formulas and rites and the soma juice; as the final (Truth) devoid of all admixture, as the golden, the best of Veda-knowers.” (Ekakshara Upanishad -10)

Now the same Upanishad in the very next two verses conveys the same as Rig-Veda 1:164:46

“Thou (Consort of Uma) alone art the woman, the man; again, Thou (Rudra) art the boy and the girl. Thou art the ordainer, the King Varuna, the Year, Aryama, the all.” (Ekakshara Upanishad -11)

“ (Thou art) Mitra, the bright-feathered (Garuda), the moon, Indra, Varuna, Rudra, Tvastar, Vishnu, Savitar, the lord of light, Thou Vishnu protectest all beings from the demoniac; the world is encompassed by Thee; Thou the womb of all that is born; Thou art the earth, the atmosphere, the firmament; Thou art the self-born; Thou art turned towards all.” (Ekakshara Upanishad – 12)

Verse 11 says that Rudra is women and man. This is also confirmed in Svetaswatara Upanishad.

“tváṃ strī́ tváṃ púmān asi tváṃ kumārá utá vā kumārī́ |
tváṃ jīrṇó daṇḍéna vañcasi tváṃ jātó bhavasi viśvátomukhaḥ |” (Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:03)
“Thou art woman, Thou art man; Thou art youth and maiden too. Thou as an old man totterest along on a staff; it is Thou alone who, when born, assumest diverse forms”.

Verse 12 of Ekakshara Upanishad is again conveying Rig-Veda 1:164:46 which we have already analysed. Thus, we have analysed that by all the Vedic Scriptures Only Lord Shiva also denoted as Pranava is to be Known.

Now Let’s analyse the Kaivalyopanishad.

Lord Shiva himself says that he ALONE is to be known through all the Vedas.

“I (Shiva or three eyed Lord) alone am taught in the various Vedas, I(Shiva) am the revealer of the Vedanta or Upanishads, and I am also, the Knower of the Vedas. For me there is neither merit nor demerit, I suffer no destruction, I have no birth, nor any self-identity with the body and the organs.” (Kaivalyopanishat - 22)

(Note that here Shiva alone is to be known doesn’t mean that there is no Adi-Shakti, Vishnu or other deities. It simply means that all other forms are the forms of Tripurari; Because Veda also says everything is Rudra, hence no one is different from the Shiva.)

Now Lord Shiva himself says the following

अहमस्मि परश्चास्मि ब्रह्मास्मि प्रभवोऽस्म्यहम् ।

सर्वलोकगुरुश्चामि सर्वलोकेऽस्मि सोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ १॥

अहमेवास्मि सिद्धोऽस्मि शुद्धोऽस्मि परमोऽस्म्यहम् ।

अहमस्मि सोमोऽस्मि नित्योऽस्मि विमलोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ २॥

विज्ञानोऽस्मि विशेषोऽस्मि सोमोऽस्मि सकलोऽस्म्यहम् ।

शुभोऽस्मि शोकहीनोऽस्मि चैतन्योऽस्मि समोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ ३॥

Meaning: -

I am Me, know me to be the (the supreme one), Brahman, the source (of all), also the Guru of all the worlds, all the worlds, know me to be That. I alone am, know me to have attained perfection, am pure, the supreme, eternal, I am He, I am eternal, pure, (in the form of) true knowledge (Vijnana), the special one, know me to be Soma, everything is ME. Know me to be the auspicious one,  free from sorrow, consciousness is Me, also the impartial one. (Maitreya Upanishad III: 1-3)

Here, Lord Shiva himself says that

q He is Ultimate Brahman.

q In the form of true knowledge (taught in Vedic Scriptures).

q Everything is Shiva. OR Shiva is everything.

These Characteristics itself is sufficient to understand that object to known by studying the Veda(s) is Mahadeva alone.

Shiva is Ultimate Truth is Adi-Shakti is Vishnu is Eternal is Ultimate is “Pranava” is the Subject and Ultimate Destination of every Individual Soul.

Lord Shiva – Object to be known in all Vedic Scriptures says Ved-Vyasa

Now let us load Mahabharta into our analysis.

In the Mahabharat Sri Veda-Vyasa himself admitted that It is Lord Shiva only which is to be known through Vedas.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07198.htm

(The below translation is from the link mentioned above)

“Whatever is highly mysterious in the several branches of the Vedas, in the Upanishads, in the Puranas, and in those sciences that deal with the soul, is that God, viz., Maheswara, Mahadeva is even such. That God is, again, without birth. All the attributes of that God are not capable of being enumerated by me even if, O son of Pandu, I were to recite them continually for a thousand years. Even unto those that are afflicted by all the evil planets, even unto those that are stained with every sin, that great protector, if they seek him, becomes gratified with them and granteth them salvation. He granteth, and taketh away life and health and prosperity and wealth and diverse kinds of objects of desire. The prosperity is his that is seen in Indra and other gods. He is ever engaged in the good and evil of men in this world. In consequence of his supremacy, he can always obtain whatever objects he desires. He is called Maheswara and is the lord of even the supreme ones.” (Mahabharat: Drona Parva: SECTION CCII)

The same is verified in entire Shiv-MahaPurana (either directly or esoterically).

CONCLUSION: - Indeed Only ॐकारेश्वर is to be known from All Vedic Scriptures. 

                                              || ॐ तत् सत् ||

                   || एतत् सर्वम् श्री क्रुस्नपिङ्गलम् परब्रंहर्पनमस्तु ||