Rudra was formed in mid-1992 as a trio, then made up of Kathir (bass, vocals), Shiva (drums) and Bala (guitar). It was then known as Rudhra. A fourth member, Selvam, was recruited to supplement Bala on guitar. With this line-up they released a 4-track demo, The Past, in 1994. Prior to this release, Rudhra was also featured in a few underground death metal compilation albums with Singaporean underground metal bands.
In early 1996, the band had a hiatus and the members were involved in separate bands. Towards the end of 1996, Kathir decided to resurrect Rudhra with a slight alteration to its name; thus Rudra (the most common English transliteration for the Sanskrit word) was born. Kathir teamed up with Shiva and started work in the studio, soon to be joined by Bala and Alvin Chua to complete the line up before recording the self-titled debut album in late 1997, which was released in June 1998. The band played a couple of gigs and also starting work on new material. The band replaced its two guitarists with Selvam (ex-member) and Kannan in January 2000.
With that line-up Rudra released its second album, The Aryan Crusade, in September 2001. In January 2002, Big O magazine[1] named this album as one of the top 40 albums of the year. In July 2003, Rudra released a third album, named after the battlefield featured in the Indian epic the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra.
After touring in Singapore, India, Indonesia and Thailand, Rudra released Brahmavidya: Primordial I, in April 2005. Brahmavidya: Primordial I represents a slight shift in the band's sound as it exhibits more black metal influences than the previous albums and presents a denser recording that showcases the band's progressive move into more dynamic leads, complex bass-lines, and tighter, faster drumming with a bigger emphasis on blast beats. With this release, Rudra toured the USA in January 2007.
In 2008, Kannan was replaced by Devan. In 2009, Rudra released Brahmavidya: Transcendental I as the second chapter in the Brahmavidya trilogy. They have collaborated with Singapore director Jacen Tan on the music video for Hymns from the Blazing Chariot. In 2009, the band went through another line up change with Vinod replacing longtime member Selvam.
In August 2010, Rudra headlined the first day of Baybeats, an annual 3-day alternative music festival, held in Singapore. This was probably one of the rarest moments in history where an Extreme Metal band headlines a non-metal music festival. The band has also invited the interest of musicologists and research papers have been published about both Vedic Metal and the band.
In November 2011, Rudra announced that they will be closing the 2011 Brahmavidya Tour by headlining the Strawberry Fields Rock Fest @ Bangalore, India. It has been more than 7 years since the band last played Bangalore.
In July 2011, Devan left the band to focus on his personal life. Subash joined the band officially in January 2012 to replace Devan.
Hymns From the Blazing Chariot
Rudra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kutastvaa kashmalamidam vishame samupasthitam
Anaryajushtamasvargyamakirtikaramarjuna
Arjuna Uvaca
Na hi prapashyami mamapanudyadyacchokamucchoshanamindriyanam
Avapya bhumavasapatnamrddham rajyam suranamapi cahipatyam
Evamuktva hrishikesham gudakeshah parantapah
Na yotsya iti govindamuktva tushnim babhuva ha
Dilemma amidst Kurukshetra yet Arjuna spoke like a wise man
The battle of Shreyas and Preyas enshrouds the Dharma Yuddha
Ashocyan anvashocas tvam
In both Krishna and Arjuna it shines eternally
One knows and the other knows not
A reality that shines even in one's ignorance
And shines the same in one's wisdom
Nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
Ubhayorapi drshtontah tvanayostattvadarshibhih
Avinashi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidam tatam
Vinashamavyayasyasya na kashchitkartumarhati
Amidst chaos tranquility is bestowed
In action you see inaction
To see beyond the horizon you've got to unlearn your learning
Amidst the battlefield of Kurukshetra Brahmavidya was unveiled to Arjuna
That the Self is certainly Brahman
That which no weapons can kill
Nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
Ubhayorapi drshtontah tvanayostattvadarshibhih
Avinashi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidam tatam
Vinashamavyayasyasya na kashchitkartumarhati
Yatra yogeshvarah krisno yatra oartho dhanurdharah
Tatra shrirvijayo bhutirdhruva nitirmatirmama
Om tatsaditi shrimadbhagavadgitasupanishatsu
Brahmavidyayam yogashastre shrikrishnarjunasamvade
Mokshasannyasayogo nama ashtadashodhyahah
The lyrics of Rudra's song Hymns From the Blazing Chariot are from an ancient Indian text called the Bhagavad Gita. In these lyrics, Shri Bhagavan speaks to Arjuna about the dilemma he faces in the battle of Kurukshetra. Arjuna speaks of his turmoil and how he cannot see how he can fight his own people. He does not want to win a physical kingdom at the cost of losing his own inner peace.
Shri Bhagavan responds to Arjuna's dilemma in the following verses, explaining that the true Self is beyond birth and death, beyond the material world. The eternal essence of our existence is Brahman, and it is indestructible. Our actions do not defile us, but rather our attachment and identification with them. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita explain how to attain this realization through yoga, through the mastery of the mind and the senses. It is a book of knowledge that gives guidance to anyone who is looking to live their life in accordance with dharma (righteousness).
Line by Line Meaning
Kutastvaa kashmalamidam vishame samupasthitam
Amidst the dilemma of Kurukshetra, Arjuna was surrounded by confusion.
