The Development of Hindu Iconography c13.67.2

c13.67.2

An epithet, which served to emphasise one particular trait of a Vedic god, later gave rise to the composition of an elaborate story for emphasising that trait of the same deity in his Purāṇic setting, and reliefs illustrating it were constructed in large numbers. To refer to one particular instance: Rudra in the Vēdas, especially in the *Śatarudrīya* section, is given an epithet called *kṛttivāsa* which means one that has a skin for his garment. Now, there can be little doubt that here was the nucleus of the elaborate story of Gajāsurasaṃhāramūrti in illustration whereof so many images of Śiva, in which he is shown as using the hide of the slain elephant-demon as his outer covering, were made. In the Vājasaneyī recension of the White Yajurveda (III. 63), Rudra the fearful is described as *Śiva*, thus, ‘Thou art gracious by name; the thunderbolt is thy father; reverence to thee; destroy us not’ (*Śivo nāmāsi svadhitiste pitā namaste astu mā mā hiṃsīḥ*). In the *Ṛgveda*, Rudra is described as *kṣayad-vīra*, generally explained by scholars as the ruler over heroes, and wise, his terrific aspect being also much emphasised; thus the hymnist prays to the god, ‘Oh Rudra, do not, out of thy anger, injure our children and descendants, our people, our cattle, our houses, and do not kill our men, we invoke thee always with offerings’ (I. 114, 8—*Mā nastoke tanaye mā na āyau mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ | Vīrān mā no Rudro bhāmito badhīr haviṣmantaḥ sadamit tvā havāmahe*).