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.

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


             15th April, 2019                                                      Somaseshu Gutala

                                       

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.

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

The Tale of Mr. Gupta, the Master Planner

                 
                                             ( I )

                                                      

         Well-known for doing any work with perfection

       Still Gupta felt no sense of satisfaction;

       Like fabled demi-god in Yama’s domain

       He is par excellence in weighing loss and gain;

       He clinched many a deal with convincing speech

       Squeezing to maximum like a blood-sucking leech;

       He earned much wealth as clever consultant

       Yet still he has no sense of contentment;

       Like a staunch Spartan he lived in his cell

       With barest requirements he did dwell;

        No furniture except half-broken things too old

        He treated them with care as precious gold;

        He himself sat on a threadbare torn mat

        He asked his friends too to come and squat;

        A block of wood served him, as a table nice

        On old brown crumpled sheets he often writes;

        His friends he never tried to entertain

        Parties and dinner he treated as vain;

        About his body comforts he did never care

        His feelings and thoughts he did never share;

        He never sat idle or wasted a moment

        Full day engaged with several assignments

        In world of figures absorbed he racked his brain

        In counting skills he found his goal and gain;

        Showing health grounds, sugar or sweet he never ate

       “Don’t eat too much”, to friends he used to state;

        His stingy manners irked his middle-aged wife

        Yet she put up with him to sustain her life;

                              ( I I )

        Blessed with a daughter he became more shrewd

        How to earn more income he used to brood;

        He trained his daughter in accounting art

        In world of figures did she find her heart;

        He did not let her go outside his room

        In calculating skills he himself did groom;

        Right from childhood within mathematical maze

        She grew up like a bird confined in a cage;

        Poorly nourished, such strain she could not face

        Suddenly fell sick and lay down for days;

        Her father busy with work did not much care

        A severe hemorrhage she had and could not bear;

        In dying moments she was taken at once

        But on the way she died; her loss immense

        Shocked her father into repentance;

        All his plans collapsed; stern as a stone he remained

        Grief-stricken, from his duty he refrained;

        His clients noticed his state and spoke a lot

        To pull him out of grief; but he was caught

        Within his guilt and felt himself at fault

        Destiny’s plans beyond our reach he thought;

        Mere figures can’t predict man’s future plans

        Time-ordained patterns man can never scan;

        At last helped by friends and Time’s healing balm

        He realized his goal, became composed and calm;

        He dedicated his time to serve with love

        No more a master-planner, Gupta now;

        In every orphan’s eyes he saw his dearest daughter

        He got relief and joy in their merry laughter;

        He served orphans and treated them as his own kin

        In liberal help and support he felt free from sin.

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

        1st April, 2019                   Somaseshu Gutala

          

         

  Note : Fabled demi-god-- Chitragupta, who records all the sins and merits of the living beings.                    

   

            Yama --- God of death and justice.

 

       

      

  

                

THE TALE OF SHANKAR, THE SERVANT

                                                                                                                                                  

                          

                  

                 As an honest servant he earned good name

                 No scope for others his services to blame;

                 How to impress his masters he did know;
                 
                 He greets everyone with a respectful bow; 

                 Though not so strong he was too sharp and shrewd

                 His speech was soft and pleasing without being rude;

                 A lean figure with a sacred mark on his brow

                 With everyone he talked in a gentle voice low;

                 His polite manners, humble speech and style

                 Gave no suspicion to realize his guiles;

                 His prompt service  impressed his master much

                 A decent job he got and need not search;

                 Shankar profusely thanked his master too

                 Who was too strict to take rewards, he knew;

                 He gave his master’s children a pack of sweets

                 Tasty tit-bits in well-decked parcels neat;

                 He sang folk-songs and fairy tales he told with wit

                 With curious eyes the kids around him used to sit;

                 A few years passed and his master retired

                 A large family he had and so he required

                 Some source of means to sustain himself and his home;

                 He looked for a job and many places did he roam

                 He found no work that suits his age and skills

                 He met his friends and pursued his efforts still;

                Shankar prompted his master to purchase

                 A fertile strip of land and give him that on lease

                And promised his master a considerable gain

                Sitting at home without much toil and strain;

               The master felt his servant’s advice as right

                He put all his savings with trust and delight

                Shankar made much profits from his master’s farm

                For a few years he made his master happy and calm;

                By giving true accounts of profits he got

                An upright servant sent by God his master thought;

                 As time went on, Shankar’s ambition grew and grew

                 His master’s blind belief and trust in him he knew;

                 Citing some problems by and by he reduced the gains;

                 Much trust still in Shankar, his master did retain;

                  Shankar visited his master’s home every year

                  To show his gratitude with accounts clear;

                  Expressing regrets for dwindling income

                  Still promising prospects in years to come;

                  He regaled the kids with his gifts and sweets

                  He ever squatted on floor but never on a seat;

                  His humble manners made all trust his words and heart

                  An honest person he was, they always thought;

                  Years passed as Shankar grabbed gains more and more

                  Burdening his master with debts galore;

                  Far away from his farm his master did not know

                  His servant’s cunning hypocritical show;

                  Unable to pursue this failing enterprise

                  At last, he listened to his servant’s advice;

                  The rich fertile land did he sell with grief

                  To stop making more debts and get relief;

                   Shankar procured this farm at a throw-away price

                   Looting his lord he built a mansion nice;

                   He stopped his visits to his master’s door

                   Who lost his savings and became too poor;

                   The credulous master heard not others’ advice

                   Became a poor victim to his servant’s lies;

                   Shankar became a landlord with a rich estate

                   His master found himself in a fallen state.

                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                27th march, 2019                                Somaseshu Gutala
                      

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

              

 

My visit to Sri Nanjundeshwara Swamy Temple, Nanjangud (Karnataka)

Main Entrance Tower

Sculptures on the tower

large pillared mandapa

Shiva Statue outside the temple

Nandi Statue

Girija Kalyanam

Veerabhadra Murty

                     

Sankara Narayana Murty

Chandeeswara Prasanna Murty

Kiratarjuna Murty

Lord Ganapati

Tandaveswara Murty

River Kapila (Kabini)

River Gundal at Nanjangud

Nanjangud Old Bridge

Parasurama temple near Kabini River

 Most of the pilgrims visit Mysore to see the famous Chamundi temple on the hill. Another worthseeing temple is the thousand-year old Nanjundeshwara or Sri Kanteswara temple located in Nanjangud at a distance of 27kms from Mysore and is 162 kms from Bangalore.This temple has one of the tallest gopurams (192 feet) in Karnataka and is famous for its more than 120 beautiful sculptures and idols depicting the various manifestations of Lord Shiva. Nearly 65 Shiva Lingas of various sizes seen in the corridor will create an impression of Kailasha and hence this temple is meaningfully called “Dakshina Kailasha”. 

 On the left side of the Prakara, stone idols of Ganapati, several forms of Subramanya, Sapta Matrikas and Nayanmars are also seen along with the Idols of Tandaveshwara, Chandrasekhara Murti, Kiratarjuna Murti, Kalasamhara Murti, Andhakasura samhara Murti . These sculptures and idols are done during the reign of Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar who was a staunch devotee of Lord Nanjundeshwara. In the temple premises the stone sculptures of Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar along with his four wives is seen. The king also gifted two wooden chariots in 1819 along with vahanas (mounts) like a silver horse, an elephant and a Nandi. 

In the Inner sanctum Sri Kanteshwara is seen in the form of one-meter long greenish grey-colored Stone Shiva Linga. To the left of the main shrine the shrine of Lord Vishnu with Sri Devi and Bhudevi is seen. Behind this shrine Lord Chandikeshwara’s shrine is present. Parvathi’s shrine is seen in the northwestern side. The huge eight feet tall stone Nandi seen in the courtyard of the temple was installed by Dalavoy (Chief Commander) Vikramaraya in 1644.This east-facing temple is located on the right bank of the River Kapila (Kabini), a tributary of the river Cauvery. The bridge over the Kabini River is one of the oldest bridges in India. It has a railway line as well as a road over the bridge. It is 281 years old and is located at the entrance of the town. It was built in 1735 and is a heritage monument.

