Sri Rudram- Introduction and Significance

  

The Sri Rudram, also called Rudra Prasnam or Satarudriya, is one of the most beautiful and powerful, and one of the most popular Vedic Mantras.

 At Vedic events like Rudra Ekadasini or Maha Rudram or Ati Rudra Maha Yagnas, the vibrations created by large numbers of expert Vedic chanters chanting Sri Rudram in perfect unison is an out of this world experience, not only for the chanters, but for devotees and listeners as well.

 

The Sri Rudram has 2 parts – Namakam and Chamakam. Namakam gets its name because of the repeated occurrence of the word “Namah” (I bow or worship or salute).  Chamakam gets its name because of repetition of the words “Cha May” (literally it means ‘’and me’’, but the actual meaning is ‘’give me’’). Chamakam is a prayer where the devotee asks the Lord to give them everything.

 

Namakam and Chamakam have 11 Anuvakas (sections) each.The Sri Rudram occurs in Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajur Veda.

Taittiriya Samhita has 7 Kandas or parts. Sri Rudram is in the 4th Kanda – thus exactly in the middle of the Samhita.

The importance of Sri Rudram is because it contains the most sacred Panchakshari (5-syllabled) Mantra “Namah Sivaya”. The Panchakshari is in the 8th Anuvaka of Namakam.

Some Lines from the Sri Rudram are-

 नमस्ते रुद्रमन्यव उतोत इषवे नमः ।

 नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्या-मुत ते नमः ॥

Salutations to Your Anger (Manyu); 

Salutations to Your Arrow (Ishu)

Salutations to Your bow (Dhanu) ; and to Your mighty arms (Baahu)

 नमो निषङ्गिण इषुधिमते तस्कराणां पतये नम:

Salutations to the one who holds a quiver (Ishudhimate); and to the Chief of Robbers! (Taskaranam Pati)

नमो महद्भ्यः क्षुल्लकेभ्यश्च वो नम:

Salutations to You, who are great (Mahat); and to You who are small (Kshullaka)

नमस्ताराय नमः शंभवे च मयोभवे च नमः

शंकराय च

मयस्कराय च नमः शिवाय  च शिवतराय च॥

Salutation to the deliverer [from difficulties, or from the ocean of Samsara] (Taaraya)

Salutation to the source of happiness and welfare (Shambhu), and to the source of delight (Maya)

Salutation to the one who creates peace (Shankara) and to the creator of delight (Mayaskara)

Salutation to the auspicious one (Siva) and to the more auspicious (Sivatara or Paramātman or the Absolute)

The famous and most sacred Panchakshari Mantra Nama Sivaya occurs in this line (नमः शिवाय)।

Thus, Rudram or Namakam is a prayer offered to the all-pervading Para Brahman, designated as Rudra-Śiva.

Rudra means terrible, and Siva means auspicious.

He is present in auspicious, benign forms as well as terrible forms which he assumes at the time of the dissolution.

A very interesting aspect of God presented in the wonderful Rudram is that God exists in both - the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the right and the wrong.

To always follow the path of Dharma, one needs to know about both Dharma and Adharma – so that one can follow Dharma, and avoid Adharma.

Some of the benefits of chanting the Sri Rudram, as declared by sacred texts and sages, are as follows:

“By reciting Vedas [other Vedic Mantras] once, a person becomes pure on that day, but by reciting Rudram they get purified the very next moment.”

“Where a devout reciter of the Rudram lives, be it a village or town, that place will be free from disease, drought, thefts, and other ills.”

“By chanting Rudram, one gains both worldly pleasures and liberation.”