HV - Indra and Siva - Rigveda

Indra and Siva

The knowledge of Yoga naturally calls to mind Siva. Siva is also prayed to for auspiciousness, for his is pure, for blessings. For ages, Hindus have waded into battle with the name of Siva on their lips. These ideas are all reflected in the hymns of Vaisvamitra.

Siva is referred to as च independently or in combination as in परश्च (परश्-च), or ऊ in वर्शिष्ठमूतये (वर्शिष्टं-ऊ-तयः). In a later verse he is referred to as वृषना.

एन्द्र सानसि रयिं सजित्वानं सदासहम् | वर्शिष्ठमूतये भर ||  (1.008.1)[1]

Comparing the two, says Vaisvamitra, besides Indra in bringing blessings (सानसि), wealth (रयिं), victories (सजित्वानं), always conquering (सदासहम्), there is the ancient Siva granting protection (वर्शिष्ठमूतये) supporting (भर). That it is plausible to interpret ऊ as Siva, the ancient one, is shown four verses later, when the sage gives an explicit description of Siva four verses later, this time referring to him as च.

महाँ इन्द्रः परश्च नु महित्वमस्तु वज्रिणे | द्यौर्न प्रथिना शवः || (1.008.5)[2]

Great is Indra, with the exception of Siva, therefore let greatness be on he who has the thunderbolt of knowledge;  Heaven and earth are the same for the One celebrated as Lord of corpses (द्यौर्न प्रथिना शवः).

Thus in these two verses, Siva is described as the Ancient One who gives protection (वर्शिष्ठमूतये भर). He is described as being indifferent between heaven and earth (द्यौर्न),[3] presumably a reflection of his mastery of the art of meditation. He is celebrated as the Lord of corpses (प्रथिना शवः)

Since both Siva and Indra are masters of the art of meditation, the sage offers a non committal :  Great is Indra except Siva (महाँ इन्द्रः परश्च), therefore let greatness lie with he who has the thunderbolt of knowledge (नु महित्वमस्तु वज्रिणे).[4]

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[1] आ - इन्द्र सानसि रयिं सजित्वानं सदासहम् | वर्शिष्ठम् – ऊ - तये भर || 

Besides Indra (आ-इन्द्र = एन्द्र) bringing blessings (सानसि = सानसिं) wealth (रयिं) victorious (सजित्वन् = सजित्वानं) always conquering (सदासह = सदासहम्) | Very old (वर्षिष्ट = वर्षिष्टम्) Siva (ऊः) protection (तयः) granting (भर) ||

[2] महाँ इन्द्रः परश् - च नु महित्वम् - अस्तु वज्रि - णे | द्यौर् - न प्रथ् - इना शवः ||

Great (महाँ) Indra is (इन्द्रः) with the exception of (परश् = परस्) Siva (च) therefore (नु) greatness (महित्वम्) let it be (अस्तु having thunderbolt (वज्रि) knowledge (णः = णे) | Heaven and earth (द्यावा = द्यौर्) same (न) celebrated (प्रथ्) Lord (इनः) corpse (शवः)

[3] Heaven and earth (द्यावा = द्यौर्) same (न)(द्यौर्-न) = द्यौर्न)

[4] therefore (नु) greatness (महित्वम्) let it be (अस्तु)(महित्वम्-अस्तु = महित्वमस्तु) having thunderbolt (वज्रि) knowledge (णः = णे)(वज्रि-णः = वज्रिणे)