I consider myself belonging to Shaktism, so I see Shiva as one aspect of Paramātmā. I have seen that unanimously, the Vedas (including Shaiva Upaniṣads) say that Rudra is Brahman. So, Who is this Rudra? How is Rudra evolve to be identified today as Shiva? Is Shiva just an adjective to define Rudra or is it a natural name? Nonshaivites (esp: Vaisnavas) will say Rudra, Maheswara, Vratya etc. is Vishnu. What are some agreed-upon literature that shows the evolution of Rudra is even Lord Shiva?
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This question was asked earlier. You can check at this question (hinduism.stackexchange.com/q/9918/3869). You can also go through this answer (hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/35560/3869). By the way, your question is likely to be closed, as it was asked earlier.– Srimannarayana K VCommented Dec 2, 2019 at 15:44
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We know Rudra is Shiva from itihAsas and purANas. Vedas themselves seem to be using the word Shiva to mean "auspicious" or "one who is auspicious".– user16581Commented Dec 5, 2019 at 8:26
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2 Answers
Kaivalya Upaniṣad says he is Brahma, Śiva, & Viṣṇu. That he has three eyes and a blue (indigo-black) neck/throat.
उमासहायं परमेश्वरं प्रभुं त्रिलोचनं नीलकण्ठं प्रशान्तम् ।
ध्यात्वा मुनिर्गच्छति भूतयोनिं समस्तसाक्षिं तमसः परस्तात् ॥ ७॥स ब्रह्मा स शिवः सेन्द्रः सोऽक्षरः परमः स्वराट् ।
स एव विष्णुः स प्राणः स कालोऽग्निः स चन्द्रमाः ॥ ८॥
Without a beginning, middle or an end, who is one, all pervading, of blissful consciousness, without form, wonderful, seated with the goddess Uma, the Supreme Lord, the ruler, bearing three eyes, with a blue neck, ever peaceful
—by meditating upon Him the sages attain the source of all creation, the witness of all and that which is beyond all darkness.He is Brahma, he is Siva, he is Indra. He is the imperishable, supreme self illumined Lord.
He alone is Vishnu. He is the life giving breath. He is time, he is fire, and also the moon.
—Kaivalya Upaniṣad, 7-8 in Sanskrit and English
Sri Rudram Praśna confirms that Rudra also has these features.
नमस्ते अस्तु भगवन्
विश्वेश्वराय महादेवाय त्र्यंबकाय
त्रिपुरान्तकाय त्रिकाग्नि-कालाय
कालाग्निरुद्राय नीलकण्ठाय म्रुत्युंजयाय
सर्वेश्वराय सदाशिवाय
श्रीमन्महादेवाय नमः ॥namaste astu bhagavan
viśveśvarāya mahādevāya tryaṃbakāya
tripurāntakāya trikāgni-kālāya
kālāgnirudrāya nīlakaṇṭhāya mrutyuṃjayāya
sarveśvarāya sadāśivāya
śrīmanmahādevāya namaḥSalutations to you God,
Who is the lord of the universe,
Who is the greatest among Gods,
Who has three eyes,
Who destroyed three cities,
Who is the master of the three fires,
Who is the Rudra who burns the world,
Who has a blue neck,
Who won over the God of death,
Who is Lord of every thing,
Who is ever peaceful,
And who is the greatest God with goodness,
Salutations again.
answered Dec 4, 2019 at 17:16
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thanks,But won't Vaisnavas say this is a bogus upanishad and not accepted among them? Commented Dec 4, 2019 at 20:30
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Your first reference says he is brahma, siva, Indra, vishnu etc. Is there a specific reason why you highlighted siva alone? Your second reference does not mention siva anywhere.– user16581Commented Dec 7, 2019 at 14:06
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@johnyman The question is about Śiva, so a Shavite perspective seems most appropriate Commented Dec 19, 2019 at 22:26
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@Iwillcloseyourquestion I think you've missed the point. The first passage is specifically about Śiva. The second passage is specifically about Rudra. The fact that the attributes of the two are so similar strongly suggests that the texts are using two names for the same being/concept. Commented Dec 19, 2019 at 22:27
The questions are:
who is this Rudra?
Nonshaivites(Vaisnavis) will say Rudra,maheswara,Vratya etc is Vishnu.what are some agreed upon texts that say Rudra is even lord shiva?
I had posted answer to the similar question - Is there any relation or similarity between Rudra & Indra? earlier, as to why Rudra can be viewed as Alimighty/paramatma/BRAHMAN. So I will not repeat the same here.
The Sanskrit word Shiva is an adjective meaning kind, friendly, gracious, or auspicious. In Rig Veda the word Shiva was used as an adjective at places.
For example RV II.20.3 calls Indra as men's auspicious keeper :
स नो युवेन्द्रो जोहूत्रः सखा शिवो नरामस्तु पाता | यः शंसन्तं यः शशमानमूती पचन्तं च सतुवन्तंच परणेषत ||
sa no yuvendro johūtraḥ sakhā śivo narāmastu pātā | yaḥ śaṃsantaṃ yaḥ śaśamānamūtī pacantaṃ ca stuvantaṃca praṇeṣat ||
May Indra, called with solemn invocations. the young, the Friend, be men's auspicious keeper, One who will further with his aid the singer, the toiler, praiser, dresser of oblations.
- In Rudram of Yajurveda, and in subsequent Puranic literature , Rudra was named as Shiva and was described as the SUPREME LORD, who lives on Mount Kailash and whose consort is Parvati, etc.
Coming to the aspect of describing Rudra,maheswara,Vratya etc as Vishnu, by some persons, it is to be understood as projecting their own deity as SUPREME GOD.
In the Veda, the Almighty God is called with different epithets like Indra/Agni/Varuna, etc, which names in subsequent Puranic Literature were converted into demi Gods, and had been given a lower status to Shiva/Vishnu/Shakti, in respective Puranas.
So following of this type of Literature shall be avoided.
answered Dec 4, 2019 at 2:47
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2By the way, demi gods is an Iskconic term. Never heard of it before Iskcon started using them.– user16581Commented Dec 4, 2019 at 3:00