Who is Sri Rudra?

  The Fierce God

          prachandam, prakrashtam pragalbham paresham

akhandam ajam bhanukoti prakasham |

trayah shoolnirmulanam shoolapanim

bhaje’ham bhavanipatim bhavagamyam | | 

(Salutations to Sri Rudra, who is fierce, famous, and extremely strong. The highest Lord, who is eternal and whole, the one with the radiance of a million suns. 

The one bearing a trident whose spikes uproot the bondage from the three Gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. I chant the name of Bhavani’s spouse—Shankar. To Him, I pray.)

The above verse from Rudra Ashtakam adores Sri Rudra, the fierce and powerful aspect of Lord Shiv. Rudra is also the earliest name with which Lord Shiv is referred to in the Vedas. 

The Origin of the Word ‘Rudra’

Derived from the Sanskrit root word ‘rud’ meaning ‘to cry, howl or roar,’ Rudra is associated with roaring storms and fierce aspect (raudra roop), the one with fiery red eyes. In the Rig Ved (2.33), Rudra is described as the ‘father of the Maruts’ (a group of storm Gods). 

The term ‘Rudra’ is also closely associated with ‘Rudra Tandav’ (the dance of destruction) performed by Lord Shiv. It is only through the destruction that renewal is possible.

The Brahmana text, which interprets the Rudram, states, ‘Rudra is verily this fire. He has two forms: one fierce, the other auspicious. If a person makes sacrificial offerings to him by chanting the Rudram, that man (person) pacifies the fierce form.’

These two forms Ghora (intense and terrible form) and Shiv or Aghora (the peaceful and auspicious form) are two sides of the same coin, two aspects of the same entity. Thus, Rudra and Shiv are not two, but one. 

Seeking the Grace of Sri Rudra 

Rudra Ashtakam sings the glories of Lord Rudra as,

       ‘Kalateet kalpant kalyankari 

            Sada sajjanaand data purari | (Verse 6.1-6.2)

(Salutations to Shri Rudra whose auspicious nature is beyond the elements of the material world; the one who brings Kalpa– the cosmic cycle—to an end. He, who is the source of perpetual delight to people with pure hearts.)

Invoking Sri Rudra from Kaal Bhairav Jayanti

Just like Sri Rudra, Kaal Bhairav is also a fierce aspect of Lord Shiv. ‘Bhairav’ or ‘Bhairu,’ regarded as the fifth incarnation of Mahadev, is the one who protects from fear. He destroys our ego, the root cause of all fear and ignorance. What could be a more auspicious day than Kaal Bhairav Jayanti to invoke the fierce but benign energy of Bhagwan Shiv as Rudra? 

Begin the six-day Rudri Sadhana from 12 Nov. 2025 - 17 Nov. 2025. This sacred practice dispels all forms of fear and invokes the protective energy of Lord Shiv.

                                             It’s Possible with Sadhana!