Rudra, the Great Purifier

Movement is the hallmark of life. Movement implies getting involved in the transactions of the manifested universe. If movement is not emanating from a proper motivation it has a corrupting influence that alienates from the ultimate reality. What is the true nature of the divine presence that endows living beings with their potential for meaningful movement? This is the question being addressed in the third chapter of Shvetasvatara Upanishad.

Ya eko jalavaneeshata ishaneebhih
Sarvan lokaneeshita ishaneebhih
Ya evaika udbhave sambhave cha
Ya etadviduramrutaste bhavanti

A unique principle governs everything through subtle divine forces like a magician. It brings into being the domains that give form to existence, and governs the domains by subtle forces, all by itself. This principle transcends space and time and is not affected by the limitations associated with them. By identifying with this principle one transcends death and become immortal.

Eko hi rudro na dviteeyayatasthu
Rya tuman lokan ishato ishaneebhi
Pratyanjanam stishthai sanchuko cha chantakale
Samsrujya vishva bhuvananit gopah

Rudra is one who cries out for satisfaction. His craving for satisfaction is behind forces that cause movements. This unique rudra, this unique agitating potential, is one without a second. It governs the domains through divine forces. It resides in each entity governing it, and ultimately absorbing it in the end. It creates and maintains all the worlds in the universe.

Vishvatashchakshuta vishvatomuko
Vishvato bahurutavishvataspat
Sambahubhyam dhamati sampatatrair
Dyavabhoomee janayan deva ekah

This unique principle is the primordial cause for earth and heaven. It is the eye that sees everything that is there to see. Its faces are there in all facets. Its hands are there in all happenings. Its feet are there in all movements. It provides the wings for imagination and the hands for the implementation of dreams to all things.

Yo devanam prabhavashchodbhavashcha
Vishadhipo rudro maharshibhih
Hiranyagarbham janayamasa poorvam
Sa no budhdhya shubhaya samyunaktu

This Rudra brought into being the distinct ideals signified by the various devas. Through these devas it governs the entire universe. It is the agitator who insinuates the universe. It is also the ultimate knower of the universe. It fills the primordial state with all treasures ready to be discovered. Let that Rudra connect us to the auspicious facet of our intellect.

Ya te rudra shiva tanuraghorapapakashini
Taya na stanuva shantamaya girishantabhichakasheehi

Rudra in his manifested form appears as intense and agitating. But his abstract forms are mild and capable of compensating all defects in the manifested universe by their subtle intervention. Thus in the abstract form Rudra emanates peace. These subtle forms keep nourishing everything in the manifested universe overseeing all significant presences. His unrelenting intervention with the workings of these presences maintains peace in the manifested universe.

Kincha yamishtham girishanta
Haste bharshyastave
Shivam giritratam kuru
Ma himsih purusham jagat

All significant presences affect others in the manifested universe. These significant presences have to be governed by appropriate restraints to ensure that their effects are benevolent. O, Rudra…use your arrows exclusively for this purpose. Let them not act as a constraint for the operation of the spirit of enterprise.

Tatahparam brahmaparam bruhantam
Yathanikayam sarvabhooteshugoodham
Vishvasyaikam pariveshtitara-
Meesham tam jnatva/mruta bhavanti

Brahman is the highest abstraction in the manifested universe. There is something which is even beyond the principle of Brahman. ‘That’ is all-pervading and remains as a subtle presence everywhere. ‘That’ takes subtle forms in accordance with the characteristics of its host. ‘That’ is unique…one without a second…and envelops everything. By identifying with this transcendental principle, which governs everything, one attains immortality.

Vedahametam purusham mahantam
Adityavarnam tamasah parastat
Tameva viditvati mrutyumeti
Nanya pantha vidyate/yanaya

This transcendental principle is realized by going beyond the horizons of worldly significance. It is like the sovereign presence of aditya that is not affected by anything and which serves as the perennial source of virility for all beings. It is pure light that is not touched by the play of tamas. By realizing this principle one overcomes death. There is no other path that is worthy of being pursued other than the one leading to the realization of this principle.

Yasmatparam naparamastikinchit
Yasmannaneeyo na jyayosti kashchit
Vruksha iva stabdho divi tishthatyekah
Tenedam poornam purushena sarvam

There is nothing beyond this. There is nothing that is other than this. There is nothing which can be compared with this. There is nothing that is smaller or bigger than this. This remains unmoving in the vastness of the inner sky as a mighty tree. Things are complete only with the inclusion of this.

