What is the difference between Shiva and Rudra?

Previously, I said Lord Rudra is the most fearsome form of SadaShiva, but it doesn’t mean Rudra’s form is unimportant or his anger devalues him. The Rudram form of lord Shiva is the destroyer of evil. In the Rudra form, Shiva destroys ego, lust, passion, and the darker side of the person and frees him or her from all the infirmities.

In fact, the Rudra form of Shiva makes him lord of absolute wildness and strength. Although Rudra is a form that peacefully lies in Shiva Shankara, Shiva rarely manifests it. But whenever lord Shiva gets angry, his Rudra form takes over him and he becomes catastrophic by nature.

Therefore, the Rudra form is synonymous with Shiva’s anger. There is one similarity between Shiva and Rudra. Both Shiva and Rudra have an immense love for Kashi. 

At the end of the cosmic cycle, Shiva takes the form of the Rudra and destroys everything except the city of Kashi. Before destroying everything, Shiva, as Rudra, puts Kashi on his trident.

Also Read:

1: Why does lord Shiva smoke weed?

2: 15 Amazing Benefit of Om Namah Shivaya Chanting

At the time of universe creation, Sadashiva manifested himself into 11 Rudra to manage the entire process of creation and destruction. The fact is Shiva and Rudra are inseparable from each other.

The Natraj dancing form is the manifestation of Shiva’s Rudram Dancing form.

• Shiva’s Rudra form decapitated Daksha’s head,
• Lord Brahma’s fifth head
• Lord Ganesha’s head
• He turned Kaam Deva into ashes from the fire which came from his third eye.

Let me tell you something, Rudra is the form of Shiva, which no one ever wanted to experience. Shiva meditates most of the time to keep calm inside to handle Rudra’s aggression, as well as to keep his sights on the world. In the highest aspect, both Shiva and Rudra are one. And both are the manifestation of the shapeless Sadashiva.

• Rudra is the first physical form of Sadashiva, which came out in the angry form when Brahma and Vishnu started fighting regarding their superiority over each other.
• Shiva is a kind, and auspicious form of Shiva, whereas Rudra is Shiva’s angry form, which is devastating in nature.
• Shiva’s form is more human because he has a loving family, unlike Rudra, who is wild and knows no rules.
• In the Rig Veda, Shiva is referred to as Rudra, representing the darkest energy that physicists are currently studying.
• There are 75 times Rudra’s name is used in Rig Veda, and Shiva is named 18 times.
• Lord Hanuman is also the Rudra avatar of Shiva, an adherent devotee of Ram Naam.