  This is one of the biggest temples in Karnataka with dimensions of 385”x165” feet with an area of 50,000 sq.ft. The tower at the main entrance with a seven-storeys and seven gold=-plated kalashas was erected in 1845 by the Queen Devajammami, wife of Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar. The yellow stone structure with stone idols on various tiers looks very attractive and impressive.

This temple was constructed first by western Ganga kings in 9^th century and was later developed and extended by various kings of Chola, Hoyasala, Vijayanagara and Wodeyar dynasties. The small square Garbha Griha (Inner sanctum) with cylindrical pillars was built during Ganga period. The Mantapa in front of the original sanctum was done during Hoyasala period in 13^th century. The four stucco Sikharas (small towers on shrines) on Sri Kanteshwara, Vishnu, Parvathi and Chandikeshwara were built by Vijayanagara Kings.

According to legend Lord Shiva drank Poison that emerged when gods and demons churned the milky ocean to get Amrita using the Mandhara Mount as the churning rod. To save the universe Shiva drank the deadly poison and retained it in his neck which turned blue due to the effect of poison. So the lord became Neelakanta(blue-throated). In Kannada the word nanju means “poison’ and so the lord was named as “Nanjundeshwara’ or “Sree Kanteshwara”. Sage Gautama stayed here for some time and installed a Shiva Lingam. Later Parashurama came here and bathed in Kapila  river to free himself from the sin of behading his mother, Renuka. The confluence of rivers Kapila and Gundlu (Kaundinya) is called Parasurama Kshetra .

 There is a shrine for Parasurama here built in Mysore style. There is a newly built Maruti temple also at this place. Guru dattatreya temple is seen very close to the Chamundeshwari temple near the banks of Kapila River.  One can see the idols of Pratyangira devi and Sri Maha Sarabheswara also in Chamundeshwari’s temple. The waters and soil near the Kapila are river are said to have curative properties. Tipu Sultan’s royal elephant regained eyesight when its eyes were washed with holy water from the temple. The king developed strong faith in the Lord and called him “Hakim Nanjundeshwara’ and gifted a Shiva Linga made of jade and an emerald necklace as a token of gratitude.

             In this temple special poojas are held on Mondays, New Moon day and Full Moon day every month. Abhishekams are done every day six times at 6.30 a.m., 9.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m.,12.00 p.m., 6.30 p.m., and 8.00 p.m. respectively. In November, during Chikka Jatre the idols of various gods are taken in a procession in three chariots. In April during Dodda Jatre, (car festival or Rathostava) a grand celebration takes place for ten days and the idols are taken in a procession in five chariots. Special poojas are performed during Maha Shiva rathri and Nava Rathri days also. The 

opening hours of the temple are from 6.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Annadanam is performed every day from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.

 Nanjangud is a town with a big industrial complex covering a huge area of 532 acres with thirty-six major industries, twelve medium industries and thirty-five small scale units. Most of these industries comprise textile, pharmaceutical, food processing and alcohol manufacturing units.The Ayurvedic Toothpowder and Ayurvedic products started by late B.V. Pandit are also very famous and are marketed all over the world. The Ayurvedic clinic “Sadvaidyasala” founded by him serves many people.  Nanjangud is also very popular for a special variety of Bananas called “Nanjnagud Rasabale”.

 The temple with beautiful sculptures will cast a lasting impression on the minds of pilgrims. The lighting in the corridors may be improved so that pilgrims will have an opportunity to see the idols and sculptures clearly. The outside premises may be beautified with a garden view. More shops and stalls giving information about this temple may be set up. 

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      21st March, 2018                             Somaseshu Gutala