Sri Maha Rudram Yagna

In Rigved, ‘Rudra’ refers to the god of storms, winds, hails etc. It is generally related to the fierce form of Lord Shiva. Rudram Yagna performed to worship Shiva is called Rudra Yagna. It is the most sacred and powerful among all the Maha Yagna, encompassing two Nishkama Karmas, namely, Deva Yagna (worship of Shiva and Other divinities), and Manushya Yagna (performed with Large devotees who partake prasadam or grace of the Lord). It is said that Lord Shiva performed Rudra Yagna after He killed  Bhasmasura, with the help of Lord Vishnu, for the welfare of the humanity.

Rudram Yagna is performed, apart from various rituals such as Abhishekam etc of Shivalinga, by chanting the Sri Rudram Mantra from the Rigved. By chanting of this Mantra, Lord Shiva's various attributes and aspects are invoked and worshipped.

Scriptures claim high order spiritual and materialistic benefits for the participants in chanting.  The Rudram chanting can be done with or without the Vedic Yagna ritual. When accompanied with the Vedic fire ritual, it is called the Rudra Yagna.

This powerful Mantra is composed of two Mantra: Namakam and Chamkam. ‘Namakam’ due to the repeated usage of the word ‘namah’  in Namakam, and ‘ch’  in Chamkam. In ‘Namkam’ a devotee invokes various attributes of Lord Shiva and prays Him to reveal His merciful nature. In Chamkam, devotee prays Lord Shiva for materialistic benefits such as wealth, property, cattle, free from fear and disease etc. Each of these Mantra is composed of eleven Anuvaks (sub Mantra). In his treatise Maharnava Karma Vipaka, sage Satapatha mentions following four types of Yagna, depending on how many times each of above Mantra are recited.

Rudram Yagna
One recitation of Namakam, followed by one recitation of Chamkam.

Ekadash Rudram Yagna
Eleven recitations of Namakam, each recitation followed by recitation of one Anuvak of Chamkam.

Laghu Rudram Yagna
Eleven recitations of Ekadasha Rudram.

Maha Rudram Yagna
Eleven recitations of Laghu Rudram.