Concept of the Rudra Shiva Through the Ages

The present work throws new light, with the help of literary and archaeological data, on the gradual development of the concept of Rudra-Siva in his theriomorphic, anthropomorphic and phallic forms since the days of the Harappa civilization. The approach to the subject is mainly historical. In the first chapter, an attempt has been made to congregate the flakes of ideas about Rudra as found in the Vedic literature, then to identify the Vedic Rudra with a host of pre-and post-Vedic deities and finally to show how this composite Aryan and non-Aryan divinity was not only admitted but was ultimately crowned with an exalted position in the Brahmanical pantheon. The second chapter deals with the theriomorphic representation of Siva as bull. Stress has been laid on the fact that in course of time the bull, though once identical with the deity, was relegated to the position of the mount of Siva. In the third chapter, there is the interesting story of the phallic cult which has to be regarded as a part of the general evolution of the religious thoughts of man in various parts of the world. A part of the discussion refers to the relation between Saivism and Phallicism and the different representations of the Phallic God in early Indian literature. In the final chapter, different anthropomorphic images of Siva since the Harappa civilization are discussed.