Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.557

c9.557

The names of the eleven Rudras are given differently in different Purāṇas. In a text it is said that the eleven Rudras are, Manyu, Manu, Mahīnasa, Mahān, Śiva, Ṛtudhvaja, Ugaretas, Bhava, Kāma, Vāmadeva and Dhṛtavrata. According to some other Purāṇas, the eleven Rudras are Aja, Ekapāda (Ekapāt), Ahirbudhnya, Tvaṣṭā, Rudra, Hara, Śambhu, Tryambaka, Aparājita, Īśāna and Tribhuvana. Brahmā apportioned to the eleven Rudras the eleven positions of the heart, the five organs of senses and the organs of action and to Rudra the eight positions of life, ether, air, fire, water, earth, the sun and the moon. It was said before that Rudra was divided into man and woman. From the woman-portion eleven Rudras came into being. They were Dhī, Vṛtti, Uśanā, Umā, Niyutā, Sarpis, Ilā, Ambikā, Irāvatī, Sudhā and Dīkṣā. The eleven Rudraṇis became the wives of the eleven Rudras. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 1. Chapter 7).