1. Ṛgveda (c): Benevolent aspects of Rudra

Rudra’s benevolent or benign aspect is not clearly expressed in the Ṛgveda. He is mentioned as Vṛṣabha in another Ṛgvedic mantra.^[1] According to Sāyaṇācārya, the term vṛṣabha means kāmānāṃ varṣitaḥ or the showerer of desires of all,^[2] the fulfiller of sacrifice, the swift and wise,^[3] and the father of the world, un-decaying and beneficent.^[4] He is said to be bounteous, brilliant and liberal. He is self-dependent and unassailable god.^[5] Sometimes he is called Mīḍhva or beneficent.^[6]

Sāyaṇa in his commentary interprets the term mīḍhva as:

mīḍhvaḥ sektaḥ kāmābhivarṣaka nityataruṇa vā.^[7]

It means one who fulfills the desires or one who is always youthful. He is also easily invoked^[8] and Śiva or auspicious.^[9] The word śiva in Vedic mantras was mostly used as an adjective.^[10] He is prayed by the seers to prevent the anger that comes from the gods.^[11] Rudra is considered as Jalāṣa Bheṣaja and this epithet suggests his healing powers.^[12] He grants remedies to his devotees^[13] and he is said to have thousand medicines.^[14] In another mantra of the Ṛgveda, it is stated that his hand is filled with medicines.^[15] From this aspect he is designated as a greatest physician^[16] and by his propitious medicines his adorers desires to live a hundred winters. He is also invoked to remove all pervading diseases by his auspicious medicines.^[17] He is called the lord of the vast world and the Supreme Ruler.^[18] Soma is invoked along with Rudra as the dispenser of remedies.^[19]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

apabhartā rapaso daivyasyābhī nu mā vṛṣabha cakṣamīthāḥ | Ibid., 2.33.7

[2]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[3]:

tveṣaṃ vayaṃ rudraṃ yajñasādhaṃ vaṅkuṃ kavimavase ni hvayāmahe | Ṛgveda, 1.114.4

[4]:

bhuvanasya pitaraṃ gīrbhirābhī rudraṃ divā vardhayā rudramaktau | bṛhantamṛṣvamajaraṃ suṣumnamṛdhagdhuvema kavineṣitāsaḥ || Ibid., 6.49.10

[5]:

Ibid., 7.46.1

[6]:

aśyāma te sumatiṃ devayajyayā kṣayadvīrasya tava rudra mīḍhvaḥ | Ibid., 1.114.3

[7]:

Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[8]:

Ṛgveda, 2.33.5

[9]:

yebhiḥ śivaḥ svavān evayāvabhirdivaḥ siṣakti svayaśā nikāmabhiḥ || Ibid., 10.92.9

[10]:

Ibid., 10.92.9; 124.2

[11]:

Ibid., 1.114.4

[12]:

Ibid., 1.43.4; 2.33.7

[13]:

bhūrerdātāraṃ satpatiṃ gṛṇīṣe stutastvaṃ bheṣajā rāsyasme | Ibid., 2.33.12

[14]:

sahasraṃ te svapivāta bheṣajā mā nastokeṣu tanayeṣu rīriṣaḥ || Ibid., 7.46.3

[15]:

haste bibhradbheṣajā vāryāṇi śarma varma cchardirasmabhyaṃ yaṃsat || Ibid., 1.114.5

[16]:

unno vīrān arpaya bheṣajebhirbhiṣaktamaṃ tvā bhiṣajāṃ śṛṇomi || Ibid., 2.33.4

[17]:

tvādattebhī rudra śaṃtamebhiḥ śataṃ himā aśīya bheṣajebhiḥ | vya’smaddveṣo vitaraṃ vyaṃho vyamīvāścātayasvā viṣūcīḥ || Ibid., 2.33.2

[18]:

īśānādasya bhuvanasya bhūrerna vā u yoṣadrudrādasuryam || Ibid., 2.33.9

[19]:

somārudrā yuvametānyasme viśvā tanūṣu bheṣajāni dhattam | Ibid., 6.74.3