Rudras

The 11 Rudras depicted with a third eye and ithyaphallic, Udayagiri Caves, c. 401 CE
Part of the Vyomamandala depicting Rudras - Circa 5th Century CE, Katra Keshava Deva; currently at Mathura Museum.

Rudras refer to the forms of the god Rudra, whose traditions have since been associated with Shiva. They make up eleven of the thirty-three gods in the Vedic pantheon.[1] They are at times identified with the storm deities referred to as Maruts, while at other times considered distinct from them.[2]

While the Vamana Purana describes Rudras as the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi, Maruts are described distinct from the Rudras as the 49 sons of Diti, sister of Aditi, and the attendants of Indra, rather than Rudra.[3]

  1. ^ Hopkins pp. 172-3
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference alain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Mani pp. 489-90