Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t4.7

c5.s2.t4.7

In a passage of the RV. (2, 1⁶) Rudra is one of several deities identified with Agni. He is also identified with Agni in the AV. (7, 87¹), in the TS. (5, 4, 3¹; 5, 5, 7⁴), and the ŚB. (6, 1, 3¹⁰, cp. 9, 1, 1¹). The word *rudra* often occurs as an adjective, in several cases as an attribute of Agni⁴ (though rather oftener as an attribute of the Aśvins (§ 21). Śarva and Bhava are, among several others, two new names assigned to Rudra in VS. (16, 18. 28). These two also occur in the AV. where their destructive arrows and lightnings are referred to (2, 27⁶; 6, 93¹; 10, 1²³; 11, 2¹· ¹²); but they seem here to have been regarded as deities distinct from one another and from Rudra. Bhava and Śarva are in a Sūtra passage spoken of as sons of Rudra and are compared with wolves eager for prey (ŚSS. 4, 20¹). In VS. 39, 8 Agni, Aśani, Paśupati, Bhava, Śarva, Īśāna, Mahādeva, Ugradeva, and others are enumerated as gods or forms of one god. Rudra, Śarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Aśani, Bhava, Mahān devaḥ are names given to represent eight different forms of Agni (ŚB. 6, 1, 3⁷; cp. Śāṅkh. Br. 6, 1 &c.), and Śarva, Bhava, Paśupati, and Rudra are said to be all names of Agni (ŚB., 1, 7, 3⁸). Aśani, one of the above names assigned to Agni Kumāra in the ŚB. (6, 1, 3¹⁰), is there explained to mean lightning (*vidyut*) but in the Śāṅkh. Br. it is interpreted as Indra. The epithet *paśupati*, ‘lord of beasts’, which Rudra often receives in the VS., AV., and later, is doubtless assigned to him because unhoused cattle are peculiarly exposed to his attacks and are therefore especially consigned to his care.