Hindu iconography Hayagriva

hayagriva in khajuraho lakshamana temple

vedanta desika s dhyāna-śloka (meditative verse) on hayagrīva typifies deity s depiction in hindu iconography:

he has 4 lotus hands, 1 in mode of bestowing knowledge; holds books of wisdom, , other 2 hold conch , discus. beauty, fresh cut crystal, auspicious brilliance never decays. may lord of speech showers such cooling rays of grace on me forever manifest in heart!

in mahavairocana-sutra [sūtra of great sun] translated , copied in 1796 i-hsing says:

“beneath buddhas hayagriva. body color of sun @ dawn. wears flaming effulgence , skulls garland. nails long , sharp; face shows pair of bare tiger’s fangs. hair of burning lion’s mane.he awesomely powerful , fierce! fierce vidyaraja of lotus section. horse-jewel of cakravartin wanders 4 continents, , never rest, having great , terrible force of buddhas’. nature, , therefore possesses terrible , all-mighty light. amidst greatest obstacles of death , evil without slightest care own welfare, conspicuous , uncommon gallantry, intrepidity, , wrath legendary among gods, , therefore , vanquishes oppose him! many others submit him @ first sight! because though fierce , terrible; heart full of compassion (unbiased, dispassionate understanding).”

-- hayagrīva stotram, v.32

later on hayagriva referred “horse necked one”, defender of faith”, “terrible executioner”, “excellent horse”, , “aerial horse”.

this said, horse avatar of lord vishnu seen pulling sun heavens every day, bringing light darkness. hayagriva’s consort marichi, or lakshmi ), goddess of rising sun, more accurately sun’s light life force of things, , seen female [in, yin] aspect of hayagriva. relationship classic nonduality of hindu tantra. marichi represents essence of power of creation of cosmos, , in/yin half of dainichi nyôrai. whereas hayagriva represents other yang/yô aspect, of manifestation of power of yin/in action. in other words, hayagriva represents manifestation of yin/in power , action of cosmos manifested action. definition of tantra, of action.

in several other sources white horse pulls sun sky every morning. in others such great epic taraka-battle gods fallen on , attacked danava’s [demons], vishnu appears great ferocious warrior called hayagriva when comes aid. says;

“hayagriva appears in chariot, drawn 1,000 powerful steeds, crushing enemies of gods beneath him!”

sri laxmi hayagriva of parakala mutt

there many other references hayagriva throughout mahabharata. said vishnu comes battle conqueror in magnificent mystic form of great , terrible hayagriva;

“the great hayagriva having been praised in way different saints , ascetics, assumes great white horses head. verda’s [mantras] made shape, body built of great gods; in middle of head shiva, in heart brahmā [god of heaven]; rays of sun (marichi) mane, sun , moon eyes; vasus , sadhyas legs, in bones gods. agni [ka-ten; god of fire] tongue, goddess satya speech, while knees formed maruts , varuna. having assumed form, awesome wonder behold gods, vanquished asura, , cast them down, eyes red anger.”

invariably, hayagriva depicted seated, right hand either blessing supplicant or in vyākhyā mudrā pose of teaching. right hand holds akṣa-mālā (rosary), indicating identification meditative knowledge. left holds book, indicating role teacher. face serene , peaceful, if not smiling. unlike buddhist counterpart, there no hint of fearsome side in hindu description of deity. indeed, 2 deities seem totally unrelated 1 another.

hayagriva worshiped in solitary pose of meditation, in temple in thiruvanthipuram. form known yoga-hayagriva. however, commonly worshipped along consort lakshmi , known lakshmi-hayagriva. hayagriva in form presiding deity of mysore s parakala mutt, significant sri vaishnavism monastic institution.