Śulagava

By Swami Harshananda

Śulagava is a very ancient sacrifice performed to please Rudra/Śiva^[1] when cattle were stricken with pests or diseases. It could be performed during the bright half of a month and on an auspicious nakṣatra.

Though an ox is used for sacrifice in the most ancient period, it was substituted by a goat or even cooked food in the later days due to the repugnance of the people against it. The deity was called īśāna.^[2] The rite soon went out of vogue.

References[edit]

↑ Śiva was called Śulin, the wielder of śula or the spear or the trident.
↑ He is the same deity Śiva.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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[1] Śiva was called Śulin, the wielder of śula or the spear or the trident.

[2] He is the same deity Śiva.

[1]

[2]