SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

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288 THE SAIVA RELIGION.
ITIHASA.
The only worship universal in the days of Mahabharata
was that of Siva and Siva Linga, and we refer to the stories of
Krishna s and Arjuna s Tapas, and the discussion between Asvatthama
and Vyasa. Most of the temples mentioned in the
Aranya Parva are temples dedicated to Siva.
MAHABHARATA.
Oriental Scholars point out that the superior castes in the
days of Mahabharata were following the worship of Siva, and
we quote the following passage from Anusasana Parva, wnich
explains at the same time Rudra s different aspects,
the beneficient
and apparently terrible forms, as the Creator, Protector,
and Destroyer.
Lord Krishna says Large armed Yudhishtira, under
stand from me the greatness of the glorious, multiform, manynamed
Rudra. They call Mahadeva, Agni, Jsana, Mahe^vara,
one-eyed, Tryambaka, the Universal-formed and Siva. Brahmans
versed in the Veda know two bodies of this God, one
awful, one auspicious, and these two bodies have again many
forms. The dire and awful body is fire, lightning, the sun; the
auspicious and beautiful body is virtue, water and the moon.
The Half of His essence is fire and the other half is called the
moon. The one which is His auspicious body practises chastity,
while the other which is His most dreadful body, destroys the
world. From His being Lord and Great, He is called Mahasvara.
Since He consumes, since He is fiery, fierce, glorious, an
eater of flesh, blood and marrow, He is called Rudra. As He is
the greatest of the Gods, as His domain is wide and as He pre
serves the vast Universe, He is called Mahadeva. PVom His,
smoky colour He is called Dhurjati. Since He constantly
prospers all men in all their acts seeking their welfare T
.
(Si a),
He is therefore called Siva."
And it can be shown that the picture of God as the^riercc
and the terrible is not altogether an un-Christian idea. The fol
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