What is the meaning of the word “Rudra”?

In a single hymn, it encompasses the entirety of Rudra – that He is a Divine Contradiction and a “conscious knower”. The hymns say He is “fierce/mighty”, then in contradiction, they call him “pleasant with beneficent heart”. He is “the resort/lord to all hymns/songs”, He is “the resort/lord of all yajñá/sacrifice”, and “He is bliss”. In conclusion, the hymn addresses Rudras as the family of immortals possessing amṛta/soma and this soma is the home to Supreme Truth (ṛtasya).

Brahmá again interfered, and pacified the child; and then, addressing Tárá, said, “Tell me, daughter, is this the child of Vrihaspati, or of Soma?” “Of Soma,” said Tárá, blushing. The son of Atri was Soma (the moon), whom Brahmá installed as the sovereign of planets, of Brahmans, and of the stars. He became arrogant and licentious, and carried off Tárá, the wife of Vrihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. N vain Vrihaspati sought to recover his bride; in vain Brahmá commanded, and the holy sages remonstrated; Soma refused to relinquish her.

why there are extensive hymns for Gods like Agni and Indra and others and relatively few hymns for Lord Rudra?

These forms are mentioned as the 8 presiding forms of Lord Shiva in the Purānas like Vishnu Purāna , Nārada Purāna , Shiva Purāna , Harivamsha etc. “Lord Vishnu occupied half your body, Became transformed to be your wife (PARVATI), Became a boar to search for you (LINGA), Became your lady friend to serve the nectar (MOHINI).” Please also explain the separate consciousness part with respect toBrahma and Vishnu. It is only then that Brahma would meditate on paramatma and get the Vedic knowledge to create the samsara. An answer here, goes on to explain the manifestation of Nirguna Sadashiva as Brahma, Vishnu and as stated above Rudra Kailasapati.

The Shiva lingam that we all worship is a mundane replica of this original spiritual lingam. THAT IS AUTHORITATIVE OPINION OF LORD BRAHMA THE COMPILER OF THE VEDAS. One of the famous wars between the Devatas and Dānavas is the Tārakāmaya war.

He isRudra he is Siva, he is Agni, he is everything, and he hath knowledgeof everything. He is Indra, he is the Wind, he is the twin Aswins, andhe is the lighting. He is Bhava, he is Parjanya, he is Mahadeva, he issinless. He is the fortnight, he is the month, he is the seasons.He is the morning and evening-twilights, he is the year.

• That foremost one ofall the gods, that destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, that divine lordhaving the bull for his sign, became gratified with the gods.
• This answer explains how Sadasiva (Supreme Brahman) manifested himself into universe and other Gods.
• It’s because Vedas are revealed scriptures and it’s mantras are heard during deep meditation.
• He is Dhatri,he is Vidhatri, he is the Soul of the universe, and he is the doer ofall acts in the universe.

In the begining, there was neither existance nor non-existance, neither space nor time. This primodial action is called as “Coming into Existance”. The sun, the water, the earth, the fire, the ether, the initiated Brahman, and the moon, these became respectively their abodes. Their sons respectively were Shanaishchara, Shukra, pin up bet Lohitanga, Monajava, Skandha, Sarga, Santana, and Budha. This answer explains how Sadasiva (Supreme Brahman) manifested himself into universe and other Gods.

नमः सायं नमः प्रातर्नमो रात्र्या नमो दिवा । भवाय च शर्वाय चोभाभ्यामकरं नमः ।। Salutations in the morning, salutations in night and Salutations in the day. Also, most of the names of Lord Shiva used today are derived from Vedas, as I discuss in my answer here. स्थिरेभिरङ्गै पुरुरूप उग्रो बभ्रुः शुक्रेभिः पिपिशे हिरण्यै । ईशानादस्य भुवनस्य भुरेर्न वा उ योषद्रुद्रासुर्यम् ।। With firm limbs, multiform, the strong, the tawny adorns himself with bright gold decorations. The strength of Godhead never departs from Rudra, him who is Sovran of this world, the mighty. One has to distinguish to which Rudra is it addressed by looking at the meaning and context of the mantra.

NoteAlso please note, I’m not touching upon the Advaita angle here where all consciousness is one. I’m asking from the perspective of separate consciousness being separate entities but merged into one owing to Brahmajnana. In Rig Veda, the Almighty God was described in different names like Indra, Agni, Vayu, Vishnu, etc, according to the form, the Almighty’s power was perceived. Rig Vedic seers realised through deep meditation that the same formless Almighty God, appears to us in the form of the NATURE, which gives sustenance to all beings.

