Shri Rudram


Shri Rudram, is a Vedic mantra or chant in homage to Rudra taken from the Krishna Yajurveda's Taittiriya Samhita. It comprises two parts, the Namakam and Chamakam. Chamakam is added by scriptural tradition to the Shri Rudram. Shri Rudram is also known as Śri Rudrapraśna, ', and Rudradhyaya. The text is important in Shaivism where Shiva is viewed as the ultimate God. The hymn is an early example of enumerating the names of a deity.
Shri Rudram is also famous for its mention of the Shaivite holy mantra Namah Shivaya, which appears in the text of the ' in the eighth anuvaka of Taittiriya Samhita.. It also contains the mantra Aum namah bhagavate rudraya and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

Text

Shri Rudram consists of two chapters from the fourth kāṇda of Taittiriya Samhita which is a part of Krishna Yajurveda. The names of the chapters are Namakam and Chamakam respectively. Shri Rudram's Namakam describes the names or epithets of Rudra, who is a fear-inducing aspect of Shiva. Additionally, the devotee asks for the benevolent aspect of Shiva to be invoked rather in the terrible aspect of Rudra and requests for forgiveness of sins. The Chamakam asks for the fulfillment of wishes. Each chapter consist of eleven anuvākas or hymns.
The anuvākas or hymns of Namakam correspond to the eleven hymns of TS 4.5, with the final hymn extended by an additional eight verses, including the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Om Namah Shivaya is also derived from the Shri Rudram, it appears in TS 4.5.8.l. The anuvākas or hymns of Chamakam correspond to TS 4.7, asks God for fulfillment of wishes.
The earliest homage hymns to Rudra is the Śatarudriya found in the Yajurveda. C. Fuller maintains that Shri Rudram is based on Śatarudriya.