# रुद्र (rudra)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/rudra

रुद्र (rudra) is a Sanskrit word meaning crying, howling, roaring, or terrible, the god of tempests and father of the Rudras and Maruts, the number eleven, the eleventh, the first muhurta, in music, a type of stringed instrument. Its 48 recorded definitions are grouped into 14 contexts, among them Rudra as a principal deity (often Śiva), Adjectival meanings of Rudra, The Rudras (group of deities).

- **Root:** रुद् (rud)
- **Etymology:** E. रुद to weep, रक् Uṇādi aff., and the vowel unchanged; the name is given to ŚIVA, because according to his own declaration, he disperses the tears of Page708 mortals: to the demi-gods, because they wept at their birth, or because they made the enemies of the gods weep — E. ruda to weep, rak Uṇādi aff., and the vowel unchanged; the name is given to ŚIVA, because according to his own declaration, he disperses the tears of Page708 mortals: to the demi-gods, because they wept at their birth, or because they made the enemies of the gods weep
- **SLP1:** `rudra`  **IAST:** rudra  **Devanagari:** रुद्र
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudra
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/rudra/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** रुद्रा (rudrā)

## Meanings by context

### Rudra as a principal deity (often Śiva) (12 definitions)
- The god of tempests and father of the Rudras and Maruts.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > रुद्र (rudra) m. ‘Roarer or Howler’, N. of the god of tempests and father and ruler of the Rudras and Maruts (in the Veda he is closely connected with Indra and still more with Agni, the god of fire, which, as a destroying agent, rages and crackles like the roaring storm, and also with Kāla or Time the all-consumer, with whom he is afterwards identified; though generally represented as a destroying deity, whose terrible shafts bring death or disease on men and cattle, he has also the epithet शिव (śiva), ‘benevolent’ or ‘auspicious’, and is even supposed to possess healing powers from his chasing away vapours and purifying the atmosphere; in the later mythology the word शिव (śiva), which does not occur as a name in the Veda, was employed, first as an euphemistic epithet and then as a real name for Rudra, who lost his special connection with storms and developed into a form of the disintegrating and reintegrating principle; while a new class of beings, described as eleven [or thirty-three] in number, though still called Rudras, took the place of the original Rudras or Maruts: in Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) i, 7, Rudra is said to have sprung from Brahmā's forehead, and to have afterwards separated himself into a figure half male and half female, the former portion separating again into the 11 Rudras, hence these later Rudras are sometimes regarded as inferior manifestations of Śiva, and most of their names, which are variously given in the different Purāṇas, are also names of Śiva; those of the VāyuP. are Ajaikapād, Ahir-budhnya, Hara, Nirṛta, Īśvara, Bhuvana, Aṅgāraka, Ardha-ketu, Mṛtyu, Sarpa, Kapālin; accord. to others the Rudras are represented as children of Kaśyapa and Surabhi or of Brahmā and Surabhi or of Bhūta and Su-rūpā; accord. to Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) i, 8, Rudra is one of the 8 forms of Śiva; elsewhere he is reckoned among the Dik-pālas as regent of the north-east quarter), RV. &c. &c. ( cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 75 &c.) [ ID=178518 ]
- an epithet of Shiva  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — द्रः (draḥ) 2 N. of Śiva
- 1. Roaring or terrific. 2. A storm god.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 256-1 ] रुद्र (rudra) rud-rá, a. roaring, terrific; m. Storm-god ( chief of the Maruts ): Rudra is sts. in Br. regarded as a form of Agni, but is later identified with Śiva: pl. the Sons of Rudra, the Maruts ( supposed to be either eleven or thirty-three in number ); abbreviation for verses addressed to Rudra; N. : -kośa, m. Rudraʼs dictionary; -japa, m. kind of prayer addressed to Rudra; -jāpin, a. muttering the Rudrajapa; -ṭa, m. N. = Rudra-bhaṭṭa; -pāla, m. N.; -bhaṭṭa, m. n. of a scholar : -ācārya, m. id.; -yajña, m. sacrifice to Rudra; ( á ) -vat, a. accompanied by Rudra or the Rudras; ( á ) -vartani, a. ep. of the Aśvins; -śarman, m. N.; -suta, m. son of Rudra, Skanda; -soma, m. N. of a Brāhman; -hāsa, m. N. of a divine being. [ ID=15300 ]
- 1. A name or form of Shiva. 2. A demi-god, an inferior manifestation of Shiva.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद (ruda) ्र (rudra) [Printed book page 707 ] रुद (ruda) ्र (rudra) m. ( - द्रः (-draḥ) ) 1 A name or form of ŚIVA. 2 A demi-god, an inferior manifestation of ŚIVA, or according to one legend, a being born from the forehead of BRAHMĀ: the RUDRAS are eleven in number, and are severally named, AJAIKAPĀDA, AHIVRADHNA, VIRŪPĀKṢA, SUREŚVARA, JAYANTA, BAHURŪPA, TRYAMBAKA, APARĀJITA, SAVITRA, and HARA. f. ( - द्री (-drī) ) A sort of lute or guitar. E. रुद (ruda) to weep, रक् (rak) Uṇādi aff., and the vowel unchanged; the name is given to ŚIVA, because according to his own declaration, he disperses the tears of Page708 mortals: to the demi-gods, because they wept at their birth, or because they made the enemies of the gods weep. [ ID=32421 ]
- 1. A form of Shiva or a demigod. 2. A guitar.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 633-a ] रुद्र (rudra) ( द्रः ) ((draḥ)) 1. m. A name or form of Shi- va; a demigod. f. ( द्री (drī) ) A guitar. [ ID=31994 ]
