The Rig Veda has scant references to Rudra. The Yajur Veda extols hundred names of Rudra. The Atharva Veda calls him Mahadev. Around 400-200 BCE, the Svetasvatara Upanishad first describes him as Supreme Lord. It calls him as the cause of the cosmos and also as one who transcends it. The Mahabharata describes Shaiva ascetics. The Ramayana has many Shiva stories especially related to Ravana as his devotee. Patanjali (2nd cent BCE) refers to Shiva Bhagvata. Thus, Shiva as a Great God appears by 200BCE to 100CE.
Scholars say that as the Shaivite tradition spread, local gods of different regions got synonymous with Shiva – Khandoba, Mailara, Mallana & Mahakaal. The Puranas (3rd cent CE onwards) start describing Shiva’s family and many of the stories we are familiar with. Different sects appear that develop a philosophy of Shaivism alongwith Bhakti or tantra ways of worship – Pasupata, Saiva Siddhanta, Kashmiri Saivism, Veerashaiva etc. To this day, his devotees continue to develop the all encompassing godliness of Shiva.
The picture is Verse 1.1 of the Svetasvatara Upanishad. It has one line in the middle with bhashya(commentary) above and below.
Source: “Duality: The Essence of Shaivism,” Siddhant Kalra.
“Siva,” Peter Bisschop.
“Why Siva is the most mysterious of all Hindu gods,” Rohini Bakshi.
Picture Credit: Sara Welch, Wikimedia Commons
The Rig Veda has scant references to Rudra. The Yajur Veda extols hundred names of Rudra. The Atharva Veda calls him Mahadev. Around 400-200 BCE, the Svetasvatara Upanishad first describes him as Supreme Lord. It calls him as the cause of the cosmos and also as one who transcends it. The Mahabharata describes Shaiva ascetics. The Ramayana has many Shiva stories especially related to Ravana as his devotee. Patanjali (2nd cent BCE) refers to Shiva Bhagvata. Thus, Shiva as a Great God appears by 200BCE to 100CE.
Scholars say that as the Shaivite tradition spread, local gods of different regions got synonymous with Shiva – Khandoba, Mailara, Mallana & Mahakaal. The Puranas (3rd cent CE onwards) start describing Shiva’s family and many of the stories we are familiar with. Different sects appear that develop a philosophy of Shaivism alongwith Bhakti or tantra ways of worship – Pasupata, Saiva Siddhanta, Kashmiri Saivism, Veerashaiva etc. To this day, his devotees continue to develop the all encompassing godliness of Shiva.
The picture is Verse 1.1 of the Svetasvatara Upanishad. It has one line in the middle with bhashya(commentary) above and below.
Source: “Duality: The Essence of Shaivism,” Siddhant Kalra.
“Siva,” Peter Bisschop.
“Why Siva is the most mysterious of all Hindu gods,” Rohini Bakshi.
Picture Credit: Sara Welch, Wikimedia Commons
