PINAKA BOW OF SIVA Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (b): Rudra’s weapons\\\ Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/rudra-shiva-concept-study/d/doc1146584.html>
Rudra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rudra#shaivism> is the wielder of a sword, a quiver. He is designated as *Tīkṣṇeṣu* or the possessor of sharp arrows. He is known as *Āyudhin* or one who is armed with weapons <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/weapon#hinduism>. He is praised as *Svāyudha* and *Sudhanvan* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sudhanvan#purana>.{ namo niṣaṅgiṇe ceṣumate ca namastīkṣṇeṣave cāyudhine ca namaḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nama#shaivism> svāyudhāya ca sudhanvane ca || Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyisamhita#hinduism>, 16.36} The term *svāyudha* and *sudhanvan* are explained by Mahīdhara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahidhara#shaivism> respectively as: *śobhanamāyudhaṃ triśūlaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/trishula#shaivism> yasya sa svāyudhaḥ* And: *śobhanaṃ* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shobhana#shaivism>* dhanuḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/dhanu#purana> pinākaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinaka#purana> yasya sa **sudhanvā* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sudhanva#purana> { parame vṛkṣam āyudhaṃ nidhāya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nidhaya#purana> kṛttiṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kritti#purana> vasāna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vasana#shaivism> ācara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/acara#shaivism> pinākaṃ bibhradāgahi || Vājasaneyi <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyi#purana>- saṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samhita#purana>, 16.51} >From Mahīdhara’s commentary, it is clear that Rudra carries in his hands <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hand#hinduism> a beautiful trident and a bow named *Pināka <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinaka#purana>*. So, he is called *Svāyudha* and *Sudhanvān* respectively. In another commentary of *Vājasaneyisaṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyisamhita#hinduism>*, Mahīdhara construes the term *āyudha <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ayudha#shaivism>* as: *āyudhaṃ* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ayudha#shaivism> * triśūlādikam*. Here, it is mentioned that the name of his bow is *Pināka* and the thunderbolt is *Sṛka* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/srika#hinduism>. He is holding in his hands thousand shafts. In the *Vājasaneyisaṃhitā*, as the lord of cattle Rudra is invoked for the protection of the soma <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/soma#shaivism>-cow and the soma-cow is addressed as *rudrā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rudra#shaivism>* in the context of the Soma sacrifice. {...sā devi <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/devi#shaivism> devamacchehīndrāya somamrudrastvāvartayatu svasti <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/svasti#history> somasakhā punarehi || vasvyasyaditirasyādityāsi rudrāsi candrāsi | bṛhaspatiṣṭvā sumne ramnātu rudro vasubhirācake || Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, 4.20; 21; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shatapathabrahmana#hinduism>, 3.3.1.2} Rudra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rudra#shaivism> carries in his hands <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hand#hinduism> a beautiful bow. In the *Vājasaneyisaṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyisamhita#hinduism>*, it is mentioned that the name of Rudra’s bow is *Pināka* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinaka#purana>. It is clear by the explanation of Mahīdhara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahidhara#shaivism>— *pinākaṃ* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinaka#purana> *dhanu* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/dhanu#purana>... In another *mantra* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mantra#shaivism> of this *Veda* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/veda#purana>, Rudra is described as *Pinākāvasa*. Here, Mahīdhara gives an explanation of the term *pinākāvasa* as: *pinākāvasaḥ pinākākhyaṃ tvadīyaṃ dhanu*... Śiva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shiva#shaivism> is well known by the name *Pinākapāṇi <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinakapani#purana>* *Pinākahasta* as well as *Pinākin* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinakin#purana>. From these names, it is clear that lord Śiva is also the wielder of a bow, *Pināka*. vṛkṣaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vriksha#purana> āyudhaṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ayudha#shaivism> nidhāya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nidhaya#purana> kṛttiṃ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kritti#purana> vasāna <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vasana#shaivism> ācara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/acara#shaivism> pinākaṃ bibhradāgahi || Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyisamhita#hinduism>, 16.51( AS ABOVE) avatatadhanvā pinākāvasaḥ kṛttivāsā ahiṃsannaḥ śivo’tīhi || Vājasaneyi <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vajasaneyi#purana>-saṃhitā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/samhita#purana>, 3.61 (a) pinākapāṇirbhūdevaḥ svastidaḥ svastikṛtsudhīḥ || Śiva-purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shivapurana#purana>, 4.35.17 (b) Kūrma-purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kurmapurana#purana>, 1.25.90 namaḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nama#shaivism> pinākahastāya vajrahastāya vai namaḥ || Vāyu-purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vayupurana#purana>, 1.54.65 (a) pinākine ceṣumate citrāya rohitāya ca || Ibid., 2.35.171 (b) Śiva-purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/purana#shaivism>, 4.35.7; Liṅga-purāṇa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/lingapurana#purana>, 1.2.51; 18.16 Section CCXC of Book 12 (Shanti Parva) of the Mahabharata, Mokshadharma Parva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-mohan/d/doc826131.html> Filled with anxiety, and his wrath also being excited, he went to that foremost of gods, *viz*., Mahadeva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahadeva#vaishnavism>. Kuvera, represented the matter unto Siva <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shiva#vaishnavism> of immeasurable energy, that first of gods, fierce and amiable, and possessed of various forms. And he said, 'Usanas, having spiritualised himself by Yoga entered my form and depriving myself of liberty, has taken away all my wealth. Having by Yoga entered my body he has again left it.' Hearing these words, Mahesvara <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/maheshvara#vaishnavism> of supreme Yoga-powers became filled with rage. His eyes, O king, became blood-red, and taking up his lance he waited (ready to strike down Usanas). The bow-armed Rudra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rudra#vaishnavism>, understanding that Usanas, whose penances had become successful and who had converted himself into the form of pure Knowledge, was staying at the point of his lance (and finding that he was unable to hurl the lance at one who was upon it), bent that weapon with hand <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hand#hinduism>. When the fierce-armed and puissant Mahadeva of immeasurable energy had thus bent his lance (into the form of a bow), that weapon came to be called from that time by the name of *Pinaka* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pinaka#purana>.{ The etymology of *Pinaka* is *panina <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/panina#purana> anamayat*. The initial and final letter of *pani <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pani#purana>* (*pi*) and the middle letter of *anamayat* (*na*), with the suffix *ka* make *Pinaka*.} The lord of Uma, beholding Bhargava <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhargava#purana> thus brought upon the palm of his hand, opened his mouth. The chief of the gods then threw Bhargava into his mouth and swallowed him at once. The puissant and high-souled Usanas of Bhrigu’s race, entering the stomach of Mahesvara, began to wander there.' After this, Mahadeva armed with Pinaka, that soul of Yoga, once more betook himself to Yoga-meditation. Usanas, however, filled with anxiety, began to wander within the stomach of the great god. The great ascetic began to hymn the praises of the god from where he was, desirous of finding an outlet for escape. Rudra, however, having stopped all his outlets, prevented him from coming out. The great ascetic Usanas, however, O chastiser of foes, from within Mahadeva’s stomach, repeatedly addressed the god, saying, ’show me your kindness!' Unto him Mahadeva said, 'Go out through my urethra.' He had stopped up all other outlets of his body. Confined on every side and unable to find out the outlet indicated, the ascetic began to wander hither and thither, burning all the while with Mahadeva’s energy. At last he found the outlet and issued through it. In consequence of this fact he came to be called by the name of Sukra, and it is in consequence of that fact he also became unable to attain (in course of his wandering) the central point of the firmament. Beholding him come out of his stomach and shining brightly with energy, Bhava <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhava#vaishnavism>, filled with anger, stood with lance uplifted in his hand. The goddess Uma then interposed and forbade the angry lord of all creatures, *viz*., her spouse, to slay the Brahmana. And in consequence of Uma’s having thus prevented her lord from accomplishing his purpose the ascetic Usanas (from the day) became the son of the goddess.' "The goddess said, 'This Brahmana no longer deserves to be slain by you. He has become my son. O god, one who comes out of your stomach does not deserve slaughter at your hands <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hand#hinduism>.' ' Bowing unto the boon-giving Mahadeva and to also his spouse the goddess Uma, the great ascetic Usanas, endued with superior intelligence, proceeded to the place he chose. I have thus narrated to you, O chief of the Bharatas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bharata#vaishnavism>, the story of the high-souled Bhargava about which you didst ask me.'" KR IRS 17223//18223 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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