§ 01Origins & Significance
Who is Mahadeva (Eleven Rudras)
The eleven Rudras are expansions of Shiva representing different aspects of destruction and cosmic functions. They include Kapali, Pinaki, Mrgavyadha, Tryambaka, Ajaikapat, Ahirbudhnya, Virupaksha, Sahasraksha, Nilagriva, Shambhu, and Shiva.
§ 05Names & Epithets
Names by which the divine is addressed
Kapali कपाली
Bearer of the skull
Pinaki पिनाकी
Wielder of the Pinaka bow
Mrgavyadha मृगव्याध
Hunter of deer
Tryambaka त्र्यम्बक
Three-eyed
Ajaikapat अजैकपात्
The unborn one-footed
Ahirbudhnya अहिर्बुध्न्य
Serpent of the deep
Virupaksha विरूपाक्ष
Of irregular eyes
Sahasraksha सहस्राक्ष
Thousand-eyed
§ 06Symbols & Attributes
What they hold
Eleven formsDestructionCosmic functions
§ 07Iconography in Depth
Form, mudras, weapons & vahana
Eleven different forms with various attributes. The Rudram chant is divided into eleven sections honoring them.
§ 09Mantras
Sacred utterances
Śrī Rudram
ॐ नमो भगवते रुद्राय
Oṁ namo bhagavate rudrāya
Om, salutations to the blessed Rudra.
— Yajurveda (Taittirīya Saṃhitā 4.5)
§ 13Where Worshipped
Tīrthas & major shrines
Pan-India
§ 14Scriptures
Where to read further
Rigveda
Contains hymns to Rudra, precursor to the eleven Rudras.
c. 1500–1200 BCE
Yajurveda (Rudram)
The Śrī Rudram hymn is divided into eleven sections, each honoring one of the eleven Rudras.
c. 1200–800 BCE
Puranas
List and describe the eleven Rudras as expansions of Shiva.
c. 300–1500 CE
§ 16Related Deities
Continue exploring
र
Consorts of the eleven Rudras
Rudranis
रुद्राणी
श
Source deity from whom the eleven Rudras expand
Shiva
शिव
प
Consort of Shiva, mother of the Rudras in some accounts
Parvati
पार्वती
स
Son of Shiva, brother to the Rudras in some traditions
Skanda
स्कन्द