2.1 The pranava (the sound of Aum) makes all the souls to bow before it. It is the one and only one which has to be meditated upon as the four Vedas and the birth place of all devas. One who meditates like that goes away from all sorrows and fears and gets the power to protect all others who approach him. It is because of this meditation only that Lord Vishnu who is spread every where, wins over all others.

is there any scripture/commentary that reconciles wildly different stories about the “birth” of Rudra?

There are also various celebrated names of Lord Shiva in that hymn. As per whatever Shaiva philosophy that I have come across, the unborn Parabrahma Shiva/ Sadashiva is different from the manifested Rudra Kailasapati. As stated here, the supreme Purusha shiva is worshipped in Linga form and Rudra Kailasapati is his human form. With this power (Shakti), Brahma created women and creation became copulatory. Later Shakti was born as Sati devi and reborn as Parvathi Devi, to unite with Shiva.

As the hymn says, it is “ṛta“, meaning the entire cosmic principle/truth. This Supreme Truth of Immortality is explained in pristine detail in Śatarudrīya/Çatarudriya of Sukla Yajur Vedā. This is the first homage to Rudra-Soma sung by Maharśi Kaṇva Ghaura in Rig Vedā Mandala 1 Sukta 43. And as we go deeper, we will see the complete assimilation of Soma, Agni, Mitra-Varuna, and more. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Sada-Siva, the He-She, creates universe all,He has sons fiveThe Holy One that creates universe allHimself as lotus-seated BrahmaThe Creator became.

Difference between Rudraprashna, Satarudriya, Rudrashtadhyayi, and Rudra Suktam

• This is the first homage to Rudra-Soma sung by Maharśi Kaṇva Ghaura in Rig Vedā Mandala 1 Sukta 43.
• Suppose a synonym or sandhi of Rudra is present in 9.22, even then it’s likely that the translation might be wrong.
• In consequence of Uśanas, their preceptor, joining Soma, Jambha, Kujambha, and all the Daityas, Dánavas, and other foes of the gods, came also to his assistance; whilst Indra and all the gods were the allies of Vrihaspati.
• Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Śiva, is self-illuminated.
• It is only then that Brahma would meditate on paramatma and get the Vedic knowledge to create the samsara.
• Regarding the name Gurkha, it comes from Gorkha district of Nepal.

Mahābhāratam Moksha Dharma Parva Section 285 Vyasa said”, ‘Hearingthese words of the lotus-born Brahma, Maheswara became gratified.Desirous of extending his grace, he laughed aloud. The celestials thengratified (with praise) both Uma and Rudra. The arm of thethunder-wielding Sakra re-got its natural state. That foremost one ofall the gods, that destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice, that divine lordhaving the bull for his sign, became gratified with the gods.

There’s a subtle difference between Shiva and Shankara or Rudra. Shiva is Supreme Purusha while Shankara aka Rudra is human manifestation of Supreme Purusha Shiva. Shankara or Rudra is generally depicted as wearing snake over his neck with a trident in his hand. Supreme Purusha Shiva, as formless, is generally worshipped in Linga form. The Lord of universe vast enters within and cognisesSo does Hari that wields the Chakra;And so too Brahma on the lotus flower seated;They Three stood withinAs treasure-heap of cognition all.

He further says that Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra are his own forms which are created from Ahamkara so, the have gunas like Raj, Sat, Tam, while Brahma and Vishnu are of Prakriti tatva, Rudra is totally Purusha Tattva and his complete incarnation. Like Gold and Ornament have different names but same elements same as for clay and clay models all 3 are his own forms. No, they are not Jivas they are Brahman themselves but they are saguna brahman viz with forms. Lord Rudra is called as “Kâma” or Kameshwara because he himself is ‘Primodial desire’. The whole universe sprung because of the primodial desire.

So the original meaning of Rudra is “the crier”, because Shiva cried as soon as he was born. Of course, just like the names Vishnu and Narayana (which I discuss here), various mystical interpretations of the name have arisen that have little connection to its etymological origins. In this the gods, led by Rudra, hurled their missiles on the enemy; and the Daityas with equal determination assailed the gods. Finding that she was pregnant, Vrihaspati desired her no longer to retain her burden; … Both Vrihaspati and Soma, fascinated by his beauty, claimed him as their child. The gods, in order to settle the dispute, appealed to Tárá; but she was ashamed, and would make no answer.