A Brief Note on Lord Hayagreeva

Lord Hayagreeva giving  back  Vedas to Brahma

Saint Vadiraja Theertha offering Naivedyam to Hayagreeva

 Lord Hayagreeva, one of the incarnations of Vishnu, is revered as the Lord of spiritual wisdom, intelligence and power of speech. He is also called as Hayavadana and Aswamukha.The worship of Hayagreeva or Hayagriva is seen in many countries like Nepal,Tibet,Bhutan and Japan with different names.In Buddhist texts Hayagreeva is considered as one of the incarnations of Bodhisattwa and is shown as  a fierce looking god “Krodha Vighnanataka”.

Hayagreeva is the manifestation of the supreme Brahman  and sacred sound Pranava. The ringing sound emerging from his throat called “Hala Hala” or “Udgheetha” echoes the sounds of sacred Vedas and drives away ignorance and dark evil forces. Vishnu appeared with the head of a horse to slay the demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, who took away the Vedas from Brahma and spread panic in the whole universe. When Brahma prayed to Vishnu to save Him, Lord Vishnu took this form and killed the demons and restored Vedas to Brahma to start creation.

 Lord Hayagreeva is crystal-white in complexion seated on a white lotus along with Lakshmi. He holds a crystal rosary and a book in his left hand and shows a teaching gesture (Vyakhya Mudra)with his right hand. He holds a discus and a white conch in his upper pair of hands. The incarnation of Hayagreeva happened on the full moon day in the month of Shravan (July-August).

  According to Matsya purana Hayagreeva Avatar is the first incarnation of Vishnu before creation. Even divinities and saints like Saraswathi, Brahma, Vyasa and Brihaspati worshipped Hayagreeva to receive proficiency in knowledge and arts. In Brahmanda Purana sage Agastya prayed to Hayagreeva and received the thousand names of Lailthambika which is famous as Lalitha Sahasram. In Vamana Purana it was written that Prahlada worshipped Hayagreeva at Asvatheertha near Kanauj. According to Naradiya Samhita Lord Hayagrreva dwells in northern direction.

Sri Vadiraja Theertha (1480-1600), a fervent devotee of Hayagreeva, used to cook a sweet dish called Hayagreeva maddi made of cooked Bengal gram, jaggery, fresh grated coconut and dry fruits, and keep it on his head chanting Hayagreeva mantra. A white horse used to appear and consume that sweet dish standing on its hind legs. He stayed in Sodhe Mutt in Sirsi taluk till he attained Jeeva Samadhi there. Another great Vaishnavite poet-philosopher, Sri Vedatna Desika (1268-1370), while meditating on the Aushadagiri Hill at Tiruvahindipuram  was given Hayagreeva mantra by Garuda, (Vishnu’s mount). Sri Vedanta Desika composed more than one hundred famous books. Sri Hayagreeva Sthothram is one among his famous works.

 In many Vishnu temples a shrine for Hayagreeva is seen. The main temples for Hayagreeva are seen in Parakala Mutt (Mysore), Tiruvahindipuram near Cuddalore in Tamilnadu, and in Nanganallur in Chennai and in Mani Kuta hazo near Guwahati. The shrines for Hayagreeva are seen in Sri Ranganatha temple (Sri Rangam), in Vaikunta Perumal Temple (Kanchi), in northern lane (uttara Mada veedhi) in Tirumala, Lakshmi  Hayagreeva temples are also seen in Pondicherry (Sri Rama Krishna Nagar), Madurai(near Koodal Alagar Perumal Kovil), Tirunelveli, Yoga Hayagreeva in Chettypuniyam village in Chengalpattu, Visakhapatnam(Thotlakonda), Nellore (Jonnavada), Machilipatnam and in Beechupalli (Telangana State).

  “Gnaanaanandamayam devam nirmala sphatikakritim

    Aadhaaram sarva vidyanaam Hayagreevam Upaasmahe.—Pancharatna Agama.

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