- 1. A name of Shiva. 2. One of a group of eleven gods who are inferior manifestations of Shiva.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) (II) m. 1. A name of Śiva, R. ii.54; 2. name of a group of gods, eleven in number who are regarded as inferior manifestations of Śiva, रुद्र (rudra) ाणामपि मूर्धानः क्षतहुंकारशंसिनः (rudrāṇāmapi mūrdhānaḥ kṣatahuṃkāraśaṃsinaḥ) K.S. ii.26. [ ID=32166 ]
- 1. A form of Shiva. 2. A demigod and inferior manifestation of Shiva, numbering eleven.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद् (rud) र (rudra) [Printed book page 606-b ] रुद् (rud) र (rudra) m. ( - द्रः (-draḥ) ) 1. A name or form of ŚIVA. 2. A demi-god, an inferior manifestation of ŚIVA, or according to one legend, a being, born from the forehead of BRAHMĀ: the RUDRAS are eleven in number, and are severally named, AJAIKAPADA, AHIVRADHNA, VIRŪPĀKSHA, SUREŚHWARA, JAYANTA, BAHURŪPA, TRYAMBAKA, APARĀJITA, BAIBASWATA, SAVITRA and HARA. f. ( - द्री (-drī) ) A sort of lute or guitar. f. ( - द्राणी (-drāṇī) ) A name of PĀRVATI, wife of RUDRA. E. रुद् (rud) to Page607-a+ 60 weep, रक् (rak) Unādi aff., and the vowel unchanged; the name is given to ŚIVA, because according to his own declaration, he disperses the tears of mortals: to the demi-gods, because they wept at their birth. or because they made the enemies of the gods weep. [ ID=33768 ]
- 1. Roaring. 2. A name of Shiva as the god of tempests. 3. A class of eleven demigods.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0773-b ] रुद्र (rudra) rud + ra, I. adj. One who roars, Chr. 290, 3 = Rigv. i. 64, 3. II. m. 1. A name of Śiva as the god of the tempests, Pañc. pr. d. 1; Bhartṛ. 2, 93. 2. A class of eleven demigods (personified roaring of the wind), Nal. 10, 24. III. f. rudrāṇī, Durgā. Pāṇ. iv. 1, 49. IV. f. drī, A sort of lute. — Cf. perhaps λύρα. [ ID=12159 ]
- 1. An epithet of several gods. 2. The god of tempests, ruler of the Maruts.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 451 ] रुद्र (rudra) a. E. of sev. gods (as the red or howling); m. N. of the god of tempests (later identif. w. Śiva), ruler of the Maruts, pl. his sons, the Rudras or Maruts. [ ID=27091 ]
- 1. Howling, roaring, or terrible. 2. In the Veda, the leader of the storm-gods. 3. In the plural, a class of storm-gods. 4. In later mythology, a principal deity of the Hindu Trinity, identified with Shiva.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 231-a ] rudrá, a. connected by Hindus w. √rud, ‘cry,’ and so howling, roaring, terrible, applied to Agni and other gods; true meaning uncertain; —as m. —1a. sing. in the Veda: Rudra, leader of the Maruts or Storm-gods, 77 18, RV. x. 125. 6; —1b. in pl. The Rudras, a class of storm-gods, RV. x. 125. 1; —2. sing. Rudra, received into the Hindu Trinity in the later mythology, and known by the name Śiva, q. v. [ ID=3564 ]
- 1. The god of tempests and storms. 2. A form or manifestation of Shiva. 3. A symbolical expression for the number eleven. 4. A mystical epithet of the letter e. 5. Calotropis Gigantea.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0849-a ] Rudra, as, ā, am (according to Uṇādi-s. II. 22. fr. rt. 1. rud above; according to others fr. rt. 1. ru + dra fr. rt. 2. dru, to run; connected with rodas, q. v., and perhaps with rudhira ), crying, howling, roaring, one who cries or roars, dreadful, horrible, terrific, awful; great, large; (according to the fanciful etymologies of native writers, the following meanings are also assigned to this word), driving away evil; running about and roaring; praiseworthy, to be praised, (according to Naigh. III. 16) = stotṛ, a praiser, panegyrist, worshipper; ( as ), m. ‘the Roarer’ or ‘Howler,’ N. of the god of tempests and father of the Rudras or Maruts, (originally perhaps the mere personified roaring of the storms, but as the crackling or raging of fire may resemble the sound of wind, so in the Veda the god of storms is some- times identified with the god of fire; though gene- rally represented as a destroying deity whose terrible shafts bring death or disease on men and cattle, he is also addressed as benevolent and auspicious [ śiva ], and is even supposed to have a healing efficacy from his chasing away vapours and purifying the atmo- sphere; hence he has various epithets in the Veda, such as ‘multiform,’ ‘terrible as a wild beast,’ ‘tawny- coloured,’ ‘wearing braided hair’ [ kapardin ], ‘ce- lestial boar,’ ‘armed with a strong bow and fleet arrows,’ ‘cause of prosperity to man and beast,’ ‘pos- sessor of healing remedies,’ ‘greatest of physicians,’ &c. he is of course ruler of the Rudras, who are the same as the storm winds, more usually called Maruts, and who are often associated with Indra [see marut ]: in the later mythology the epithet śiva, Page0849-b+ 81 ‘propitious,’ which does not occur as a name in the Veda, was employed as the real name of the destroy- ing deity, being at first applied as an euphemism to propitiate him: moreover the character of the deity lost its special connection with storms, and developed into a personification of the destroying principle generally, though even the Epic and Purānic Śiva was regarded as the generator as well as destroyer: moreover a new class of beings, described as eleven in number, though still called Rudras, took the place of the original Rudras or Maruts: in the Veda only three groupings of deities into classes appear to be recognised, Indra belonging to the Vasus, Varuṇa to the Ādityas, and Rudra to the Rudras or Maruts; but in Manu XI. 221. the Maruts are enumerated as a fourth