SRI RUDRAM - 4: 1 - 6
Anuvka 4
This anuvka consists of 17 mantras, like the previous anuvka. If this anuvka is
repeatedly chanted, it cures serious illness. This anuvka praises Rudras Supreme
qualities.
nama vydhinbhyo vividhyantbhyaca vo nama || (4:1)
Meaning: Salutation to your power in different forms which strike powerfully from all
sides. Salutations to you Rudra.
Notes: This mantra explains the Supremacy of Rudra in every aspect. Different forms
mean different Rudragaa-s. They strike sinner from all sides in order to uphold
dharma. Sinners are tolerated only to a certain extent. When they cross the limits, which
in turn affect the natural balance between dharma and adharma, Rudragaa-s destroy
those who are indulged in adharma.
There is a possibility to call these powers of Rudra as akti-s and these akti-s are
explained in the next mantra. This is based on the fact that Rudra is inert without His
akti. Saundaryalahar (verse 1) says, iva becomes inert without akt. When iva is
not united with akt, He cannot manifest the universe. Because of Her functional
nature, Divine Mother becomes supremely important. Based on this fact, His Powers
can be construed as feminine in nature, which is authenticated in the next mantra.
nama ugbhyast hatbhyaca vo nama || (4:2)
Meaning: Uga is explained as Saptamt or seven mothers and they are Brhma,
Kaumr, Mhevar, Vaiav, Vrh, Indraj and Cmun. Each of these akti-s
preside over certain qualities and if these qualities are in excess, they curb these
qualities. Salutation to you Rudra who imbibes in Saptamt-s. In other words, Rudra
manifests in the form of Saptamt-s. Salutations to Him.
Notes: Paraakti is said to be in the form of a deity called Yogevar, the goddess of
desire. There are eight mothers (aa mta-s), representing eight different human
qualities. They are 1. Yogevar representing desire, 2. Mhevar for anger, 3.
Vaiav for greed, 4. Brhma for passion, 5. Kaly for bewilderment, 6. Indraj for
envy, 7. Vrh for disdain and 8. Yamada for death. Aa mta-s also refer to eight
veins on both sides of human neck.
Saptamt-s as said earlier, control the respective qualities in His devotees so that
harmonious existence is possible for His devotees. Material life is the foundation for
spiritual life.
How beautifully He protects His devotees by exercising proper control over them.
namo gsebhyo gtsapatibhyaca vo nama || (4:3)
Meaning: There are two different meanings for this mantra.
1. Salutations to those who are greedy and salutation to you, who is the chief of all
greedy people.
2, Salutations to those who are wise and lead a highly dedicated life to Him. Salutations
to Rudra, who is the chief of all such devotees with (spiritual) intelligence.
Notes: These two meanings convey that He presides over senses, which in turn make
the people greedy and simultaneously, He tames them and make them to pursue
spiritual path by endowing them with knowledge. He is both the cause and effect.
namo vrtebhyo vrtapatibhyaca vo nama || (4:4)
Meaning: Salutations to you in the form of various kinds of people and as the chief of all
such classes, salutation to you.
Notes: Different kinds of people mean, people living in different places and different
climatic conditions or people doing different classes or work. Broadly, people are
classified based upon their knowledge and this classification is known as vara*.
Vtti means mode of life or conduct, course of action, behaviour, moral conduct, etc.
Different people follow different codes of conduct. Rudra pervades in everyone, who
follow different codes of conduct and also He is the chief of different groups of people
and salutations to Him.
Further reading*: Varrama means the order of life as expounded in Veds. Veda-s
classify people based upon their knowledge and capabilities. For example, soldiers are
needed to protect borders of countries, agriculturists are needed to grow grains for
consumption to make a living, traders are needed to buy requirements, and priests are
needed to perform rituals. Veda-s say that the classification is not based upon their
birth, but on the ability of a person to perform certain duties. It would not be logical to
expect a trader to protect borders effectively. Therefore the inclination, capacity,
knowledge and experience are the parameters by which a person is classified. Such
classifications are applicable only to the human race. Since She is not different from
Veda-s and all the Veda-s originated from Her, it is said that She has made these
classifications.
Having created the universe, She also created the Veda-s to effectively administer the
universe. Veda-s lay down rules and regulations to be followed in a human life. Path
shown by Veda-s is known as dharma or righteousness. If one trespasses prescribed
righteousness by Veda-s, he gets afflicted by karma-s that leads to several
transmigrations.
Ka explains this in Bhagavad Gta. The duties are allocated according to gua-s
springing from their own nature (XVIII.41). Each one attentive to his own duty, he gains
the highest success. How far one is devoted to his inborn duty, thus far he attains
success (XVIII.45). If I did not perform actions in a balanced way, the universe would be
annihilated and I would be the cause of improper admixture of duties (III.24).
namo gaebhyo gaapatibhyaca vo nama || (4:5)
Meaning: Salutations to Rudragaa-s and their chief, Rudra. Rudragaa-s are Rudras
attendants.
Notes: Gaapati, commonly known as Gaea is said to be the leader of a class or
troop or assemblage of gaa-s, who are explained as troops or classes of inferior
deities.
Each of them attends to one work of creation and sustenance. Hence they are also
called inferior deities. Gaapati, who is the leader of such gaa-s is invoked before
commencing any auspicious things.
namo virupebhyo vivarpebhyaca nama || (4:6)
Meaning: Salutation to the One who in the form of unnatural and distorted forms and
also in the form of various shapes and forms such as human, animals, birds, etc.
Notes: Virpa means deformed or unnatural. Vivarpa means omnipresent, manifold
nature of Brahman. The Brahman has different forms and shapes as the Brahman
exists in every living and non-living being in this universe. In the case of non-living
beings, they do not have souls and hence no action takes place on their own. There is
no place in the universe, where the Brahman does not exist. The creation takes place
first in the form of total darkness. From this darkness intellect arises. From intellect the
ego and this ego gives rise to the modifications of the five elements which ultimately
creates lives in this universe.
In Bhagavad Gta (XI.16), Arjuna addresses Ka, Oh! Lord of the universe, I see you
endowed with numerous arms, bellies, mouths and eyes and having innumerable forms
extended on all sides. I see neither your beginning, nor middle and nor even your end,
manifested as you are in the form of universe. Vivarp is used here to mean Kas
manifestation in the form of whole universe.
