Editing Rudras

{{short description|Group of Hindu gods}}
{{distinguish|Rudra}}[[File:Udaigiri cave 5 Rudras.jpg|thumb|The 11 Rudras depicted with a third eye and ithyaphallic, [[Udayagiri Caves]], c. 401 CE]]

[[File:Part of Vyomamandala Showing Rudras - Circa 5th Century CE - Katra Keshav Dev - ACCN 13-362 - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5476.JPG|thumb|Part of the ''Vyomamandala'' depicting Rudras - Circa 5th Century CE, Katra Keshava Deva; currently at [[Government Museum, Mathura|Mathura Museum]].]]
'''Rudras''' refer to the forms of the god [[Rudra]], whose traditions have since been associated with lord [[Shiva]]. They make up eleven of the [[thirty-three gods]] in the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] pantheon.<ref name = "hopkins">Hopkins pp. 172-3</ref> They are at times identified with the storm deities referred to as [[Maruts]], while at other times considered distinct from them.<ref name = "alain"/>

While the ''[[Vamana Purana]]'' describes Rudras as the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi, Maruts are described distinct from the Rudras as the 49 sons of [[Diti]], sister of Aditi, and the attendants of Indra, rather than Rudra.<ref>Mani pp. 489-90</ref>

==Birth and names==
The ''[[Ramayana]]'' tells they are eleven of the 33 children of the sage [[Kashyapa]] and his wife [[Aditi]], along with the 12 [[Adityas]], 8 [[Vasu|Vasus]] and 2 Ashvins, constituting the [[Thirty-three gods]].<ref name = "Mani">Mani pp. 654–5</ref> The ''[[Vamana Purana]]'' describes the Rudras as the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi.<ref name = "alain"/> The ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' notes that [[Kamadhenu|Surabhi]] – the mother of all cows and the "cow of plenty" – was the consort of Brahma and their union produced the eleven Rudras. Here they are named<ref name = "Matsya">{{cite book|last=A Taluqdar of Oudh|title=The Matsya Puranam|series=The Sacred books of the Hindus|volume=2|year=2008|publisher=Cosmo Publications for Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd.|isbn=978-81-307-0533-0|pages=74–5, 137}}</ref> 
:

#[[Nirṛti]]
#Śambhu
#Aparājita
#Mṛgavyādha
#Kapardin
#Dahana
#Khara
#Manas
#Ahirbudhnya
#Kapālin
#Piṅgala
#Senāni

The ''[[Harivaṃśa|Harivamsa]]'', an appendix of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', makes Kashyapa and Surabhi – here, portrayed as his wife – the parents of the Rudras.<ref name = "alain"/><ref>Hopkins p. 173</ref> In another instance in the Mahabharata, it is [[Dharma]] (possibly identified with [[Yama]]) who is the father of the Rudras and the Maruts.<ref name = "hopkins"/>

[[File:Bangalore Shiva.jpg|thumb|Rudra, identified with the Puranic Shiva (pictured) is associated with the Rudras.]]

The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' narrates that Rudra – here identified as [[Shiva]] . The furious Rudra was in [[Ardhanarishvara|Ardhanari]] form, half his body was male and other half female. He divided himself into two: the male and female. The male form then split itself into eleven, forming the eleven Rudras. Some of them were white and gentle; while others were dark and fierce. They are called:

#[[Manyu (deity)|Manyu]]
#Manu 
#Mahmasa 
#Mahan 
#[[Shiva]]
#Ṛtudhvaja
#Ugraretas
#Bhava
#Kāma
#Vāmadeva
#Dhrtavrata

From the woman were born the eleven Rudranis who became wives of the Rudras. They are:
 
#Dhi 
#Vrtti 
#Usana 
#Urna 
#Niyuta 
#Sarpis 
#Ila 
#[[Ambika (goddess)|Ambika]] 
#Iravatl 
#Svadha
#Diksa

Brahma allotted to the Rudras the eleven positions of the heart and the five [[Sense|sensory organs]], the five organs of action and the mind.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "alain"/> Other Puranas call them Aja, [[Ekapada]], Ahirbudhnya, Tvasta, Rudra, Hara, Shambhu, Tryambaka, Aparajita, Ishana, Tribhuvana.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "alain"/>

{{Hinduism}}

In one instance in the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', the Rudras are eleven in number and are named:

#Mrgavyadha
#Sarpa 
#[[Nirṛti|Nirriti]]
#Ajaikapad 
#Ahi
#Ahirbudhnya
#Pinakin 
#Dahana 
#[[Ishvara]] 
#Kapāli
#[[Shiva|Sthanu]] 
#Bhaga

