What is Rudra Puja?
Rudra Pooja is an ancient practice followed in India since time immemorial. ‘Rudra’ means ‘Shiva - the Benevolent', ' the Destroyer of Evil'. 'Pooja' means that which is born out of fullness. Through this Pooja one can aim for inner peace and fulfillment. In this Pooja, Lord Shiva is worshipped in his Rudra form.
It is hailed by all Vedic scriptures as one of the greatest Poojas to remove all evils, to attain all desires and for all-round prosperity. Scriptures on Astrology prescribe this emphatically as a remedy for several planetary doshas.
Satarudriyam or Sri Rudradhyayam is the very essence of all Veda branches (Sakhas). Hence it is also known as Sri Rudropanishad. Principally, this Rudradhyayam, which forms the fifth Prasna in the fourth Kanda of Krishna Yajurveda, is a composition describing the greatness of Sri Parameswara, with universe as his form and his transcendence beyond the manifest universe, and extolling him and seeking his grace.
Why do Rudra Pooja?
The world is a play of energy: negative and positive. When we pray to Shiva – the Lord of transformation - the entire negative energy around us in form of disease, depression, and unhappiness gets transformed into peace, prosperity and joy. Then peace surrounds us in body, mind and soul.
It is certain that through the grace of the Supreme Lord, pleased with this prayer, one can attain all fruits required in the human birth – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
How is the Pooja Performed?
This Pooja is performed with a crystal 'linga'. Each ancient mantra that is chanted gets absorbed in materials like curd, milk, ghee, honey etc. which are used as offerings in the Pooja. It is then offered to Lord Shiva with reverence, love and gratitude. Specially trained Pandits and Veda students from the Veda Agama (Vedic school) perform this special Pooja. The chanting of the mantras is so pure and meditative that it takes one to a different plane.
However it has been the practice all over our Bharatadesa from Himalayas to Ramasethu to chant, along with Sri Rudradhyayam, the ‘Chamakam’, which has mantras in eleven Anuvakas, and which lists the fruits required here and hereafter, as shown to us by Veda Matha herself. As mentioned by the Gitacharya, ‘यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि’, it is the general practice to chant this Rudradhyayam during Poojas performed daily and occasionally. When this is chanted in multiples of 11 * 11, Japa Yagnas like Sri Rudraikadasini, Maharudram and Atirudram result. When Sri Rudra Japa yagna is performed with Sankalpam for special fruits, suitable Homa and Tarpanas are also included. The special feature of Sri Rudradhyayam is the way the three hundred names of Sri Parameswara are woven in twos or threes with ‘Namah’ before and after the names. Further the other speciality is the phrase of Siva Panchakshara ‘Namah Sivaya cha’ occurring in the eighth Anuvaka. It also makes us feel that this Rudradhyayam has been the forerunner for the many future Ashtottara Satanama and Sahasranama stotras. It is very creditable to chant this part of Veda with proper pronunciation and intonation (svara) together with understanding of meaning.