group, being there distinguished from the eleven Rudras: in Viṣṇu-Purāṇa I. 7. Rudra is said to have sprung from Brahmā's forehead, and to have afterwards separated himself into a figure half male and half female, the former portion sepa- rating again into the eleven Rudras, who were so called because they ‘ran about crying aloud’ [ ruda- nād drāvaṇāc-ca, cf. rts. 1. rud, 2. dru ]; hence these later Rudras are sometimes regarded as inferior manifestations of Śiva, and most of their names are also names of Śiva; these names are variously given in the different Purāṇas; those of the Vāyu are Ajaikapād, Ahvi-bradhna, Hara, Nir-ṛta, Īśvara, Bhuvana, Aṅgāraka, Ardha-ketu, Mṛtyu, Sarpa, Kapālin: according to other accounts the Rudras are represented as children of Kaśyapa and Surabhī or of Brahmā and Surabhī or of Bhūta and Su-rūpā); a form or manifestation or N. of Śiva (in the later mythology, as explained above; according to the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa I. 8. Rudra is one of the eight forms of Śiva; he is elsewhere reckoned among the Dik- pālas as regent of the north-east quarter); a symbo- lical expression for the number eleven (from the eleven Rudras, see above); a mystical epithet of the letter e; Calotropis Gigantea; N. of various persons; of a lexicographer; of a poet; of a king; (ās), m. pl. the Rudras (described above); an abbreviated expression for the texts or hymns ad- dressed to the Rudras [cf. rudra-japa ]; ( ā ), f., N. of a wife of Vasu-deva; of a daughter of Rau- drāśva; = rudra-jaṭā; (ī), f. a kind of lute or guitar; [cf. rudra-vīṇā; cf. perhaps also Gr. λύρα.] —Rudra-kalaśa, am, n. ‘Rudra's vessel,’ a parti- cular kind of pot or vessel used in making oblations to the planets. —Rudra-kavīndra (°vi-in°), as, m. a proper N. (= rudra-bhaṭṭa). —Rudra-kālī, f. a form of Durgā. —Rudra-koṭi, is, f., N. of a place of pilgrimage. —Rudra-koṣa, as, m., N. of a lexicon by Rudra. —Rudra-gaṇa, as, m., Ved. ‘Rudra-class,’ the troop of beings called Rudras, (see under rudra. ) —Rudra-garbha, as, m. ‘Ru- dra's offspring,’ N. of Agni. —Rudra-gīta, am, ā, n. f. the song of Rudra (in which Agastya repeats a dialogue between himself and Rudra). —Rudra- caṇḍika, epithet of a particular text or formula. —Rudra-caṇḍī, f. a form of Durgā; N. of a section in the Rudra-yāmala. —Rudra-candra, as, m., N. of a king. —Rudra-cchattra, as, m. a proper N. —Rudra-ja, as, m. (according to some) am, n. ‘produced from Rudra or Śiva,’ quicksilver (supposed to be the semen of Śiva). —Rudra-jaṭā, f. ‘Rudra's hair,’ N. of a species of creeper. —Ru- dra-japa, as, m., N. of a particular prayer or hymn addressed to Rudra. —Rudra-japana, am, n. the recitation of the Rudra-japa in a low tone. —Rudra-jāpaka, as, ikā, am, or rudra-jāpin, ī, inī, i, one who recites the Rudra-japa in a low tone. —Rudra-jāpya, am, n., N. of a particular hymn or prayer extracted from the Vājasaneyi-saṃ- hitā and addressed to Rudra. —Rudra-tanaya, as, m. ‘Rudra's son,’ N. of the third black Vāsudeva; of Punishment; epithet of a sword. —Rudra-tva, am, n. the being Rudra. —Rudra-datta, as, m., N. of an author; of a work on medicine. —Rudra- dāman, ā, m., N. of a king. —Rudra-deva, as, m., N. of various persons; of the author of the Page0849-c+ 81 Yayāti-carita; of the author of a commentary on the Prabodha-candrodaya. —Rudra-dhara, as, m., N. of an author. —Rudra-nyāya-vācaspati-bhaṭ- ṭācārya (°ta-āc°), as, m., N. of an author (= rudra-bhaṭṭācārya). —Rudra-paṇḍita, as, m., N. of an author (= rudra-sūri). —Rudra-patnī, f. Rudra's wife, the goddess Durgā; linseed, Linum Usitatissimum. —Rudra-paddhati, is, f., N. of a work by Paraśu-rāma. —Rudra-pāla, as, m. a proper N. —Rudra-putra, as, m. Rudra's son, a patronymic of the twelfth Manu; [cf. rudra-sā- varṇi. ] —Rudra-pura, am, n., N. of a province. —Rudra-pūjana, am, n. or rudra-pūjā, f. ‘wor- ship of Rudra,’ N. of a work. —Rudra-pratāpa, as, m., N. of a king (= pratāpa-rudra). —Rudra- prayāga, as, m., N. of the sacred place where the river Mandākinī joins the Ganges. —Rudra-priyā, f. ‘dear to Rudra,’ epithet of Terminalia Chebula; the goddess Pārvatī. —Rudra-bali, is, m. an oblation of meat &c. presented to the Rudras. —Rudra- bhaṭṭa, as, m., N. of the author of the Śṛṅgāra- tilaka ( = rudraṭa ); of the author of a commentary on the Vaidya-jīvana; = rudra-kavīndra. —Rudra- bhaṭṭācārya (°ṭa-āc°), as, m., N. of an author and commentator. —Rudra-bhāṣya, am, n., N. of a work by Ahobala. —Rudra-bhū, ūs, or rudra- bhūmi, is, f. ‘Rudra's ground,’ a cemetery. —Rudra- bhūti, is, m., N. of a preceptor (having the patro- nymic Drāhyāyaṇi). —Rudra-bhairavī, f. a form of Durgā. —Rudra-maya, as, ī, am, consisting of Rudra, having the essence of Rudra. —Rudra- mahā-devī, f., N. of the wife of king Govinda- canda. —Rudra-yajña, as, m. an oblation or sacri- fice offered to Rudra. —Rudra-yāmala, am, n., N. of a Tantra work in the form of a dialogue between Bhairava and Bhairavī. —Rudra-rāya, as, m., N. of a king. —Rudra-rāśi, is, m. a proper N. —Rudra-rodana, am, n. ‘Rudra's tears,’ i. e. gold. —Rudra-roman, ā, f., N. of one of the Mātṛs attending upon Skanda. —Rudra-laṭā, f. = rudra- jaṭā. —Rudra-loka, as, m. Rudra's world. —Ru- dra-vaṭa, N. of a Tīrtha. —Rudra-vat, ān, atī, at, Ved. having Rudra or the Rudras. —Rudravad- gaṇa, as, ā, am, Ved. surrounded by the Rudra troop. —Rudra-vartani, ī, m. du. ‘proceeding on terrible roads,’ N. of the Aśvins, (Sāy. = rodana- śīla-mārgau or stūyamāna-mārgau. ) —Rudra- viṃśati, is, f. epithet of the last twenty years in the Jupiter cycle of sixty years. —Rudra-vidhāna, am, n., N. of a work. —Rudra-vīṇā, f. epithet of a particular religious observance. —Rudra-śarman, ā, m., N. of a Brāhman. —Rudra-sampradāyin, inas, m. pl., N. of a sect. —Rudra-saras, as, n., N. of a lake. —Rudra-sarga, as, m. Rudra's creation; the creation of the eleven Rudras. —Rudra-sāman, a, n., N. of a particular Sāman. —Rudra-sāvarṇi, is, m., N. of the twelfth Manu; [cf. rudra-putra, manu. ] —Rudrasāvarṇika, as, ī, am, belonging or relating to Rudra-sāvarṇi, being under Rudra- sāvarṇi. —Rudra-siṃha, as, m. a proper N. —Ru- dra-sundarī, f., N. of a goddess. —Rudra-sū, ūs, f. a mother of eleven children. —Rudra-sūkta, am, n., N. of a particular hymn. —Rudra-sūri, is, m., N. of an author. —Rudra-sṛṣṭi, is, f. Rudra's creation; the creation of the eleven Rudras; [cf. rudra-sarga. ] —Rudra-sena, as, m., N. of a warrior. —Rudra-soma, as, m., N. of a Brāhman. —Rudra-skanda, as, m., N. of a commentator. —Rudra-svarga, as, m. Rudra's heaven. —Rudra- svāmin, ī, m. a proper N. —Rudra-himālaya, as, m., N. of a peak of the Himālaya mountains. —Rudra-hūti, is, is, i, Ved. (according to Mahī- dhara on Vājasaneyi-s. XXXVIII. 16) being invoked by praisers or worshippers. —Rudra-hṛdaya, am, n., N. of an Upaniṣad. —Rudrākrīḍa (°ra-āk°), as, m. ‘Rudra's play-ground,’ a cemetery, place where dead bodies are burnt or buried (Rudra being supposed to dance and sport in such places at evening twilight). —Rudrākṣa (°ra-ak°), as, m. ‘Rudra- eyed,’ a kind of tree, Elæocarpus Ganitrus; ( am ), n. the berry of this tree (used for rosaries); a rosary; Page0850-a+ 79 N. of an Upaniṣad, (the gender here and in the preced- ing sense is doubtful.) —Rudrākṣa-mālā, f. a rosary made of Rudrākṣa berries. —Rudrācārya (°ra-āc°), as, m. a proper N. —Rudrādhyāya (°ra-adh°), as, m. epithet of particular prayers addressed to Rudra. —Rudrādhyāyin, ī, inī, i, one who recites or repeats the above prayers. —Rudrāyaṇa (°ra-ay°), as, m., N. of a king of Roruka. —Rudrāri (°ra- ari), is, m. Rudra's enemy; N. of Kāma-deva; (is, is, i), having Rudra for an enemy, hostile to Rudra. —Rudrāvarta (°ra-āv°), N. of a place of pilgrimage. —Rudrāvasṛṣṭa (°ra-av°), as, ā, am, Ved. let go or hurled by Rudra. —Rudrāvāsa (°ra-āv°), as, m. Rudra's abode, i. e. Kāśi or Be- nares. —Rudraikādaśinī (°ra-ek°), f. the eleven Rudra hymns. —Rudropaniṣad (°ra-up°), t, f., N. of two Upaniṣads. —Rudropastha (°ra-up°), as, m. ‘Rudra's generative organ,’ N. of a mountain. [ ID=39651 ]
- Born from the anger of Brahma, a deity associated with destruction, asceticism, and the granting of boons, who destroyed Daksha's sacrifice through Virabhadra, bore the Ganges, married Uma after destroying the god of love, and assumes the form of the universal-destroying sun at the end of a cosmic age.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 3-088 ] Rudra (I) — born of anger of Brahmā; name explained; ‘the weapon’: places assigned to him; his women; asked to procreate and be a Prajāpati; created beings which would burn the universe; persuaded by Brahmā to stop this, and proceed to tapas; expression of the tamas. 1 Claimed the remaining wealth of the Aṅgirasa sacrificers as his own, which Nābhāga thought was his. When Nābhāga gave it to Rudra, the worshipful god presented him that wealth and disappeared; presented Pṛthu with a sword daśacandra. 2 Taught Kriyā yoga to Umā; Brahmā fled in fear from; 3 came with the gods to Dvārakā to ask Kṛṣṇa to go back to Vaikuṇṭha, and glorified Hari. 4 No offerings by Dakṣa in his sacrifice, and Satī's voluntary death. Rudra created Vīrabhadra to cause Dakṣa's death. Brahmā pacified Rudra and revived Dakṣa and others. 5 Rudra to bear the Gangā; 6 addressed Kṛṣṇa as Hari; 7 worship of, leads to wealth and pleasure. Conferred a boon on Vṛkāsura and came to grief. 8 Page3-089+ 45 The presiding deity of the planet Śanaiścara. Kālo- Rudra is Śiva; at the end of a Kalpa he assumes the form of a Samvarttaka sun and burns down all the worlds. His own messengers of death; worshipped by Kāma with Śata- rudrīya. 9 Enshrined in Gokarṇa. 10 Destroyed the god of Love and married Umā on the advice of the seven sages; marriage rites described. 11 Umā's transfer as Gaurī. 12 Āḍi, son of Andhaka, who attacked him was killed. 13 Agni's entrance into the harem when Śiva made him drink his Vīra. This was God Subrahmaṇya nursed by Kṛttikas; 14 blessed Bāṇāsura. 15 Icon of; in the form of a 16 year old boy; worshipped before buildings; different postures detailed. 16 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. III. 12, 7-20; XI. 4. 5, 30. 38.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. IX. 4. 6-11; IV. 15. 17.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. XI. 27, 3; I. 7. 18.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. IV. ch. 24 (whole); XI. 6. 1; 7. 1. VI. 17. 26-39.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. IV. chh. 4-7.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. IX. 9. 7-9; X. 7. 29; 39. 53.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. X. 63. 34-45.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. X. ch. 88 (whole).] [ Footnote: 9) Br. II. 24. 49; III. 3. 102 and 109; 23. 64; 65. 32; IV. 6. 70; 7. 38; 10. 87; 11. 33; 15. 24; 30. 8; 36. 16; 40. 13 and 27.] [ Footnote: 10) Ib. III. 13. 20.] [ Footnote: 11) M. 4. 12, 22; 11. 29; 13. 9. and 14; 138. 26; 154. 194-245, 439-83.] [ Footnote: 12) Ib. ch. 155.] [ Footnote: 13) Ib. ch. 156.] [ Footnote: 14) Ib. ch. 158.] [ Footnote: 15) Ib. ch. 188; 225. 13; 253. 42.] [ Footnote: 16) Ib. 259. 3-26; 265. 41; 266. 43; 268. 22.] [ ID=11692 ]

### Adjectival meanings of Rudra (6 definitions)
- crying, howling, roaring, or terrible  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 883,1] रुद् (rud) र (rudra) a mfn. ( prob. ) crying, howling, roaring, dreadful, terrific, terrible, horrible (applied to the Aśvins, Agni, Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, and the स्पशः (spaśaḥ) ), RV.; AV. ( accord. to others ‘red, shining, glittering’, fr. a √ रुद् (rud) or रुध् (rudh) connected with रुधिर (rudhira); others ‘strong, having or bestowing strength or power’, fr. a √ रुद् (rud) = वृद् (vṛd), वृध् (vṛdh); native authorities give also the following meanings, ‘driving away evil’; ‘running about and roaring’, fr. रु + द्र (ru + dra) = 2. द्रु (dru); ‘praiseworthy, to be praised’; ‘a praiser, worshipper’ = स्तोतृ (stotṛ), Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska (subtitle) iii, 16 ) [ ID=178517 ]
- Dreadful, terrific, or formidable.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0914-c ] रुद्र (rudra) a. [ रोदिति रुद् - रक् (roditi rud-rak) Uṇādisūtras 2. 22 ] 1 Dreadful, terrific, frightful, formidable
- Great, large  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0914-c ] रुद्र (rudra) a. [ रोदिति रुद् - रक् (roditi rud-rak) Uṇādisūtras 2. 22 ] 2 Great, large
- Driving away evil  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0914-c ] रुद्र (rudra) a. [ रोदिति रुद् - रक् (roditi rud-rak) Uṇādisūtras 2. 22 ] 3 Driving away evil
- Praiseworthy  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 0914-c ] रुद्र (rudra) a. [ रोदिति रुद् - रक् (roditi rud-rak) Uṇādisūtras 2. 22 ] 4 Praiseworthy
- Dreadful or terrific  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 613-07 ] रुद्र (rudra) (I) a. (f. द्रा (drā) ) Dreadful, terrific, formidable. [ ID=32165 ]

### The Rudras (group of deities) (5 definitions)
- the Rudras or sons of Rudra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > pl. the Rudras or sons of Rudra (sometimes identified with or distinguished from the Maruts who are 11 or 33 in number), RV. &c. &c. [ ID=178528 ]
- 1. A group of eleven gods considered inferior manifestations of Shiva.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — द्रः (draḥ) 1 N. of a group of gods, eleven in number, supposed to be inferior manifestations of Śiva or Śaṅkara, ( pb ) who is said to be the head of the group; रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि (rudrāṇāṃ śaṃkaraścāsmi) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 10. 23; रुद्राणामपि मूर्धानः क्षतहुंकारशंसिनः (rudrāṇāmapi mūrdhānaḥ kṣatahuṃkāraśaṃsinaḥ) Kumārasambhava (Bombay) 2. 26
- a class of gods, followers of Shiva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > रुद्र (rudra) [Printed book page 597-2 ] Rudra, pl. ( °āḥ ), a class of gods, followers of Śiva (Rudra). § 44 (Garuḍa): I, 30, 1416.—§ 46 (do.): I, 32, 1486.— § 106 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 65, 2562 ( °āṇāṃ, sc. sambhavaḥ ).— § 108 (do.): I, 66, 2567 (eleven sons of Sthāṇu, viz. Mṛgavyādha, Sarpa, Nirṛti, Ajaikapād, Ahirbudhnya, Pinākin, Dahana, Īśvara, Kapālin, Sthāṇu, Bhaga ).—§ 120 bis (do.): Page598-a+ 63 I, 66, 2602 ( °āṇāṃ pakṣaḥ ).—§ 130 (do.): I, 67, 2712 ( °āṇāṃ gaṇāt, Kṛpa was born from the R.).—§ 191 (Arjuna): I, 123, 4826 (present at the birth of Arjuna, their names as in § 108).—§ 233 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 187, 7010 ( °ādityāḥ, present at the svayaṃvara of Draupadī).—§ 238 (Pañcendrop.): I, 197, †7277, †7315.—§ 258 (Khāṇḍavadahanap.): I, 227, 8269 (fought with Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna).—§ 270 (Brahma- sabhāv.): II, 11, 460 (in the palace of Brahmán).—§ 309 (Āraṇyakap.): III, 2, 127.—§ 310 b (Sūrya): III, 3, 174 (worship the Sun), 190 (Sūrya identified with the R.).— § 330 (Indradarśanap.): III, 37, 1490.—§ 331 (Kairātap.): III, 39, 1590 (sg., = Śiva?).—§ 336 (Indralokābhiga- manap.): III, 43, 1768.—§ 338 (do.): III, 46, 1840.— § 347 (Nalopākhyānap.): III, 62, 2356.—§ 357 (Puṣkara): III, 82, 4064 (in Puṣkara).—§ 359 (Vaḍavā): III, 82, 5037 (worshipped Kṛṣṇa at Vaḍavā).—§ 360 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 82, 5063 (? in Rudrakoṭi Śiva had multiplied himself into a koṭi of forms— koṭīti R°āṇāṃ —for the sake of the munis).—§ 370 (do.): III, 84, 8102 (adore Janārdana at sthānaṃ Nārāyaṇasya ).—§ 383 (Paraśu-Rāma): III, 99, 8673 (seen in the body of Rāma Dāśarathi, the incarnate Viṣṇu).—§ 412 (Aṣṭāvakrīya): III, 134, †10668 (eleven in number).—§ 443 (Nivātakavacayuddhap.): III, 168, 12043.—§ 459 (Mārkaṇḍeyas.): III, 188, 12924 (seen in the body of Nārāyaṇa).—§ 506 (Skandayuddha): III, 231, 14549.—§ 512 (Ghoṣayātrāp.): III, 237, 14782 ( °air iva Yamaḥ (sic!), sc. vṛtaḥ ).—§ 547 (Karṇa): III, 308, 17139. —§ 548 (Āraṇeyap.): III, 313, 17317; 314, 17421.— § 549 c (Arjuna): IV, 2, 48 ( dvādaśaṃ R°āṇāṃ, sc. Arjuna). —§ 556 (Sañjayayānap.): V, 29, †823 ( °ādityāḥ ).—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 86, 3043 ( yathā ).—§ 567 (do.): V, 128 ι, 4301; 131, 4420.—§ 572 (Rathātirathasaṅkhyānap.): V, 169, 5865 ( °vat ).—§ 576 (Bhagavadgītāp.): VI, 34, 1227 ( °āṇāṃ Śaṅkaraś cāsmi, says Kṛṣṇa); 35, 1252 (seen in Kṛṣṇa), †1268 (do.).—§ 589 (Droṇābhiṣekap.): VII, 6, 159 ( °āṇām iva Kāpālī, sc. senāpatiḥ ).—§ 592 (Saṃśaptaka- vadhap.): VII, 23 ο, 1007 ( Samudrasenaputraṃ R°tejasaṃ, sg.?); 35, 1536 ( Sādhya-R°-Marutkalpaiḥ ).—§ 596 (Pratijñāp.): VII, 76, 2682 (in Arjuna's oath).—§ 605 (Karṇap.): VIII, 15, 597 ( °au dvāv iva ).—§ 608 (do.): VIII, 87 χ, 4418 (sided with Arjuna).—§ 615 u (Skanda): IX, 44, 2479 ( °ādityāḥ ); 45 γ, 2508 (came to the investi- ture of Skanda), 2555 (made gifts to Skanda).—§ 615 ff (Asita Devala): IX, 50, 2893 ( °āṇāṃ…sthāṇaṃ ).—§ 626 (Rājadh.): XII, 21 β, 634.—§ 641 (do.): XII, 64 η, 2395 (observe kṣatriya duties); 122, 4498 ( °āṇām api ceśānaṃ — i.e. Śiva— goptāraṃ ), 4502 ( īśvaraḥ…sarveṣām eva R°āṇāṃ Śūlapāṇiḥ, i.e. Śiva).—§ 656 (Khaḍgotpattik.): XII, 166 β, 6141.—§ 661 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 198 α, 7192 ( °āditya-Vasūnāṃ, sc. sthānāni ).—§ 664 (do.): XII, 207 ε, 7540 (sons of Dharma?).—[§ 665 (do.): XII, 208, 7585 foll. (The names here enumerated, viz. Ajaikapād, Ahirbradhna, Virūpākṣa, Raivata, Hara, Bahurūpa, Tryam- baka, Sureśvara, Sāvitra, Jayanta, Pinākin, seem to be quoted in order to give a list of the Rudras.)]—§ 673 b (Bali- Vāsavasaṃv.): XII, 227, 8220 (accompanied Indra), 8288 (had been vanquished by Bali).—§ 695 b (Dakṣayajñavināśa): XII, 285 α, 10279 (present at Dakṣa's sacrifice), 10292 ( śūlahastāḥ kapardinaḥ | ekādaśasthānagatāḥ ).—§ 696 b (Dakṣaprokta—Śivasahasranāmastotra): XII, 285, 10456 (description).—§ 702 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 296 β, 10837.— § 712 (Śukotpatti): XII, 324, 12175.—§ 717 b (Nārā- yaṇīya): XII, 340 θ, 12915 ( ekādaśa ), 341, 13043 Page598-b+ 63 ( ekādaśaite R°ās tu vikārāḥ puruṣāḥ smṛtāḥ ), 13044, 13110 ( °āṇāṃ pataye, sc. Viṣṇu).—§ 730 g (Upamanyu): XIII, 14 η, 731 ( °ādityāśvināṃ ), 910 ( °āṇāṃ Nīlalohitaḥ, sc. Śiva). —§ 730 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 14, 984 ( ekādaśa śatāni, surround Śiva); 17, 1141 ( °āṇām api yo Rudraḥ, i.e. Śiva), 1288 (learnt the 1000 names of Śiva from Mṛtyu and communicated them to Taṇḍi(n)); 18 λλ, †1368.—§ 747 b (Suvarṇotpatti): XIII, 84, 4011; 85 ζ, 4131 (together with the Ādityas the R. sprung from the flames of Agni).—§ 759 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 107 ε, 5257 ( °āṇāṃ tam adhīvāsaṃ ), (ζ), 5331 ( °āṇāṃ lokaṃ ).—§ 766 (do.): XIII, 134 γ, 6186. —§ 770 (do.): XIII, 151 β, 7091 ( ekādaśa, their names are the following: Ajaikapād, Ahirbradhna, Pinākin, Ṛta, Pitṛrūpa, Tryambaka, Maheśvara, Vṛṣākapi, Śambhu, Havana, and Īśvara ).—§ 773 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 159 β, 7387 ( °ādityāḥ ).—§ 775 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 166 α, 7642.—§ 778 f (Muñjavat): XIV, 8, 183 (worship Śiva on Muñjavat).—§ 784 b (Uttaṅka): XIV, 54, 1564.—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 4 θ, 129 ( °ādityāḥ, received Kṛṣṇa in heaven).—§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 3, 88. [ ID=9098 ]
- born of Ananta from between the agitated brows, exhibited in eleven forms with a trident and three eyes, also named Sankarshana  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-089 ] Rudra (II) — born of Ananta from between the agitat- ed brows: Exhibited in eleven forms with Śūla and three eyes. His name is Sankarṣaṇa. Bhā. V. 25. 3; XII. 5. 1-3. [ ID=11693 ]
- A group of eleven divine beings, born of Bhuta and Bhuta, who wait upon Indra and are associated with the epics and Puranas.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Rudras (I) — (hundred?) Eleven in number, heads of Gaṇas: born of Bhūta and Bhūtā: gods of the Vaivasvata epoch: 1 Fought with Krodhavaśas in a Devāsura battle; 2 came with the other gods to Dvārakā to invite Kṛṣṇa back to Vaikuṇṭha; 3 worshipped for prowess. 4 Wait upon Indra. Nīlalohita, a chief Rudra. 5 According to the Br. P. sons of Surabhī and Kaśyapa. These are Angāraka, Sarpa, Niṛṛti, Sadasaspati, Ajaikapāt, Ahirbudhnya, Ūrdhvaketu, Jvara, Page3-090+ 32 Bhuvana, Īśvara, Mṛtyu, and Kapāli. Their sisters were Rohiṇī and Gāndharvī: Their overlord was Vṛṣadhvaja. Live in Śivapuram: 6 Vanquished by Rāvaṇa; 7 part of Viṣṇu; 8 Rudras as different from Mahārudra, and as his attendants. For different names of Rudras see the text; 9 one of the seven Devagaṇas of the Vaivasvata epoch: Pitāmahas considered as; 10 their part in Devāsura wars. 11 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. VI. 6. 17; VIII. 13. 4; M. 5. 30-2; Vi. III. 1. 31.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. VIII. 10. 34.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. XI. 6. 2.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. II. 3. 3.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. VI. 7. 2; 10. 17; XI. 16. 13.] [ Footnote: 6) Br. III. 1. 61; 3. 72; 8. 6; 32. 22; IV. 2. 27 and 257; 20 47; 30. 8.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. III. 7. 254; Vā. 66. 68-70.] [ Footnote: 8) Vi. V. 1. 17 and 58.] [ Footnote: 9) Br. IV. 33. 84-96; 34. 4-52.] [ Footnote: 10) M. 6. 44; 9. 29; 19. 3.] [ Footnote: 11) Ib. 153. 16-21; 154. 24; 171. 38-40; 247. 10; 248. 22; 285. 8.] [ ID=11695 ]