Anaryajushtamasvargyamakirtikaramarjuna
Arjuna, a non-violent, virtuous and heaven-bound soul, is responsible for his own fame.
Na hi prapashyami mamapanudyadyacchokamucchoshanamindriyanam
I am unable to see how I can get rid of this sorrow, even if I gain vast earthly pleasures or rule over the heavens.
Avapya bhumavasapatnamrddham rajyam suranamapi cahipatyam
Even if I have gained an extremely prosperous and flourishing kingdom on earth, as well as a commanding position over the gods,
Evamuktva hrishikesham gudakeshah parantapah
After speaking thus to Krishna, Lord of the mind, Arjuna, subduer of foes, became still and silent.
Na yotsya iti govindamuktva tushnim babhuva ha
Saying that he will not fight, Arjuna fell silent in deep thought.
Shri bhagavan uvaca
The blessed Lord spoke thus:
Ashocyan anvashocas tvam
You grieve over those who should not be grieved for.
In both Krishna and Arjuna it shines eternally
The eternal Self shines alike in Krishna and Arjuna.
One knows and the other knows not
But Krishna knows it fully while Arjuna does not.
A reality that shines even in one's ignorance
This reality is hidden by ignorance, which is destroyed by knowledge.
And shines the same in one's wisdom
This knowledge shines forth in one's innermost being.
Nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be.
Ubhayorapi drshtontah tvanayostattvadarshibhih
Knowers of truth have realized this.
Avinashi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidam tatam
This indestructible reality is known as Brahman.
Vinashamavyayasyasya na kashchitkartumarhati
No one can destroy the imperishable soul.
Yatra yogeshvarah krisno yatra oartho dhanurdharah
Wherever there is Krishna, the Lord of yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, the archer, there will always be prosperity, victory, and righteousness.
Tatra shrirvijayo bhutirdhruva nitirmatirmama
I am certain that wherever they are, there will be wealth, victory, and unending righteousness.
Om tatsaditi shrimadbhagavadgitasupanishatsu
Thus ends the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, sung by the Lord Himself.
Brahmavidyayam yogashastre shrikrishnarjunasamvade
In the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna in the book of knowledge and the science of yoga, known as the Bhagavad Gita.
Mokshasannyasayogo nama ashtadashodhyahah
The Eighteenth Discourse, entitled: The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation.
Contributed by Juliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@harshasiddarth
Lyrics! \m/
Shri bhagavan uvaca
Kutastvaa kashmalamidam vishame samupasthitam
Anaryajushtamasvargyamakirtikaramarjuna
Arjuna Uvaca
Na hi prapashyami mamapanudyadyacchokamucchoshanamindriyanam
Avapya bhumavasapatnamrddham rajyam suranamapi cahipatyam
Sanjaya uvaca
Evamuktva hrishikesham gudakeshah parantapah
Na yotsya iti govindamuktva tushnim babhuva ha
Dilemma amidst Kurukshetra yet Arjuna spoke like a wise man
The battle of Shreyas and Preyas enshrouds the Dharma Yuddha
Ashocyan anvashocas tvam
In both Krishna and Arjuna it shines eternally
One knows and the other knows not
A reality that shines even in one's ignorance
And shines the same in one's wisdom
Nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
Ubhayorapi drshtontah tvanayostattvadarshibhih
Avinashi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidam tatam
Vinashamavyayasyasya na kashchitkartumarhati
Amidst chaos tranquility is bestowed
In action you see inaction
To see beyond the horizon you've got to unlearn your learning
Amidst the battlefield of Kurukshetra Brahmavidya was unveiled to Arjuna
That the Self is certainly Brahman
That which no weapons can kill
Nasato vidyate bhavo nabhavo vidyate satah
Ubhayorapi drshtontah tvanayostattvadarshibhih
Avinashi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidam tatam
Vinashamavyayasyasya na kashchitkartumarhati
Yatra yogeshvarah krisno yatra oartho dhanurdharah
Tatra shrirvijayo bhutirdhruva nitirmatirmama
Om tatsaditi shrimadbhagavadgitasupanishatsu
Brahmavidyayam yogashastre shrikrishnarjunasamvade
Mokshasannyasayogo nama ashtadashodhyahah
@ethan3283
Earlier I was reading the Bhagavad Gita for a religion and violence class, and thought "This would make for some sick metal lyrics". Lo and behold, it is!
@TremereTT
Use Aryaputhra from their Arian Crusade album as a discussion peace....
@rak000
The moral of this video/Tale was that "Ironically to become the ultimate warrior, one must first find inner peace."
@rexfarstrider99
Only in peace can we see the Truth of hatred.
@horustrismegistus1017
Well that's just flatly not true lol. I've been training for over 27 years and the more I hate the more powerful I become
@dentkort2046
@@horustrismegistus1017One can find peace in hate. Become pure hate.
@priyanshugautam666
whoaaa....!!! was looking for an Indian folk metal band... ended up in discovering Vedic metal
@VedanthBhatnagar
Priyanshu Gautam Try Demonic Resurrection, too
@AshishBihani
Bloodywood is doing a good job with metal renditions of punjabi folk
@user-qt9vn1yj8x
3:47
11 years after, I still got goosebumps when Lord Krishna manifests his Vishva-rupa.