The Deer Hunter?

[Bob Dixon]

Hi, I have a question regarding Shiva/Rudra.

I seem to think that, once, I read something that talked about either Shiva or Rudra being referred to as "the deer hunter".
Is Shiva/Rudra really given this name, or am I merely confused? Is there any deity who is given that name?

Sorry, it was a long time ago and I just remembered and got curious. I tried a Google search, but not much came up.

Shiva is depicted with a deer, right? And Rudra is a hunter, isn't he?

 

[Vinayaka]

Not usually, and nope. Sorry.

 

[Riverwolf]

I've never seen Siva with a deer, myself.

As for Rudra, He's often described as having a bow and arrow, but as far as I can tell, he's not described as a hunter.

 

[Vrindavana Das]

Never heard or read of something like this.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

I'm a bit puzzled by the answers you've gotten.

Yes, Shiva (Rudra) is the God of the Hunt in the Vedas, expert at procuring animals for sacrifice. But who are these animals, and what is the nature of the sacrifice?

And yes, he is often depicted with a deer in many of his forms. This also means mastery of the mind, which jumps from one object to the next heedlessly.

In the Mahabharata, when Arjuna goes to gain brahmastras from Shiva, it is significant that Arjuna, unsuspectingly, meets Shiva - in the guise of a hunter - while shooting at the same deer.

From the Vedas, Sri Rudram (the pinnacle of all Rudra-worship in the Vedas):

4.2.6 Punchishtebhyo nishadebhyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who is the hunter of birds who uses nets,
And to him who is the fisherman.



4.2.7 Ikshukrudbhyo dhanva krudhbyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who makes arrows,
And to him who makes bows.



4.2.8 Mrugayubhya swanibhyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who hunts animals,
And to him who drags dogs using a rope

 

[DeviChaaya]

There's also the story of Rudra shooting... Brahma, I think, because he lusted after his daughter. She took the form of a doe in order to flee and Brahma took the form of a stag and as he was mounting her, Rudra shot his arrow at him.

 

[Vinayaka]

I stand corrected. (I'm usually wrong anyway so no big deal) Since Siva is all, I suppose He could be depicted as anything. But Bob, it just isn't common. There are several depictions that are more common.

But why do you ask? Curiousity, or a deeper reason?

 

[Shuddhasattva]

But Bob, it just isn't common.

It is in the North.

 

[Maya3]

I have heard this story too, actually I have been at two Shivaratri celebrations when this story was told along with beautiful flute music.

Maya

 

[Bob Dixon]

I'm a bit puzzled by the answers you've gotten.

Yes, Shiva (Rudra) is the God of the Hunt in the Vedas, expert at procuring animals for sacrifice. But who are these animals, and what is the nature of the sacrifice?

And yes, he is often depicted with a deer in many of his forms. This also means mastery of the mind, which jumps from one object to the next heedlessly.

In the Mahabharata, when Arjuna goes to gain brahmastras from Shiva, it is significant that Arjuna, unsuspectingly, meets Shiva - in the guise of a hunter - while shooting at the same deer.

From the Vedas, Sri Rudram (the pinnacle of all Rudra-worship in the Vedas):

4.2.6 Punchishtebhyo nishadebhyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who is the hunter of birds who uses nets,
And to him who is the fisherman.



4.2.7 Ikshukrudbhyo dhanva krudhbyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who makes arrows,
And to him who makes bows.



4.2.8 Mrugayubhya swanibhyascha vo namo nama.
Salutations and salutations,
To him who hunts animals,
And to him who drags dogs using a rope

Very interesting stuff. So Shiva/Rudra isn't a necessarily a deer hunter, but he IS associated with deer and he IS a hunter, then.
Now the Maruts are associated with Rudra, aren't they? Does this mean that they, too, are associated with the hunt?

There's also the story of Rudra shooting... Brahma, I think, because he lusted after his daughter. She took the form of a doe in order to flee and Brahma took the form of a stag and as he was mounting her, Rudra shot his arrow at him.

Well, that's a specific instance of Rudra hunting deer. Perhaps "deer hunter" is just used in reference to this story, and not Rudra in general, then. Could that be a possibility?

But why do you ask? Curiousity, or a deeper reason?

A mix of both, actually. It's mostly curiosity, though. I don't have a huge attachment to deer hunters or anything.

I have heard this story too, actually I have been at two Shivaratri celebrations when this story was told along with beautiful flute music.

Maya

Oh, that sounds lovely!

 

[Riverwolf]

Very interesting stuff. So Shiva/Rudra isn't a necessarily a deer hunter, but he IS associated with deer and he IS a hunter, then.
Now the Maruts are associated with Rudra, aren't they? Does this mean that they, too, are associated with the hunt?

I'm pretty sure the Maruts are storm Gods.

 

[Me Myself]

My main association with it is the one already mentioned that Shiva has a deer because he caught it, symbolising that he is beyond the continuous jumping of the mind.

The vedas I understand favor animal sacrifice, so I ewouldn`t be surprised Shiva had the form of a hunter around there.