[Advaita-l] Rudra

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

Advaitis believe Nirguna Brahman is the Only Truth. But it is for the
 devotees sake that Nirguna Brahma is taught as Saguna Brahma. This Saguna
Brahma can take any shape and form described in the Sastras. We dont argue
with Dvaitis and others who is the greatest God? Let them think Vishnu is
the greatest if it makes them follow the Bhakti Marga. Let Saivas think
Siva is the greatest if it makes them follow the Bhakti Marga. Nothing
wrong.

Among Advaitis also many people have a favorite God. They become very
devoted to that God. Some Advaitis become very devoted to Siva, some to
Durga, some to Ganesha, some to Krishna, some to Rama and so on.  Let them
do it.

This is all only like scratching the surface of the ocean. The depth is in
the Philosophy. If you want to dive deep into Advaita you have to think
about the below questions. Otherwise you will be only scratching the
surface and arguing against silly Dvaita theories. Kindly think about the
below questions. Many discussions have happened in the list before on the
questions. And they will happen in the future also.

How is the world Mithya? What is Mithyatva? Is there a difference between
waking state and dream? What is Avidya? Who has Avidya? Does Brahman have
Avidya? Does Jeeva have Avidya? Is there a seed Avidya or Moola Avidya? How
many Jeevas are there? Many  Jeevas? Only One Jeeva? What is the difference
between Ishwara and Jeeva? Does Ishwara have Avidya also? Who creates the
world? Is the world existing before I perceive it? Or does the world come
to existence when I perceive it? What is the role of Mind? Is Mind an organ
like the other organs? What is a mental Vrutti? What is Akhandakara Vrutti?
How does Brahma Jnana happen? Is it through hearing of the Vedic text only?
Or is it by repeating Sravana, Manana and Nidhidhyasana for a long time?
What is Jeevan Mukti? What is Avidya Lesha? Does the Jeevan Mukta still
have some Avidya Lesha? Or he is totally free of Avidya?

Other members may kindly add to the questions. There are other questions
also and I may add them later.

On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 9:35 AM Kaushik Chevendra via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> How is Rudra perceived in yajurveda other than shatarudriya.
> Yajurveda 1.8.6d
> एक एव रुद्र न द्वितीयाय तस्थुर्...
> Eka eva rudra na dvitīyāya tasthur...
>
> ie., *Rudra is truly one* for the knowers of Brahman do not admit the
> existence of a second.
> This same verse is repeated in svethavastaraha Upanishad and atharvasiras
> as well.
>
>
>
> यो रुद्रो अग्नौ यो अप्सु य ओषधिषु । यो रुद्रो विश्वा भुवना विवेश तस्मै
> रुद्राय नमो अस्तु ।। (YajurVeda 5.5.9)
>
> *The Rudra in the fire, in the waters, in the plants, the Rudra that hath
> entered all beings, to that Rudra be homage.*
>
> *Here Rudra is everywhere and everything.*
>
> *Who is this Rudra ? Is he lord shiva(agni in Vedas)?*
>
> *Atharva veda 7.87*
> योऽग्नौ रुद्रो योऽप्स्वन्तर्य ओषधीर्वीरुध आविवेश ।
> य इमाविश्वा भुवनानि चक्लृपे तस्मै रुद्राय नमोऽस्त्वग्नये ।।
>
> *To Rudra in the fire, to him who dwells in floods, to Rudra who hath
> entered into herbs and plants, To him who formed and fashioned all these
> worlds, to him this Rudra, yea, to Agni, reverence be paid!*
>
> *Who is the reason for liberation in Vedas?*
>
> *Athrvaveda-*
>
> भवाशर्वौ मन्वे वां तस्य वित्तं ययोर्वामिदं प्रदिशि यद्विरोचते।
> यावस्येशाथे द्विपदो यौ चतुष्पदस्तौ नो मुञ्चतमंहस ।। (AtharvaVeda 4.28)
>
> Everything that shines is under your control Oh Bhava and Sarva. *Oh Isha
> you are the lord of all two footed and four footed, Deliver us from grief
> and trouble.*
>
> In yajnvalkya smriti mitaksara commentary states than any Vedic verse
> recited without knowing the metre , rishi and diety doesn't give fruit. The
> above all verse are addressed to Rudra devata alone.
>
> ईशानादस्य भुवनस्य
> īśānādasya bhuvanasya (RigVeda 2.33.9)
>
> *who is Lord of the Universe.*
>
> भुवनस्य पितरम्
> bhuvanasya pitaram (RigVeda 6.49.10)
>
> *Father of the Universe.*
>
> न वा उ योषद् रुद्राद् असुरयम्
> na vā u yoṣad rudrād asurayam (RigVeda 2.33.9)
>
> *The strength of Godhead never departs from Rudra.*
>
> सत्पतिं
> satpatiṃ (RigVeda 2.33.12)
>
> *Lord of the Existence.*
>
> गाथपतिं
> gāthapatiṃ (RigVeda 1.43.4)
>
> *Lord of the Hymns.*
>
> मेधपतिं
> medhapatiṃ (RigVeda 1.43.4)
>
> *Lord of the sacrifice.*
>
>
> *The above verses too talk about Rudra only. Vedas mention the Rudra few
> times but whenever he is mentioned he is always in the highest regard.
> Vedas talk about all dieties as great. That is the greatness of Vedas all
> gods are the manifestation of Brahman only. Each one engages in their
> specific duties sustaining the universe. Showing puranic verse doens't
> help. The priority is Shruthi>smriti>itihaas>puranas. So if puranas are
> contradicting the Shruthi without any further doubt we can disregard it. So
> if any purana talks about a diety less than others it's only to increase
> the devotees bakthi alone. One cannot cherry pick verses from Vedas to
> prove only supremacy of one God only. Every god is praised as supreme in
> Vedas. *
>
>
> *Now going further to understand who is this Rudra? We know Rudra manifests
> through Prajapati and no further doubt about it. *
>
> *Atharva veda 15.1*
>
>
> 1There was a roaming Vrātya. He roused Prajāpati to action.
> 2Prajāpati beheld gold in himself and engendered it.
> 3That became unique, that became distinguished, that became
>    great, that became excellent, that became Devotion, that be-
>    came holy Fervour, that became Truth: through that he was
>    born.
> 4He grew, he became great, he became Mahādeva.
> 5He gained the lordship of the Gods. He became Lord.
> 6He became Chief Vrātya. He held a bow, even that Bow of
>   Indra.
> 7His belly is dark-blue, his back is red.
> 8With dark-blue he envelops a detested rival, with red he pierces
>    the man who hates him: so the theologians say.
>
>
> The above is shiva alone any nuetral reader can understand.
>
> I will conclude this by showing a puranic verse from varaha Purana a
> "sattvika purana".
> 145.101.118-
>
> *Narayana said-"The great lord shiva remains calm on my right side,who
> really know this shiva knows me,*
> *And those who know me know this shiva. Wherever Shiva is vishnu is also
> there,and wherever vishnu is shiva is there".*
>
> *The above verse are present in varaha Purana. These verses resemble the
> verses of Mahabharata.*
> *Now we can argue as shiva is antaryami of vishnu all verses of vishnu
> belong to shiva only.*
> *"Shivaya vishnu roopaya shiva roopaya vishnave"*
> *Only an advaitin can understand this verses without twisting it in any
> way.*
>
> *I apologise if I made some mistake while writing this article. I am still
> a kid and please correct me if any of these points are wrong.*
> *Thank you very much.*
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh