28/11/2015
Nandeeshwara namastubhyam
saambaananda pradaayaka
mahaadevasya sevaartham
anujnaam dehime prabho
Rudra parayanam
Sri Rudram is a hymn devoted to Lord Parameswara. It is part of the Yajur Veda and one of the greatest of the Vedic hymns. It occurs in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Kṛishan Yajurveda in the 4th kaṇda (chapter), 5th prasna (topic) and it is considered as one of 108 Upaniṣhads. It is also known as Namakam because of the repeated word namaḥ in it.
Sri Rudram is in two parts. The first part has 16 chapters known as Namakam as every stanza uses the word "Namo" in it. The second part chapter with 18 verses is called Chamakam as it ends with the word "Chame."
At the outset the Pradhana Purusha, Rudra is asked to shun the Ghora rupa. He is requested to destroy the sins of devotees who recites/hears the chanting.
It is said: “By reciting the Veda once, he becomes pure on that day, but by reciting Rudram the very next moment he gets purified.”
Yet another stanza declares the power of Rudra parayana. It extols that where a devotee recites it during the Salagrama pooja, be it his home and his entire village (about 18kms) will be free from hunger, poverty, drought and other calamities.
The Śiva Puraṇa further explains: “By chanting Rudram, one gains both worldly pleasures and liberation.”
The Jabala Upaniṣad states: “Once the students of sacred knowledge asked sage Yajnavalkya: Can we gain eternal life by repetition of mantras? Yajnavalkya said: By the repetition of satarudriyam a man becomes immortal, for the names of God therein are full of the devine nectar (amrutham).”
Kaivalya Upaniṣhad also declares: “Whoever reads
Satarudriyam becomes pure as fire, becomes pure as air”.
Rudram is the most sacred means of worshipping Lord Siva.
Sage Satapatha in his treatise “Maharnava Karma Vipaka” listed 4 types of procedures to propitiate Lord Siva, Ekadasa Rudram, Maha Rudram and Athi Rudram; each has greater significance than its preceding one. ‘Athi’ means “ultimate”. Therefore, Athirudram is the highest form of worship of Lord Shiva. Athirudram is a destroyer of all sorrows and the provider of ‘Kshema’.
A devout listener and seeker of Rudram Chamakam is blessed with both worldly and spiritual benefits such as good health, peace of mind and pure joy. Slowly and steadily it draws the listener to spirituality in the quest of the truth behind human existence.