While Kapālin is described the foremost of Rudras here,<ref name = "hopkins"/> in the [[Bhagavad Gita]], it is Śankara who is considered the greatest of the Rudras.<ref>{{cite book|last=Radhakrishan|first=S.|author-link=Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|title=The Bhagavadgita|year=1977|publisher=Blackie & Son (India) Ltd.|page=263|chapter=Verse 10.23}}</ref> Both Kapalin and Śankara are epithets of Shiva.<ref name = "hopkins"/> In another instance, they are described as sons of [[Tvashtr]] and named:<ref name = "hopkins"/>

#Vishvarupa 
#Ekapada
#Ahirbudhnya
#Virupaksa 
#Raivata 
#[[Shiva|Hara]] 
#Bahurupa 
#Tryambaka 
#Savitra 
#Jayanta
#Pinakin

While usually the Rudras are described to eleven, in one instance in the ''Mahabharata''; they are said to be eleven thousand and surrounding Shiva, which is another name for Rudra. <ref name = "hopkins"/><ref name = "alain"/> The eleven groups of hundred are named:<ref name = "hopkins"/>

#Ekapada
#Ahirbudhnya
#Pinakin 
#Rta 
#Pitrupa
#Tryamabaka 
#[[Shiva|Maheshvara]]
#Vrishakapi
#Shambhu
#Havana
#[[Ishvara]]

The [http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/3/12 Bhagavata Purana Canto 3 Chapter 3] mentions that Rudra is born from the anger of Lord Brahma. The names are mentioned in [http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/3/12/12 Canto 3 Chapter 3 and Verse 12] as follows:
# Manyu
# Manu
# Mahinasa
# Mahān
# Śiva
# Ṛtadhvaja
# Ugraretā
# Bhava
# Kāla
# Vāmadeva
# Dhṛtavrata
In [http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/6/6 Bhagavata Purana Canto 6 Chapter 6] the eleven Rudras are said to be the children of Sarūpā and Bhūta. Sarūpā was a daughter of Daksa. The names of the eleven Rudras given in [http://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/6/6/17-18 Canto 6 Chapter 6 Verse 17-18] are:
# Raivata
# Aja
# Bhava
# Bhīma
# Vāma
# Ugra
# Vṛṣākapi
# Ajaikapāt
# Ahirbradhna
# Bahurūpa
# Mahān
The ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' mentions the ferocious eleven Rudras – named:

#Kapāli
#Pingala 
#Bhima 
#Virupaksha
#Vilohita 
#Ajapada
#Ahirbhudhnya
#Shasta 
#Shambhu 
#Chanda 
#Bhava

Aiding the god [[Vishnu]] in his fight against the demons and killing all of them along with him. They wear lion-skins, matted-hairs and serpents around their necks. They have yellow throats, hold tridents and skulls and have the crescent moons on their foreheads. Together headed by Kapali, they slay the elephant demon [[Gajasurasamhara|Gajasura]].<ref name = "Matsya"/>

==Associations==
In [[Vedas|Vedic scriptures]], Rudras are described as loyal companions of Rudra, who later was identified with [[Shiva]]. They are considered as divine aids, messengers and forms of Rudra. They are fearful in nature. The ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'' mentions that Rudra is the prince, while Rudras are his subjects. They are considered as attendants of Shiva in later mythology.<ref name = "alain"/>

The [[Rigveda]] and the Krishna [[Yajurveda]]<ref name = "Keith">{{cite book|last=Keith|first=Arthur Berriedale |title=Krishna (Black) Yajur Veda|date=10 April 2012 |publisher=Zhingoora Books|isbn=978-1-4751-7361-1|page=670}}</ref> makes the Rudras the gods of the middle world, situated between earth and heaven i.e. the atmosphere. As wind-gods, the Rudras represent the life-breath.<ref name = "alain"/> In the ''[[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]'', the eleven Rudras are represented by ten [[Prana|vital energies]] (''rudra-prana'') in the body and the eleventh one being the [[Ātman (Hinduism)|Ātman]] (the soul).<ref name = "alain">{{cite book|last=Daniélou|first=Alain|title=The myths and gods of India|year=1991|publisher=Inner Traditions International|isbn=0-89281-354-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mythsgodsofindia00dani/page/102 102–4, 341, 371]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/mythsgodsofindia00dani/page/102}}</ref>

The Rudras are said to preside over the second stage of creation and the intermediary stage of life. They govern the second ritual of sacrifice, the mid-day offering and the second stage of life – from the 24th to the 68 year of life. The ''[[Chandogya Upanishad]]'' prescribes that the Rudras be propitiated in case of sickness in this period and further says that they on departing the body become the cause of tears, the meaning of the name Rudra being the "ones who make cry".<ref name = "alain"/> The [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] explicitly states the fact that since the Rudras leaving the body – causing death – makes people cry, they are Rudras.<ref name = "alain"/>

