Rudrarupa (रुद्ररूपा, IAST: Rudrarūpā) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “She who has assumed the form of Rudra”. Rudra (the howling, auspiciously fierce deity, Śiva's fire-aspect) and rūpā (having the form of) together declare that Lalitā's own being encompasses and radiates the terrible, purifying splendour of Rudra himself.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Rudra, from the root rud (to howl, to weep) or alternatively from the root dru (to run, to flow), is among the oldest names for the fierce, untamed divine presence that appears in the Ṛgveda; as an aspect of Śiva he embodies both dread and healing, storm and grace. In naming Lalitā as Rudrarūpā, the Sahasranāma declares that the Goddess contains even this fierce masculine power within the fullness of her nature. This is consonant with the Śākta view that Śiva without Śakti is inert, while Śakti animates and transcends all his forms.

Rudrarūpā emphasises the non-dual unity of Śiva and Śakti that is central to Śrīvidyā and Trika philosophy, reflecting the Goddess's all-encompassing sovereignty. Pronounced rud-ra-ROO-paa.

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Scriptural source

Rudrarupa appears in the Lalitha Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Lalitha.

Astrology — nakshatra, rashi & numerology

By the standard Vedic correspondence between a name’s first syllable and the lunar mansion, Rudrarupa aligns with the Swati nakshatra, under the Tula rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 5.