### Feminine Deities, Consorts, and Associations (4 definitions)
- Rudra and Rudrani  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > du. (incorrect acc. to, Vāmana’s Kāvyālaṃkāravṛtti (Title) v, 2, 1 ) Rudra and Rudrāṇī ( cf. also भवा - र् (bhavā-r) ° (°) and सोमा - रुद्र (somā-rudra) ) [ ID=178527 ]
- a species of creeping plant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 883,2] रुद्रा (rudrā) ( आ (ā) ), f. a species of creeping plant, L. [ ID=178531 ]
- A wife of Vasudeva.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a wife of Vasu-deva, VāyuP. [ ID=178532 ]
- a daughter of Raudrashva  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a daughter of Raudrāśva ( v.l. भद्रा (bhadrā) ), VP. [ ID=178533 ]

### Other Specific Meanings and Entities (4 definitions)
- an abbreviated name for hymns or texts addressed to Rudra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an abbreviated N. for the texts or hymns addressed to Rudra, GṛŚrS.; Gaut.; Vas. ( cf. रुद्र - जप (rudra-japa) ) [ ID=178529 ]
- pertaining to a people  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a people ( v.l. पुण्ड्र (puṇḍra) ), VP. [ ID=178530 ]
- a hundred heat-making suns rays  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > pl. a hundred heat-making suns' rays, L. [ ID=178534 ]
- a tribe  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-090 ] Rudras (II) — a tribe. Vā. 98. 108. [ ID=11696 ]

