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Hayagriva Upanishad (हयग्रीवोपनिषद्) (view source)
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{{ToBeEdited}}'''''Hayagriva Upanishad''''' or '''''Hayagrivopanishad''''' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: हयग्रीव उपनिषत्) is one of 108 [[Upanishad]], written in [[Sanskrit]] language. It is a minor Upanishad, dedicated to [[Hayagriva]] – the horse-faced form of the god [[Vishnu]].<ref name="Dalal20102">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=157, 431}}</ref>
The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' presents [[mantra]]s to know the nature of the supreme reality [[Brahman]].<ref name="vedlit5892">Vedic Literature, Volume 1, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA589}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 579-580</ref>
==Name==
The term also refers to several different mythological characters found in all three major ancient Indic religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872">{{cite book|author=D Desai|editor=R. T. Vyas|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC|year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=87–88}}</ref><ref name="Mishra1999p1072">{{cite book|author=P. K. Mishra|title=Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AqSAQpCOifoC|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-368-7|pages=107–108}}</ref>
Hayagriva refers to a horse-themed avatar, also known as Ashvamukha, Ashvasirsa and Hayashirsa. In one legend, Hayagriva is the persistent horse who brought back the [[Vedas]] from asura Madhu and Kaitabha who stole them, during the mythical battle between good and evil – a battle described in the Mahabharata.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> In an alternate mythology, Hayagriva refers to a demon who stole the Vedas and was slain by Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) avatar, a story presented in the [[Bhagavata Purana]].<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> In a third version, a mythology presented in medieval era [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]], Vishnu appears in a hybrid human-body, horse-headed form called Hiyagriva who battles and kills a horse-like demon also named Hiyagriva.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> Finally, in Pancaratra Vaishnava tradition, Hayagriva-Vishnu becomes the god of learning and one who protects, maintains the Vedas.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /><ref name="Mishra1999p1072" /> In the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'', the term refers to half-human horse-headed Vishnu avatar who is the teacher of humanity.
==Content==
The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' has 20 verses and is divided into two chapters. It is narrated as a sermon by the god [[Brahma]] to sage [[Narada]]. The text opens with an invocation to the god [[Vishnu]], [[Indra]], [[Garuda]], the [[Sun]], and [[Brihaspati]] are also invoked for welfare of all.<ref name="translation2">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/atharva_veda/hayagriva.html | title=Hayagriva Upanishad | publisher=Vedanta Spiritual Library | accessdate=14 January 2015 | author=P.R.Ramachander}}</ref><ref name="Nair20082">{{cite book|author=Shantha N. Nair|title=Echoes of Ancient Indian Wisdom|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1020-7|pages=387–8}}</ref>
Narada asks Brahma to grant him the knowledge of ''[[Brahman]]'', which saves one from sins and grants spiritual and material wealth. Brahma declares that one who "masters" the [[mantra]]s of [[Hayagriva]] learns the wisdom of the scriptures [[Śruti|Shruti]]s ("heard knowledge"), [[Smriti]]s (memorized knowledge), [[Itihasa]]s (Hindu epics, literally "history"), and [[Puranas]] and is bestowed with wealth. Brahma then starts narrating the various mantras that are used in Hayagriva's worship.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
The first mantra salutes Hayagriva as Vishnu, the ruler of knowledge. He is praised beyond the material universe and as a saviour. The second mantra identifies Hayagriva as the manifestation of the three [[Vedas]] — [[Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda]] and [[Samaveda]] — and [[Om]]. He is, asserts the text, the symbol of all Vedas, the teacher of everything. Hayagriva is described to be radiant like the moon and holds a [[shankha]] (conch), [[Sudarshana chakra|chakra]] (discus) and a book in his three hands, while the fourth makes the ''maha-[[mudra]]'' hand gesture. The 29-syllabled mantra (''Om srim hlaum om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya vishnave mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') and 28-syllable mantra (''Om srim hrim aim aim aim klim klim sauh sauh hrim om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') are then told, ending the first chapter.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
The second chapter begins with Brahma telling about the one-syllable mantra (''bija'') of Hayagriva: ''Lhoum''.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" /> The mantra ''Amritam kuru kuru svaha'', asserts the text, grants control over words, wealth and the eight [[siddhi]]s. Another mantra ''Lhoum sakala-samrajyena siddhim kuru kuru svaha'' through which, claims the text, in life the reciter gains pleasures and after death, salvation. This helps one realize the true spiritual meanings of the Vedic maxims ([[Mahāvākyas|Mahavakya]]):
*''Prajnanam Brahma'' (Brahman is [[Prajna (Vedic)|wisdom]]),
*''Tat tvam asi'' (You are that)",
*''Ayam atma brahma'' (My soul is Brahman),
*''Aham Brahmasmi'' (I am Brahman).
