Reading First Mantra Of Sri Rudram. Poem by Savita Tyagi

A few of days back it was Shiva Ratri. Like other years I did my Pooja and heard Sri Rudram on Utube. But lately, I have started to learn the meaning of Sri Rudram mantras too. When it comes to study our Vedic literature, Sri Rudram occupies the prime position. I still haven't read the meaning of all the mantras. But just the first one always catches my attention. How admirable it is that before praying for anything else, Rishi prays to pacify the anger of Sri Rudra and his bow and arrow.

Anger is the most destructive power. Thoughts produced by anger and charged like arrows destroy every thing. On a personal level my prayers and taking little bit of time to study Sri Rudram may not make any change in the world, but if I can keep my self calm and pray for my own anger to subside while reciting the first mantra of Sri Rudram I would have achieved some thing! The beautiful meanings of our ancient literature is what draws me more and more to it.

Below is the first mantra of Sri Rudram with word for word meaning and translation. I believe if we understand the meaning of Mantra and further contemplate on it, then reciting the mantra with devotion becomes very beneficial.


Mantra 1
नमस्ते रुद्र मन्यव उत त इषवे नम: ।
नमस्ते अस्तु धन्वने बाहुभ्यामुत ते नम: ॥ १
Meaning: रुद्र- Parameswara! ते-your, मन्यवे- to anger, नमः- prostration. उत -Further, ते-your, इषवे- to the arrow, नमः -prostration. ते- your, धन्वने- to the bow, नमः अस्तु- may my prostration be. उत- Further, ते- your, बाहुभ्याां- to the two arms, नमः- prostration.
O! Rudra (we) prostrate to your anger. Further (we) prostrate to your arrow, also may my prostration be to your bow, (and)further prostration to your two arms.

Sri Rudram is part of Krishna Yajurveda.
For this first mantra, Rishi is Aatreya, chandas is Anushtup and Devata is Sri Rudra.

3.2.2020