HYMN TO HAYAGREEVA

Hayagreeva temple in Tiruvahindapuram

Yoga Hayagreeva

                       

    1)     God of knowledge, wisdom and sacred speech

             Beyond this world’s deceptive illusion’s reach

             Destroyer of tamasic ignorance dense!

             Ocean of illimitable mercy immense

              Retriever of Vedas by Brahma lost

              Greatest teacher of wisdom vast;

              Protector of Dharma, Lord of highest state

              Hail Hayagreeva, Parabrahman incarnate!

    2)       Shining with splendor of crystal mount

              With light of million moons beyond our count

               Appear Thou spreading cool spiritual rays

               To drive away darkness with boundless grace

               All gods reside within Thee, no other one

               All powers gathered in one and only Brahman;

               Lord Brahma and Rudra by thy will reside

               All gods obey Thee as their master and guide.

    3)        In Thy right hand the crystal rosary shines

               Symbol of spotless spiritual wisdom divine

               That lifts devotees from depths of ignorance

               And slaking their thirst with springs of bliss immense;

               Greatest preceptor of all gods and saint !

               Thy teaching gesture removes our deep-rooted taint

               Thy blessing hand gives us immortal life;

                Free us from deceiving doubts and worldly strife.

      4)        Greatest teacher of teachers divine !

                Even Vedas held in Thy palm cannot define

                Thy nature; Ev’n four-headed Brahma sought

                Thy help when creative powers he lost;

                 Assuming horse-headed form in a furious way

                 When sacred scriptures demons took away;

                  Killed those Asuras and restored the holy books

                   Blessing the lotus-born Lord with kind looks.

      5)        The Vedic hymns like jingling anklets sound

                 Thy left hand shines with ruby shine of corals bound;

                 Thy diamond-studded discus drives away evil things

                 Thy sacred conch with mystic Pranav rings;

                 Thy crystal beads, a chain of moons from milky seas;

                 Thy blessed name destroys our earthly maladies.  

                           

                 Thy mercy makes one speak with fluent grace

                 With depth of meaning in rhythmic noble lays.

        6)      Embodiment of Vedas and mystic lore!

                 Thy Udgheetha sound rings Pranava’s lore;

                  As Lord of sacrifices you do grant

                 The fruits of strength to gods who chant

                 Thy name incessantly to get Thy grace;

                 To fight against the demons and defeat;

                 Thy form, like full moon rise with crystal glow

                 Fills our bosoms with joy; Thy mercy bestow.

       7)       Thou, first incarnation before creation’s start

                  Brahma’s consort, the snow-white goddess got

                  Knowledge by thy grace in multiple arts;

                  Blessed by Thee, great poets and sages wrought

                  Immortal works with spontaneous flow;

                  Sage Brihaspati and Sage Vyasa know

                  The mystic power of Thy sacred name

                   That gives power of speech, wisdom and fame.

        8)        Thy high-pitched Hala Hala ringing sound

                    Produced Vedic echoes with meaning profound

                    Driving away nescience with dazzling light

                    Dissolving dark clouds thundering bright;

                    Benign Lakshmi with lotus-glow by Thy side

                    Showering mercy near Thee doth abide;

                    With Thy blessings the saint of Krishna’s shrine

                     Composed great hymns and salvation did attain.

          9)       By Thy magnanimous mercy, oh Lord!

                     Sage Vedanta Desika became a bard;

                     Golden-colored glittering Garuda taught

                     Thy powerful Mantra with devotion fraught;

                      When the sage meditated on the Aushadi Hill

                      Your great presence he had with blissful thrill;

                      And got Thy Icon direct from Thy hands

                      And gift of poesy to compose lyrics grand.

         10)        The holy names of mighty Mother you taught

                       With proper ways of worship and meanings fraught;

                       To sage Agasthya who felt himself blessed indeed;

                       To liberate mankind from grief and sinful deeds;

                       Without Thy benedictions none can realize

                        Unveil our illusions and make us wise;

                        Hail Hayagreeva, Supreme Godhead great!

                        Shower Thy blessings, we humbly prostrate.

                                      ********************

   Books referred: “Samyuktha Harshitha “ 6th February, 2015 issue

                             ‘Sri Hayagreeva Sthotram ‘by Sri Vedanta Desika

Ref : 

   1) Tamasic --- ignorance and idleness

   2) Asuras --- demons

   3) udgheetha --- mystic sound echoing Vedas     

   4)  pranava ---- mystic sound “OM” the source of all creation

                                      Also called ‘Sabda Brahman.”  

   5) Brihaspathi ----  Teacher and preceptor to gods       

   6)  Sage Vyasa --- Great teacher of Vedas and author of Puranas                       

   7) hala hala --- the mystic sound from which Vedas originated

   8) The saint of Krishna’s shrine , Vadiraja Theertha (1480-1600), who renovated the temple complex and established the paryaya system of worship in Udipi.

He  was the author of more than sixty famous books such as Upanyasaratnamala, and Tirthaprabhanda etc. He translated Madhva’a works into Kannada and contributed much to Haridasa movement. As an ardent devotee of Lord Hayagreeva he spent his life at Sodhe mutt (110 kms from Hubbali) till he entered Samadhi alive in 1600 A.D.

         9)  Vedanta Desika – (1268-1370)--- A great Vaishnavite poet, devotee and philosopher who composed more than one hundred books in Tamil, Sanskrit and Prakrit. When he was meditating on Aushadagiri hill near Tiruvahindrapuram, he had the darshan of Garuda (Vishnu’s mount) who initiated him into Hayagreeva mantra. He spent his life mostly in Sri Rangam. His famous poem ‘Hayagreeva Stotram’’ in thirty two stanzas describes the glory of Hayagreeva .

      10) Sage Agasthya  --- A famous Vedic Rishi who was  taught Lalitha Sahasranama (thousand names of Lalita, the universal Mother) by Lord Hayagreeva. This is mentioned in Brahmanda purana. The temple at Thirumeyachur near Kumbhakonam is said to be where Agastya was taught this Sahasranama. The Hayagreeva Upanishad belonging to Adharvana Veda describes the benefits of chanting the Hayagreeva mantras.

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             15th April, 2019                                                      Somaseshu Gutala