Rudrabhishek Puja is considered to be one of the most sacred and purest rituals in Hinduism. The name Rudrabhishek is literally translated to the application or bath with ritual materials on Rudra. This puja is done only in devotion to Shiva.

Rudra can be interpreted in various ways, like the one who roars, the archer, one who can kill the forces of darkness and the number 11. In the Rig-Veda, Rudra’s role as a frightening god is apparent in references to him as ghora (extremely terrifying).

He is fierce like a formidable wild beast. Chakravarti sums up the perception of Rudra by saying: Rudra is thus regarded with a kind of cringing fear, as a deity whose wrath is to be deprecated and whose favor curried.

Some verses are an appeal to Rudra for mercy, where he is referred to as mighty Rudra, the god with braided hair. Rudra is described as armed with a bow and fast-flying arrows. The hymn says Rudra discharges brilliant shafts which run about the heaven and the earth, which may be a reference to lightning.

Rudra was believed to cure diseases. When people recovered from them or were free of them, this was attributed to the agency of Rudra. He is asked not to afflict children with disease and to keep villages free of illness. He is said to have healing remedies, as the best physician of physicians, and as possessed of a thousand medicines. So he is described with an alternative name, Baidyanath (Lord of Remedies).

Shiva is also known as Vishwanath (lord of the universe), Mahadeva, Mahadev, Mahasu, Mahesh, Maheshvar, Shankar, Shambhu, Rudra, Hara, Trilochan, Devendra (chief of the gods), Neelkanth, Subhankar, Trilokinath (lord of the three realms), and Ghrneshwar (lord of compassion).

Rudra is said to be the scary, destructive and aggressive side of the usually calm Shiva. One of the prime examples of Shiva’s merciless side of his nature is the Rudra Tandav dance.

This puja is performed by giving Shiva a holy bath with specific ingredients and flowers. The ingredients are flowers, incense sticks, ghee, curd, honey, fresh milk, Panchamrit, rose water, sweets (mithai), Ganga Jal, camphor (kapoor), supari, laung, elaichi, bel patra, holy ash etc.

During the Samudra Manthan, where the gods and demons churned the Kshirasagar for obtaining Amrit (Elixir), many treasures came out. Precious gems, animals, gold, silver, Goddess Lakshmi, Dhanvantari  and so much more were obtained by both sides.

When the deadly poison Halahala was obtained from Samudra Manthan however, all the gods and demons knew they couldn’t drink it or they will be dead even if they are immortals. The poison was extremely dangerous as anyone coming in contact with it will surely perish. Hence, soon the gods and demons were asphyxiated and started dying.

Seeing the horrific sight before them, Brahma and Vishnu prayed to God Shiva for help, because only he had the power to control and digest such a poison. Shiva is the supreme among everyone-gods, demons and mortals, even other worldly creatures.

Hence, he took the responsibility and drank the poison. As it took effect, his body started turning blue. Parvati, his wife, was alarmed at the fast spreading nature of the poison and decided to take matters into her own hands. She quickly took the form of a Mahavidya and entered his throat to limit the spread of poison to just his throat, thus saving him eventually.

Rudrabhishek Puja is done to alleviate and soothe the effect of the poison in his neck, usually on Maha Shivratri.

Book lord Shiva puja online by ordering any of the Online Temple Services. If you opt for online Rudrabhishek Puja, you can choose from a god specific puja or a festival specific puja.

If opting for temple specific puja, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most prominent temple dedicated to the Maha Shiva.  Receive his divine blessings for yourself and your loved ones.

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