Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s3.t5: (3) Ruddamahā

c14.s3.t5.1

There are eleven Rudras in Indian mythology. They are represented as companions of Indra, servants of Siva and of his son and also as the escort of Yama who appears surrounded by them 188. The shrine of Rudra (Ruddaghara), who was considered a great deity (mahā-deva) is mentioned along with those of Māī (Cāmuṇḍā), Iḍḍa and Duvgā 189. The Vyavahāra Bhāṣya refers to the temples (ayatana) of Rudra, Idambara, Jakkha (Pāṇa), and Māī, which were built on the bones of dead bodies of human beings 190. We are told that like the images of Kanda and Mukunda, the images of Rudra also was made of wood 191.