### Proper Names of Individuals/Authors/Kings (3 definitions)
- of various men  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of various men, Kathās.; Rājat. [ ID=178524 ]
- An honorific title used with names of various teachers and authors.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of various teachers and authors (also with आचार्य (ācārya), कवि (kavi), भट्ट (bhaṭṭa), शर्मन् (śarman), सूरि (sūri) &c.), Cat. [ ID=178525 ]
- of a king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king, Buddh. [ ID=178526 ]

### The number 'Eleven' or 'Eleventh' (3 definitions)
- The number eleven  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 883,2] N. of the number ‘eleven’ (from the 11 Rudras), VarBṛS. [ ID=178519 ]
- the eleventh  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the eleventh, Cat. [ ID=178520 ]
- The number eleven  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — द्रः (draḥ) 4 The number ‘eleven’

### Lexicographical Notes or References (2 definitions)
- See page 883, column 1.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 884,1] रुद्र (rudra) b &c. See p. 883, col. 1. [ ID=178750 ]
- See page 849  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0850-a ] रुद्र (rudra) rudra. See p. 849, col. 1. [ ID=39667 ]

### Musical Instrument (Rudrī/Lute) (2 definitions)
- in music, a type of stringed instrument  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in music) of a kind of stringed instrument ( cf. रुद्री (rudrī) and रुद्र - वीणा (rudra-vīṇā) ) [ ID=178522 ]
- a kind of lute or guitar  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 883,2] रुद्री (rudrī) ( ई (ī) ), f. a kind of lute or guitar, L. ( cf. m. and रुद्र - वीणा (rudra-vīṇā) ). [ ID=178535 ]

### Rudrākṣa (tree, berry, rosary) (2 definitions)
- a kind of tree  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — अक्षः (akṣaḥ) a kind of tree. (
- 1. A rosary. 2. The berry of the rudraksha tree, used for rosaries.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — क्षं (kṣaṃ) ) 1 a rosary. 2 the berry of this tree, used for rosaries; भस्मोद्धूलन भद्रमस्तु (bhasmoddhūlana bhadramastu) भवते रुद्राक्षमाले शुभं (bhavate rudrākṣamāle śubhaṃ) Kāvyaprakāśa 10

### Specific Derived Nouns and Concepts (2 definitions)
- the first muhurta  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in astrol. ) N. of the first Muhūrta [ ID=178521 ]
- of the letter e  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the letter ए (e), Up. [ ID=178523 ]

### Associated Places (Cemetery, Abode, Mountain) (1 definition)
- a mountain west of the Shitoda  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Rudra (III) — a Mt. west of the Śitoda. Vā. 36. 27. [ ID=11694 ]

### Association with Fire/Agni (1 definition)
- Fire  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — द्रः (draḥ) 3 Fire

### Identification with Various Deities (Śiva, Sūrya, Viṣṇu) (1 definition)
- 1. Shiva. 2. Surya. 3. Vishnu.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 598-2 ] Rudra 2 = Śiva, q.v.—Do. 3 = Sūrya: III, 148.—Do. 4 = Viṣṇu (1000 names). [ ID=9099 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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