Rudra is an important deity in the Vedas and is later
identified with Shiva. Rig Veda defines Rudra as Red and shining brightly as
the sun. He wears matted locks. Samhitas states that he has thousand eyes and
his stomach is red and black blue. He wears skin of animals.
In Vedas, Rudra is a god of destruction. In later
scriptures, Rudra is identified as Rudra Shiva. He resides in the Mujavant
Hills and Kailash in the Himalayas .
Rudra was worshipped by apsaras, demons, kubera and other
divine beings known as Rudra Ganas.
Emblem of Rudra is a bull. His weapons are bow and arrow and
Vajra (thunder bolt).
Rig Veda (2.33) compares him with wild animal, although
ferocious he can be propitiated and blessing received. He cures all the
incurable diseases.
In Brahmanas, Rudra is the son of Usha Prajapati and is
given eight names – Rudra, Sarva, Ugra, Asani, Bhava, Mahadeva, Shiva and
Pashupati.
The first real identification of Rudra with Shiva is found
in the Shvetashvara Upanishad – it describes him as the greatest and most
important deity.