Rudranath is one of the Panchkedar, a
network of five sacred sites spread
throughout the Garhwal region; the other
four sites are Kedarnath, Kalpeshvar,
Tungnath, and Madmaheshvar. This net-
work of five sites is seen as a symbolic rep-
resentation of Shiva’s body, since Shiva is
believed to dwell in the Himalayas.
Rudranath is believed to be Shiva’s face.
Rudraprayag
Himalayan town and sacred site (tirtha)
at the junction of the Mandakiniand
Alakanandarivers, two Himalayan tribu-
taries of the GangesRiver. As with all the
other river junctions in the Garhwal
region, Rudraprayag is considered an
especially holy place for bathing (snana),
although the raging currents make it
dangerous. Above the junction of the
rivers is a temple to Shivain his form as
Rudra. According to local tradition, this
marked the place where the sage Narada
performed physical asceticism(tapas) to
gain his skill as a bard. Shiva, pleased
with Narada’s efforts, instructed Narada
in music and remained at the spot.
Rudra Sampraday
One of the four branches (sampraday) of
the Bairagi Naga ascetics. The name
Bairagi denotes ascetics who are devotees
(bhakta) of the god Vishnu. The name
Naga describes a class of fighting ascetics
recruited to protect the other Bairagi
ascetics who, because they were saintly,
scholarly men, could not protect them-
selves. Bairagi Nagas were organized in
military fashion into different anis or
“armies.” Until the beginning of the nine-
teenth century the Nagas’ primary occu-
pation was as mercenary soldiers,
although they also had substantial trad-
ing interests. The Nagas lent money at
interest, engaged in trade, and often
owned large amounts of property. They
were particularly powerful in parts of the
country where the centralized govern-
ment had broken down. Their roles as
mercenaries and in trade have both large-
ly disappeared in contemporary times.
The Rudra Sampraday traces its spir-
itual lineage through the philosopher
Vallabhacharyaand the earlier religious
teacher, Vishnuswami. The followers of
Vallabhacharya tend to be householders
rather than ascetics; Vallabhacharya
himself was married and had many chil-
dren. It is the smallest and least impor-
tant of the Bairagi Naga sampradays,
and the only event at which it figures is
the bathing (snana) processions at the
Kumbha Mela.Rukmini
In Hindu mythology, the chief queen of
the god Krishnain his later life as the
king of the city of Dwaraka. Rukmini is
the daughter of the king of Vidarbha,
and although both she and her parents
favor her marriage to Krishna, her
brother, who is Krishna’s bitter enemy,
makes arrangements to marry her to his
friend Shishupala. On her wedding day,
with all the guests assembled, Krishna
carries Rukmini off in his chariot.They are
married, and, according to tradition,
have ten sons.RukminiRudraksha seed. Devotees of the god Shiva
often identify themselves by wearing
necklaces made of these seeds.