The ''Mahabharata'' describes the Rudras as companions of [[Indra]], servants of Shiva and his son [[Kartikeya|Skanda]] and companions of Yama, who is surrounded by them. They have immense power, wear golden necklaces and are "like lighting-illuminated clouds".<ref name = "hopkins"/> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' prescribes the worship of the Rudras to gain virile power.<ref name = "alain"/>

===Association with Maruts===
[[File:Musée Guimet 897 04.jpg|thumb|Maruts]]
Rudras are at times identified with the [[Maruts]] – sons of Rudra in the Vedas; while at other times, considered distinct from them.<ref name = "alain"/>

Some scholars believe that Rudras and Maruts could be distinct groups, Rudras being the true followers of Rudra and daivic (Godly) in nature. But poets of the ''Rigveda'' declared the Maruts to take the position of the Rudras in order to give status to the Vedic god Rudra. Later in post-Vedic literature like the epics and Puranas, Maruts were associated with [[Indra]], while Rudras gained their former status as followers of Rudra, who had evolved into Shiva.<ref name = "encyclopaedia">{{cite book|editor=Nagendra Singh|title=Encyclopaedia of Hinduism|volume=31–45|year=2000|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD|isbn=81-7488-168-9|chapter=The Historical Background of the Maruts|pages= 1067–72, 1090}}</ref> However, other scholars disregard this theory and consider that originally Rudras and Maruts were identical.<ref name = "encyclopaedia"/> A theory suggests that slowly in the Vedas two classes of Maruts came into existence: the friendly and beneficent, and the roaring and turbulent; the latter grew into the distinct group of deities called the Rudras, who were associated only with the wild Rudra.<ref name = "encyclopaedia"/>

In the ''Marut Suktas'' (RV 1, 2, 5, 8) and ''Indra-Suktas'' (RV 1, 3, 8, 10) of the ''Rigveda'' (RV), the epithet "Rudras" – originating from the verb root ''rud'' or ''ru'' and meaning howlers, roarers or shouters – is used numerous times for the Maruts – identifying them with the Rudras even when associated with Indra, rather than Rudra. There are some hymns in the ''Rigveda'' (RV 2, 7, 8, 10) that explicitly distinguish between the Maruts and the Rudras.<ref name = "encyclopaedia"/>

While the ''[[Vamana Purana]]'' describes Rudras as the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi, Maruts are described distinct from the Rudras as 49 sons of [[Diti]], sister of Aditi and attendants of Indra.<ref>Mani pp. 489–90</ref>

==Ashwatthama==

[[Ashwatthama]], the son of [[Drona]], is the avatara of the eleven Rudras, along with being one of the eight [[Chiranjivi]] (the immortals). [[Drona]] performed many years of severe penances to please Shiva in order to obtain a son who possessed the same valiance as the latter. Ashwatthama, the powerful son of [[Drona]], though known as the part incarnate of Rudra, was really born of the four parts of [[Yama]] (death), [[Rudra]] (destruction), [[Kamadeva]] (love), Krodha (anger). Just before [[Mahabharata]] war, [[Bhishma]] himself declared that it would be virtually impossible for anyone to kill or defeat Ashwatthama in battle as he was the part incarnate of Rudra. [[Bhishma]] stated that when Ashwatthama becomes angry, it would become impossible to fight him as he would become "a second [[Shiva]]". The dishonoured deaths of [[Drona]], [[Karna]], [[Duryodhana]] left Aswathama infuriated, and this event led directly and in an unwary-like manner, to the annihilation of most of the [[Pandava]] lineage by the hands of Ashwatthama himself, who killed all of them.<ref>J.L Shastri. "The Shiva Purana - The Complete Set in 4 Volumes". Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd; 2008 Edition</ref> As a result, [[Krishna]] curses him as being unable to heal his bleeding sores without facing death until the end of the [[Kali Yuga]]. It is said that one can hear him wailing at [[Night|nights]] in the [[Kurukshetra]] region.

==See also==
*[[Thirty-three gods]]
*[[Adityas]]
*[[Vasu|Vasus]]
*[[Ashvins]]
*[[Indra]]
*[[Prajapati]]
*[[Maruts]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2|author-link =Vettam Mani}}
*{{cite book|last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn|author-link=Edward Washburn Hopkins|title=Epic mythology |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n147/mode/2up/search/Kubera|year=1915|publisher=Strassburg K.J. Trübner|isbn=0-8426-0560-6}}

{{Hindu deities and texts}}
[[Category:Forms of Shiva]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]