Class on Sri Rudram, chanting and meaning.
In this class we will learn to chant and study the meaning of this important set of mantras from the Vedas. Also known as Sata Rudiyam, its significance is underscored by the fact that it appears in all four Vedas. In all traditional Siva temples, the daily abhisekham includes the chanting of Rudram. On special occasions, such as Maha Sivaratri, it is continuously chanted up to 11 times (at normal speed, it takes about 15 minutes to chant Rudram).The last verse (number 24) of the Kaivalya Upanisad says “यः शतरुद्रियमधीते... ...कैवल्यं फलमश्नुते” The translation of the full verse is “He/she who recites the Satarudriya becomes purified as by fire, freed from the sin of drinking alcohol, free from the sin of killing a Brahmana, free from the sin of stealing gold and from the results of all commissions and omissions. On account of that he/she gains refuge in Lord Siva. One who is free from all duties (stages) of life (i.e. a renunciate) should recite this always, or (at least) once (a day). By this one attains the knowledge that destroys samsara, the endless life of becoming. Therefore, by knowing the self, one attains the fruits of liberation, one indeed attains the fruit of liberation.”
Swami Dayanandaji once said that Sri Rudram is considered to be the most powerful प्रायश्चित् कर्म (remedial action), just as saying ‘I am sorry’ is a very powerful antidote. But compared to a child saying ‘I am sorry’ without fully understanding what one is sorry for, an adult knowingly and purposefully saying ‘I am sorry’ lends it that much more force. This we know from our life’s experience. That is why studying the meaning of Sri Rudram verses makes it so much more effective.
In unfolding its meaning, I will generally follow the book by Pujya Swami Dayanandaji (wherein he has taken the Sankara Bhasya into account). That will be the main text. However, I will supplement it by bringing key points from a book by Swami Meshananda Giri, the founder of the Dakshinamurti Math in Kasi and Abu, whose clarity of vision and insight into describing the vision I have come to greatly admire.
It is not recommended to chant without the proper स्वराः (Vedic intonations). Once properly learned, the chanting together by a group of people, even though they may be chanting together for the first time, is just wonderful for the senses and the mind. Those that know chanting may skip the first half hour of the class, or they may refresh by the practice of it.