Tato yaduttarataram tadroopamanamayam
Ya etat viduramrutaste bhavanti athetare dukhameva piyanti

Thus it is superior to whatever is there in the manifested universe. It is without name and form. Those who identify with it taste the nectar of immortality. Others keep drinking from a jug of sorrow.

Sarvanana shirogreevah sarvabhootaguhashayah
Sarvavyapee sa bhagavan tasmat sarvagatah shivah

It shines through all facets. It is the passage for life forces in all beings. It resides in the subtle inner space of all beings. It pervades everywhere. It is the endower of prosperity for all beings. It is the detached spirit of purity that resides in all beings.

Kincha mahan prabhurvai purushah
Yatyasaishapravartaka
Sunirmalamimam praptim
Eeshano jyotirvayayah

This spirit is behind the principles of significance, lordship and virility. It is the operator for all beings. But realizing this spirit of purity and connecting all actions to it one attains the immutable brilliance of an overlord.

Angushthamatrah purushontaratma
Sada jananam hrudaye sannivishtah
Hruda manveesho manasabhiknupto
Ya etat vidyramrutaste bhavanti

This principle of virility remains as the inner spirit of all beings. It is comparable to a thumb that plays an indispensable part in all manipulations by hands. It remains embedded in the inner heart of all beings. Through the inner heart it regulates the mind. At the same time the very mind acts a limiting influence that shrouds its infinite nature. Realization of this relationship between Rudra and mind enables one to attain immortality.

Sahasrasheersha purushah
Sahasrakshah sahasrapat
Sabhoomim vishvato vrutva
Atyatishthat dashangulam

This principle of virility has a thousand heads, eyes and legs. It conceives everything, perceives everything and is there in all movements. It remains enveloping everything in this world along with their abodes. It transcends all implements for manipulation.

Purusha evedam sarvam
Yat bhootam yachcha bhavyam
Utamrutatva syeshano
Yadanne nati rohati

Whatever is there in this manifested universe is verily an expression of this principle of virility. All that has already come into being as well all that are in the process of becoming are its expressions. It is also the master of the principle of immortality. For its nourishment it does not depend on anything.

Sarvatah panipadam tat
Sarvatlokshishiromukham
Sarvatah shrutimalloke
Sarvamavrutya tishthati

Its arms and legs are everywhere. It is behind all movements and manipulations. Its eyes, heads and faces are everywhere. It is behind all perceptions, thoughts and facets. Its harmonizing vibrations are everywhere. Its presence can be sensed everywhere in this world. It remains enveloping everything in this universe.

Sarvendriya gunabhasam
Sarvendriya vivarjitam
Sarvasya prabhumeeshanam
Sarvasya sharanam bruhat

It is manifested through the qualities sensed by the sense organs. At the same time it remains detached from all sense organs. It is the overlord and governor of everything. It is an extensive superstructure that supports everything in this manifested universe.

Kincha navadvare pure dehee
Hamso lelayate bahih
Vashee sarvasya lokasya
Sthavarasya charasya cha

A body is like a city with nine ports. Inner spirit resides in this body. This inner spirit is the soul of discrimination. It transacts with the outside world through the nine ports. Because of these transactions it appears that the inner spirit is attached to the stationery and moving objects in this world.

Apanipado gavanograheeta
Pashyatya chakshuh sashrunootyakarnam
Sa vetti vedyam na cha tasyasti vetta
Tamahuragryam purusham mahantam

It doen’t depend on legs to go everywhere. It doesn’t depend on hands to grab things for manipulation. It doesn’t depend on eyes to see things. It doesn’t depend on ears to hear things. It spontaneously knows everything that is there to be known. But there is none who knows it properly. It is said that the primordial principle of virility is beyond all concepts of significance.

Kincha anoraneeyan mahato maheeyan
Atma guhayam nihito/syajantoh
Tamakratum pashyati veetashoko
Dhatuhprasadat mahimanameesham

It is subtler than the subtlest of things. It is greater than the greatest of things. This inner spirit resides in the inner space of beings. It is seen as not doing any work and it is untouched by the sorrows associated with transactions. This governing force attains its significance because of its endowed content.

Vedahamaetamajaram puranam
Sarvatmanam sarvagatam vibhutvat
Janmanirodham pravadanti yasya
Brahmavadino hi pravadanti nityam

I know this Rudra as the most ancient. But in spite of its ancient nature it is not affected by the infirmities associate with old age. As a governing force it enters everything as their inner spirit. It is free from the cycles of birth and death. Those who realize the principle of Brahman say that this Rudra is spontaneous, ever-fresh and permanent.