Shiv Puran Shatarudra Samhita: The Avatars of Shiva

The Shatarudra Samhita describes the many avatars and forms of Lord Shiva. "Shatarudra" means a hundred Rudras, the countless forms of Shiva. As Vishnu descends to protect dharma, Shiva too takes many forms to protect devotees and destroy pride.

The five faces of Shiva

In different cycles of creation Shiva appeared before Brahma in five forms, held to be his five faces:

• Sadyojata (west, white): creation.
• Vamadeva (north, red): preservation.
• Aghora (south, dark blue): dissolution.
• Tatpurusha (east, yellow): concealment.
• Ishana (upward, crystal-clear): grace and liberation.

Shiva's eight forms (ashtamurti) are also described: earth, water, fire, air, space, sun, moon and the sacrificer (the self). All of nature is Shiva's body.

Ardhanarishvara

Brahma's creation was not growing because only male beings were being born. He worshipped Shiva, who appeared as Ardhanarishvara, half man and half woman. He showed Brahma his feminine half, Shakti, separately, and then Brahma continued creation through the union of male and female. This form shows that Shiva and Shakti are not separate and that man and woman are equally parts of a complete creation.

The Nandi avatar

The sage Shilada worshipped Shiva for a son, and Shiva promised to be born as his son. While ploughing the ground for a yajna Shilada found a divine child, named Nandi, the giver of joy. The sages Mitra and Varuna said his life would be short. Nandi performed great austerities on the bank of the river Bhuvana. Pleased, Shiva made him immortal, chief of his attendants and his own mount. That is why Nandi sits facing the linga in every Shiva temple.

Kala Bhairava

From Shiva's anger at Brahma's pride and falsehood Bhairava appeared and cut off Brahma's fifth head with his nail. Bearing the sin of killing a Brahmin, the skull stuck to his hand, and he wandered the three worlds as a mendicant. When he reached Kashi the skull fell from his hand; that place is the Kapalamochana tirtha. Shiva made Bhairava the Kotwal, guardian, of Kashi, who is said to keep account of the deeds of those who live there. Kala Bhairava Jayanti falls on Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami.

Virabhadra

After Sati gave up her body at Daksha's yajna, Virabhadra arose from Shiva's matted hair and destroyed the yajna (told in the Sati Khanda). Virabhadra is the form of Shiva's wrath and justice.

Sharabha

Even after slaying Hiranyakashipu, Lord Narasimha's fury would not subside and the world trembled. At the gods' prayer Shiva first sent Virabhadra and then himself took the form of Sharabha, part lion and part bird, an eight-legged wondrous being. Sharabha calmed Narasimha, who in his peaceful form praised Shiva. Even anger in the cause of dharma must in the end be calmed.

Grihapati

On the bank of the Narmada the sage Vishvanara and his wife Shuchishmati prayed for a son like Shiva, and Shiva was born to them as Grihapati. Narada foretold danger from lightning in his twelfth year. Grihapati worshipped Shiva in Kashi, unafraid even of Indra's thunderbolt, and Shiva made him lord of fire, a guardian of the directions.

Hanuman

According to the Shiv Puran, Shiva took avatar as Hanuman, from his eleventh Rudra aspect, to serve Shri Ram. Shiva's radiance was placed by the wind god in the womb of Mother Anjani, and Hanuman was born in Kesari's home. Hanuman accomplished every task for Shri Ram: finding Sita, burning Lanka, bringing the Sanjivani. So the Hanuman Chalisa calls him "Shankara suvana Kesari nandana".

Ashvatthama

Drona worshipped Shiva for a son, and Ashvatthama was born of Shiva's aspect. He is counted among the great warriors of the Mahabharata and among the immortals.

The Kirata avatar

During the Pandavas' exile Arjuna performed austerities to Shiva on the Indrakila mountain to win divine weapons. An asura named Muka came as a boar to kill him. At that moment Shiva came disguised as a Kirata, a forest hunter. Both shot the boar at once and it died. They argued over whose arrow had killed it, and fought. All Arjuna's arrows failed, his bow was taken and he lost even in wrestling. Then he made a clay linga and worshipped it, and the garland he offered appeared on the Kirata's neck. Arjuna understood that the hunter was Shiva himself and begged forgiveness, and Shiva, pleased, gave him the Pashupata weapon.

Other avatars

The samhita tells of many more forms: the sage Pippalada (whose name is invoked to ease the affliction of Saturn), Vaishyanatha, Dvijeshvara, Yatinatha in the form of a swan, Krishnadarshana, Avadhuteshvara who humbled Indra, Bhikshuvarya, Sureshvara who tested Upamanyu, the brahmachari who tested Parvati, the dancer who asked Himavan for Parvati's hand, and the sadhu.

What this samhita teaches

• All of nature, from earth to sun, is Shiva's form; respecting nature is worship of Shiva.
• Ardhanarishvara shows that man and woman complete each other; neither is lesser.
• Bhairava and Sharabha teach that both pride and uncontrolled anger must be checked.
• A true devotee is tested, but in the end receives what they seek, as Arjuna received the Pashupata.