Aja Ekapada

Aja Ekapada

अजैकपाद, ajaikapāda

Aja Ekapada is name of one of the 11 Rudras and the controlling Deity of nakshatra Purvabhadrapada (पूर्वाभाद्रपदा).

"Ekapada" (एकपाद, ekapāda) derives from eka + pāda, which can generally be translated as "consisting of one part" or "one-legged", but these words have other meanings:

eka (एक) – "excellent”, “unique"; "sincere"; "unified”, “unity".
pāda (पाद) – “basis”, “base”, “root”, “column”, that is, something supportive, something which all other parts rely on.

"Aja" (अज, aja) is "unborn, uncreated", but also "Agni’s vahana" (which is a ram or goat), and one of the names of the sign Aries.

This is probably related to the popular interpretation of Aja Ekapada as a "one-legged goat", which was developed by the Indologists McDonnell and Oldenberg. In their understanding, the figure of Devata is an allegory about the flashing of lightning (since his name in the hymns of the Vedas often coexists with thunder): the “goat” quickly moves Экапада.jpg along the rocks shrouded in clouds and sometimes strikes “with one foot” on the ground. This interpretation reflects the development of thought in the Puranic period rather than the meaning given to the name Aja Ekapada in the Vedas.

The only terracotta image of this Deity as a one-legged goat (ram) is kept in Bikaner Museum and belongs to Guptas’ period (3rd-5th centuries AD).

Aja Ekapad in Rig Veda

“Daughter of Paviru, thunder, Ekapad Aja, maintainer of heaven, Sindhu, sea waters: all Gods, hear my words, (they and also) Sarasvati along with Dhi (satiation, enjoyment) and Purandhi (abundance)”; “Sea waters, Sindhu, antariksha, Aja Ekapad, thunder, waves, Ahir Budhnya, let my words be heard, also all gods and my patrons.” |Mandala X.65-66|

“And we wish you to be glorified following the example of the priests who perform the fire ritual: Ahir Budhnya and Aja Ekapad, Trita, Chief of Ribhu, Savitar – may be pleased, also Apam Napad, who induces fast horses through our thoughts and labors.” |Mandala II.31|

Mentioned also in Mandala I.67 in comparison to the world-maintaining Agni:

“Like Aja (Ekapad) he supports the whole expanse of the earth; he supports the heavens with the mantras that he has realized (manifested)."

The name Aja Ekapad, as one of the Deities of Nakshatras, was used in Jyotish and Vedic rites.

In the comments of T. S. Kuppanna Shastri on the Vedanga Jyotish, we learn that when performing a yajna, when the ritual was performed by a priest for a yajnaman, in the sankalpa, instead of the name of nakshatra, its Devata was mentioned, for example, Aja Ekapad.

The idea was that the Deity himself makes a yajna for the person who ordered it, that is, the priest said: "Aja Ekapad conducts this yajna."

Aja Ekapad in Atharva Veda

“Rohita (red-colored) gave birth to heaven and earth; there Parameshthin stretched a connecting thread between them. Aja Ekapad founded himself; by his power he established the heavens and the earth. Rohita established heaven and earth; by him the heavenly light was revealed, also by him – the vault of heaven. By him the atmosphere and spaces were measured; through him the gods gained immortality.” || 13.1.6 ||

Thus, the general meaning of the name Aja Ekapada in the Vedas indicates something single, penetrating the universe, connecting and supporting it, which is especially consistent with the literal translation – "The One Unborn".

Aja Ekapada in post-Vedic texts

The commentators of these texts call Aja Ekapada the form of Agni or Surya, however, even here a common meaning can be traced: he is compared with a smoke or fire of altar, column-like going up – in the case of comparison with Agni, or with the only ray of the Sun falling on the earth like a pillar of light, – in case of comparison with Surya.

Subsequently the figure of Aja Ekapada is mentioned less and less, which is most likely due to the development of the cults of Rudra and Shiva: such forms as Ekapada Shiva, Ekapada Bhairava appear in the texts.

Aja Ekapad and Ahirbudhnya

It is also worth noting that Aja Ekapad in the Rigveda is inextricably linked with Ahi(r)-budhnya (also one of the Rudras, which is often found in the Puranas under the name Ahi(r)-vradhna) – these deities are almost always invoked together.

It is likely that they are not essentially different from each other, but are two sides of the same reality, just as the Purvabhadrapada nakshatra is closely related to the Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra. They have the same symbolism, and both of them are two parts of the modern constellation Pegasus.