The Rudrashtadhyayi is a sacred chant in praise of Lord Shiva. The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha explains the sacredness and importance of this powerful chant.
One of the prayers to be said this year as Maha Shiv Raatri is celebrated in another year of the pandemic, is to make the world disease-free.
The Rudrashtadhyayi is an excerpt from the Shukla Yajur Veda and is considered to be the most powerful chant in honour of Lord Shiva in his aspect as Rudra.
It has eight main chapters and has been chanted for thousands of years by millions of devotees and with great faith and reverence. The merits of chanting this prayer are multifold for those who chant as well as for those who listen to it.
Such chanting is accompanied by continuous offering of abhisheka consisting of milk, dahee, ghee, honey and sugar cane juice.
Many mandirs throughout Trinidad chant the Rudrashtadhyayi or Rudra as it is more commonly known for Maha Shiv Raatri.
The name Rudra refers not only to He who roars, but also He who causes a roar or a burst of thunderous energy, very much like the big bang that is alluded to in some concepts of creation.
There are 11 masculine forms of Rudra known as Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahan, Shiva, Rtadhvaja, Ugraretas, Bhava, Kala, Vamedeva and Dhrtavrata.
These correspond to 11 feminine forms known as Dhl, Dhrti, Rasala, Uma, Niyut, Sarpi, Ila, Ambika, Iravati, Svadha and Diksha.
These 11 masculine and feminine aspects in turn correlate to 11 different elements or aspects of this creation. The number 11 is neurologically very significant and it is recommended that various permutations of some chapters be chanted 11 times.
The first chapter consists of the resolution or declaration of worship known as the Sankalp. It comprises ten mantras and here, the focus of worship is on Ganapati Baba, the first Lord of all activities and the remover of obstacles that impede success.
The second chapter is the famous Purush Suktam and is made up of 22 mantras in praise of Shiva as that cosmic presence or supreme Purush, which projects as, and permeates, this entire creation.
The third chapter is known as the Apratiratha Suktam composed of 17 mantras. This chapter is dedicated to Indra, the God of War and Bruhaspatl.
Apratiratha means the invincible. In this chapter we ask for the kavach or shield of Shiva to ever protect us as we face life's battles. We also ask that we prevail in our ordinary ventures.
The fourth chapter consists of the Maitra Suktam, or 17 mantras in praise of the sun as the sustainer of all life and the very rhythm of creation. Mitra, personified as the sun god is here praised and implored to continue granting us illumination in the form of wisdom. In Hinduism, the sun is that entity without which no life is possible, and which shines on all beings without discrimination. For this reason, the sun enjoys pre-eminence in all our forms of worship.
Chapter six consists of nine mantras dedicated to Rudra. It is also known as the Mahi
