Horse-Headed Deity Hayagriva Avatar of Vishnu

Horse-Headed Deity Hayagriva Avatar of Vishnu is an intriguing character that originated in Hindu mythology, manifesting itself in various forms, eventually, the myth spread to Tibet where it also became an important deity. Other countries that adopted the myth surrounding the Hayagriva include the Mahayana Buddhist of Japan and China where he is referred to as Matou Guanyin, and regarded as the wrathful manifestation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin.

Between the 1st and 9th centuries, the Pyus practised an eclectic form of Buddhism, including Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana elements, Vaishnavism and Tantrism introduced by their Indian neighbours, and the existing nat and spirit worship. During this period the myth of the Hayagriva was introduced by the Hindus and is still revered by those of the Hindu faith in Burma today. A female form of the horse-headed Hayagriva referred to as a Yaksini known as Ashvamukji are seen on the wall murals of the Abeyadana Temple in Bagan.

The Hayagriva is primarily recognized as the horse-headed incarnation or avatar of Vishnu seen with two, four or six arms, the paramount deity of Vaishnavism, a prominent sect within Hinduism.

Hayagriva is also associated with a demon bearing the same name, who illicitly seized the Vedas, the revered and sacred scriptures of Hinduism, and was ultimately vanquished by Vishnu in his fish embodiment, Matsya.

Hayagriva in Sanskrit translates to “horse-necked” or “horse-faced,” and is derived from the combination of the words haya (horse) and griva (neck). The earliest mention of Hayagriva as a deity can be traced back to the Shatapatha Brahmana, a Vedic text believed to have originated around 1000 BCE. In this text, Hayagriva is depicted as the son of Prajapati, the creator god, who was beheaded by Indra, the king of gods, for his refusal to share his portion of the sacrificial offering. Indra then replaced Hayagriva’s head with that of a horse and restored him to life. As a result, Hayagriva assumed the role of the guardian of the south-east direction and became a revered teacher of the Vedas.

Hayagriva as avatar of Vishnu

In subsequent texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, Hayagriva is recognized as an avatar of Vishnu, the sustainer and guardian of the cosmos. In one myth, Vishnu once dozed off on the coils of Shesha, the serpent deity, while Brahma (the deity of creation) emerged from his navel on a lotus flower. Brahma proceeded to create the four Vedas from his four mouths and assigned them to four sages for dissemination. Nevertheless, two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha pilfered the Vedas from the sages and concealed them in the depths of the ocean.

Brahma then implored Vishnu for assistance, who roused from his slumber and adopted the guise of Hayagriva, a being with a horse’s head. Subsequently, he engaged in a battle with Madhu and Kaitabha for a millennium and ultimately vanquished them by outwitting them into granting him a boon. Thereafter, he retrieved the Vedas from the ocean and restored them to Brahma.

According to another myth, Vishnu transformed into a horse to unite with Mohini, his female incarnation who had enticed Shiva, the god of destruction, to acquire his seed. As a result of this union, Hayagriva emerged as a deity with the head of a horse, possessing immense wisdom and knowledge. Additionally, he was bestowed with Sudarshana Chakra, a rotating discus, and Panchajanya, a conch shell, both of which were weapons of Vishnu. Subsequently, Hayagriva assumed the role of a benefactor for intellectual pursuits and education, garnering reverence from sages and scholars.

The story of the horse-headed Hayagriva as a demon

It is worth noting that there exists an additional figure known as Hayagriva, who is portrayed as a villain in certain Hindu scriptures. Hayagriva is depicted as a danava, belonging to a group of demons, and was born to Kashyapa, a sage, and Danu, a goddess. He possessed a human body with the neck and head of a horse. Hayagriva was characterized by his immense power and pride, desiring to dethrone the deities and establish his dominion over the world. Furthermore, he harboured animosity towards humans and sought to prevent them from benefiting from the Vedas.

He discovered that Brahma had visited Kailasha, Shiva’s dwelling, to request assistance in disseminating the Vedas to mankind. Viewing this as a chance to pilfer the Vedas from Brahma’s possession, he concealed them in an underwater cave. He intended to withhold knowledge from humans, rendering them feeble and uninformed. Additionally, he aspired to unlock the mysteries of the Vedas for his gain.

Nonetheless, Vishnu thwarted his scheme by assuming another incarnation of Matsya, a fish. Vishnu had already anticipated this occurrence and had instructed Manu, the first human, to construct a vessel and safeguard himself from a catastrophic deluge that would engulf the entire earth. Subsequently, Vishnu manifested as a diminutive fish within Manu’s water vessel and beseeched him to provide care. Manu complied and relocated the fish to a larger receptacle as it grew in size.

Eventually, Vishnu unveiled his true identity to Manu and directed him to embark upon the vessel alongside seven sages, as well as a diverse array of animals and plants. He then fastened the vessel to his horn and skillfully guided it through the tumultuous floodwaters.

Subsequently, he discovered the cave where Hayagriva resided and initiated a confrontation. Hayagriva, feeling assured of his power, agreed to the challenge. Emerging from the cave, he held the Vedas in his mouth and launched an attack on Vishnu using his teeth and hooves. Despite this, Vishnu’s agility and intelligence surpassed his opponent’s. Evading the strikes, Vishnu swiftly cut Hayagriva’s throat with his sharp fin. He then retrieved the Vedas and returned them to Brahma. Additionally, he vanquished the other demons who had supported Hayagriva, restoring peace and order to the world.

Information Source:

Hayagriva – Horse-Headed Deity Hayagriva Avatar of Vishnu

By Prof. D. Sridhara Babu
SRI VENKATESWARA UNIVERSITY
TIRUPATI