The Eleven Rudras

The ten forms and their Śaktis

Just before it tells of the eleven Rudras, the Purāṇa has Nandīśvara give Sanatkumāra a short list: ten principal forms of Śiva, honoured in the path of worship, each named together with his Śakti. There is no story here — only the names, and the assurance that each pair gives both enjoyment in this world and freedom from it.

The first is Mahākāla, and his Śakti is Mahākālī. The second is Tāra, with Tārā. The third is Bāla Bhuvaneśvara, with Bālā Bhuvaneśvarī. The fourth is the Vidyeśa called Ṣoḍaśa, whose great Śakti is Ṣoḍaśī, Śrīvidyā. The fifth is Bhairava, with Girijā as Bhairavī. The sixth is Chinnamastaka, with Girijā as Chinnamastakā. The seventh is Dhūmavān, with Dhūmāvatī. The eighth is Bagalāmukha, with Bagalāmukhī. The ninth is Mātaṅga, with Mātaṅgī. The tenth is Kamala, and his Śakti, Pārvatī, is called Kamalā.

Nandīśvara adds that the greatness of these ten, and of their Śaktis, is kept hidden in the Tantra texts. The Śaktis, he says, punish the wicked, increase the radiance of sacred knowledge, and are held to be the best help in subduing an enemy. Whoever reads this account with devotion on Śiva's festival days becomes very dear to Śiva.

The gods lose Amarāvatī

Then Nandīśvara turns to eleven more forms, and this time there is a story. To hear it, he says, is to be untroubled by the sin that comes of untruth and the like.

Long ago the daityas defeated the gods. Indra and the rest fled in fear and left their own city, Amarāvatī, behind them. Harried by the daityas, they went to Kaśyapa, their father.

They came to him shaken, bowed with folded hands, praised him, and laid the grief of their defeat before him.

Kaśyapa heard them out. He was saddened — a little, the Purāṇa says, but not much, because his mind rested in Śiva. Calm and steady, he comforted the gods. Then, in good heart, he set out for Kāśī, the city of Viśveśvara.

Kaśyapa's tapas at Kāśī

At Kāśī he bathed in the Gaṅgā and performed his daily rites with faith. He worshipped Viśveśvara, the Lord of all, together with Pārvatī.

Then, wishing only the good of the gods, he established a liṅga to please Śiva and began a hard tapas before it.

A long time passed like this, the patient sage's mind fixed on Śiva's feet.

At last Śiva — the one refuge of the good, the friend of the helpless — appeared before him to grant a boon. Well pleased with his devotee, he said simply: ask.

Kaśyapa, father of the gods, saw Maheśvara and bowed with joy. He folded his hands and praised him.

What Kaśyapa asked

God of gods, he said, you who are tender to those who take refuge in you: you are the Lord of all, the supreme Self, reached in meditation, without a second, imperishable. You curb the mighty and shelter the good. You are an ocean of compassion, and you know well how to protect your devotees.

These gods are yours, he went on, and they are your devotees above all. Just now the daityas have beaten them. Protect them in their distress.

Even Viṣṇu, when a thing is beyond him, comes and troubles you again and again. So the gods, with nowhere to turn, have brought their sorrow to me. And I have come to Kāśī and done this tapas to please you, so that what they long for may be fulfilled.

I take refuge in you in every way. Fulfil my wish and take away the gods' grief. I am grieved above all by the grief of my sons; make me happy, Lord, for you are the helper of the gods.

Then he named the boon. The gods and the yakṣas have been overcome by the powerful daityas. So, Śambhu, come down as my son and give the gods joy. Be the gods' helper always, so that the daityas' oppression never troubles them again.

Born of Surabhi

Śiva said, “So be it,” and vanished there, before Kaśyapa's eyes.

Kaśyapa, overjoyed, went quickly back to his own place and told the gods everything that had happened.

And Śiva made his word true. He took eleven forms and was born to Kaśyapa from the womb of his wife Surabhi.

There was a great festival at that birth. Everything, the Purāṇa says, became filled with Śiva. The gods rejoiced, and Kaśyapa with them.

The eleven names

The Purāṇa names the eleven sons of Surabhi: Kapālī, Piṅgala, Bhīma, Virūpākṣa, Vilohita, Śāstā, Ajapād, Ahirbudhnya, Śambhu, Caṇḍa and Bhava.

It calls them the dwelling-place of happiness, and says they were born so that the gods' purpose might be accomplished. These sons of Kaśyapa were heroes, of great strength and valour.

The victory

In the battle the Rudras stood beside the gods as their allies, and they destroyed the daityas.

By the grace of the Rudras, Indra and all the gods conquered their enemies and were free of fear. With their minds at ease again, each went back to the work of his own realm.

Where they are now

The story does not end with the battle. Even today, Nandīśvara says, all those great Rudras — who are Śiva's own nature — remain in heaven, always, to protect the gods.

Tender to their devotees and skilled in many kinds of divine play, they live in Īśāna's city and delight there for ever.

Their attendants are said to be Rudras by the crore, spread through the three worlds and stationed everywhere, on every side.

So, Nandīśvara tells Sanatkumāra, I have described these avatāras of Śaṅkara: the eleven Rudras, who give happiness to all.

The fruit of hearing it

This account, the Purāṇa says, is spotless. It removes all sins, gives wealth and good name, lengthens life, and fulfils every wish.

Whoever listens to it attentively, or has it told to others, enjoys every happiness in this world and at the end attains liberation.