Four supplementary Vedic mantras are then recited, which are "''Yad Vak Vadanthi ...''", "''Gowrimimaya...''", "''Oshtapidhana ...''" and "''Sa Sarpareeramathim ...''".<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
In tradition of Upanishads, the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' ends by mentioning the merits of the text. The canon declares that one who recites the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' on [[ekadashi]] (11th lunar day, which is sacred to Vishnu) would be blessed with Hayagriva's grace and attain salvation. The text ends with a prayer that this knowledge of the ''Brahman'' may remain with the devotee.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
==References==
<references />
The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' presents [[mantra]]s to know the nature of the supreme reality [[Brahman]].<ref name="vedlit5892">Vedic Literature, Volume 1, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA589}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 579-580</ref>
==Name==
The term also refers to several different mythological characters found in all three major ancient Indic religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872">{{cite book|author=D Desai|editor=R. T. Vyas|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC|year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=87–88}}</ref><ref name="Mishra1999p1072">{{cite book|author=P. K. Mishra|title=Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AqSAQpCOifoC|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-368-7|pages=107–108}}</ref>
Hayagriva refers to a horse-themed avatar, also known as Ashvamukha, Ashvasirsa and Hayashirsa. In one legend, Hayagriva is the persistent horse who brought back the [[Vedas]] from asura Madhu and Kaitabha who stole them, during the mythical battle between good and evil – a battle described in the Mahabharata.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> In an alternate mythology, Hayagriva refers to a demon who stole the Vedas and was slain by Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) avatar, a story presented in the [[Bhagavata Purana]].<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> In a third version, a mythology presented in medieval era [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]], Vishnu appears in a hybrid human-body, horse-headed form called Hiyagriva who battles and kills a horse-like demon also named Hiyagriva.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /> Finally, in Pancaratra Vaishnava tradition, Hayagriva-Vishnu becomes the god of learning and one who protects, maintains the Vedas.<ref name="VyasShah1995p872" /><ref name="Mishra1999p1072" /> In the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'', the term refers to half-human horse-headed Vishnu avatar who is the teacher of humanity.
==Content==
The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' has 20 verses and is divided into two chapters. It is narrated as a sermon by the god [[Brahma]] to sage [[Narada]]. The text opens with an invocation to the god [[Vishnu]], [[Indra]], [[Garuda]], the [[Sun]], and [[Brihaspati]] are also invoked for welfare of all.<ref name="translation2">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/atharva_veda/hayagriva.html | title=Hayagriva Upanishad | publisher=Vedanta Spiritual Library | accessdate=14 January 2015 | author=P.R.Ramachander}}</ref><ref name="Nair20082">{{cite book|author=Shantha N. Nair|title=Echoes of Ancient Indian Wisdom|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1020-7|pages=387–8}}</ref>
Narada asks Brahma to grant him the knowledge of ''[[Brahman]]'', which saves one from sins and grants spiritual and material wealth. Brahma declares that one who "masters" the [[mantra]]s of [[Hayagriva]] learns the wisdom of the scriptures [[Śruti|Shruti]]s ("heard knowledge"), [[Smriti]]s (memorized knowledge), [[Itihasa]]s (Hindu epics, literally "history"), and [[Puranas]] and is bestowed with wealth. Brahma then starts narrating the various mantras that are used in Hayagriva's worship.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
The first mantra salutes Hayagriva as Vishnu, the ruler of knowledge. He is praised beyond the material universe and as a saviour. The second mantra identifies Hayagriva as the manifestation of the three [[Vedas]] — [[Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda]] and [[Samaveda]] — and [[Om]]. He is, asserts the text, the symbol of all Vedas, the teacher of everything. Hayagriva is described to be radiant like the moon and holds a [[shankha]] (conch), [[Sudarshana chakra|chakra]] (discus) and a book in his three hands, while the fourth makes the ''maha-[[mudra]]'' hand gesture. The 29-syllabled mantra (''Om srim hlaum om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya vishnave mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') and 28-syllable mantra (''Om srim hrim aim aim aim klim klim sauh sauh hrim om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') are then told, ending the first chapter.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
The second chapter begins with Brahma telling about the one-syllable mantra (''bija'') of Hayagriva: ''Lhoum''.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" /> The mantra ''Amritam kuru kuru svaha'', asserts the text, grants control over words, wealth and the eight [[siddhi]]s. Another mantra ''Lhoum sakala-samrajyena siddhim kuru kuru svaha'' through which, claims the text, in life the reciter gains pleasures and after death, salvation. This helps one realize the true spiritual meanings of the Vedic maxims ([[Mahāvākyas|Mahavakya]]):
*''Prajnanam Brahma'' (Brahman is [[Prajna (Vedic)|wisdom]]),
*''Tat tvam asi'' (You are that)",
*''Ayam atma brahma'' (My soul is Brahman),
*''Aham Brahmasmi'' (I am Brahman).
Four supplementary Vedic mantras are then recited, which are "''Yad Vak Vadanthi ...''", "''Gowrimimaya...''", "''Oshtapidhana ...''" and "''Sa Sarpareeramathim ...''".<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
In tradition of Upanishads, the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' ends by mentioning the merits of the text. The canon declares that one who recites the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' on [[ekadashi]] (11th lunar day, which is sacred to Vishnu) would be blessed with Hayagriva's grace and attain salvation. The text ends with a prayer that this knowledge of the ''Brahman'' may remain with the devotee.<ref name="translation2" /><ref name="Nair20082" />
==References==
<references />