Bhagavan Hayagriva

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Dear Friends,

 

Vijaya Dashami day is meant for offering prayers to Bhagavan Hayagriva,

who is the presiding deity of knowledge. Since Vijaya Dashami is a

couple of days away, in this post I shall briefly summarize the

important aspects of Bhagavan Hayagriva from the works of Swami Desikan

and related references. Pranava and Udgita Vak are symbolized by

Bhagavan Hayagriva. Lakshmi Hayagriva Bhagavan is the Aradhana Murthy of

both Srimad Paundarikapuram Ashramam as well as Sri Parakala Matham. In

this context it

is useful to note that both Sri Ramanujacharya and Swami Desikan were

blessed with gifts of the Aradhana Murthy of Bhagavan Hayagriva by

Godess Saraswati and Garuda Bhagavan, respectively. The Vigraham

presented by Garuda Bhagavan to Swami Desikan was passed on to Sri

Brahma Tantra Svatantarar Swami, the founding father of Sri Parakala

Matham. The second idol became the prized possession of Sri Kumara

Varadachariar, the son of Swami Desikan, and was eventually established

as the Aradhana Murthy of Srimad Paundarikapuram Ashramam. Bhagavan

Hayagriva, who has the face of a horse and the body of a man, has been

extolled in glowing terms by Swami Desikan in the Hayagriva Stotram.

Vidushi Vedavalli's rendition of this stotram set to music is exquisite.

 

Swami Desikan was initiated into Garuda mantram by his Acharya, Sri

AppuLLar. Sri AppuLLar belonged to the Kidambi (one of the 74

Simhasanadipatis designated by Sri Ramanujacharya) lineage. Garuda

Mantram was a family treasure of Sri AppuLLar. AppuLLar is the Tamil

equivalent of Garudachar, a frequently used family name amongst Iyengars

from Karnataka. In Tamil, PuL denotes a bird. Here, the reference is to

the divine bird, Garuda or Pakshi Raja (the king of Birds).

Consequently, the Garuda Mantram contains among its five syllables the

two syllables constituted by the word Pakshi. After instructing Swami

Desikan on all the relevant Sri Vaishnava granthas, Rahasyas, and Sri

Bhashya, Sri AppuLLar initiated him into the recitation of Garuda

Mantram. H.H. Srimad Andavan Swamigal of Srimad

Paundarikapuram Ashramam, very affectionately describes the Vaibhavam of

Kidambi AppuLLar in his Yatiraja Sapthati Upanyasams and notes that

Sri AppuLLar was one of the select few Shishyas in the line of Sri

Ramanujacharya's disciples who had mastered both the Sri Bhashya and

the Rahasyarthas. Swami Desikan had mastered the tenets of Bhagavad

Ramanuja Siddhanta at a very young age and by the time he was twenty

years old, he used to give discourses on Bhagavad

Ramanuja Siddhantam.

 

After his Acharya's demise, Swami Desikan settled at Thiruvaheendrapuram

and worshipped Sri Devanayaka Perumal and Hemabjavalli Thaayar. During

his stay there, he ascended the hill near the Lord's temple known as

Oushadhadri and sat under an Aswatha tree and recited Garuda Mantram

with intense concentration for a considerable time. Garuda Bhagavan was

pleased with the

devotion of Swami Desikan and appeared before him and blessed him.

Garuda Bhagavan also gave an idol of Bhagavan Hayagriva in Yoga posture

to Swami Desikan for use in his daily Aaraadhanam. Garuda also initiated

Swami Desikan into the recitation of the Sacred Hayagreeva Mantram. The

Hayagriva Mantram contains references to PraNavam, Udgita Vak, and the

Veda Swaroopam of Bhagavan Hayagriva. Those who meditate on Bhagavan

Hayagriva through this mantram are blessed with unmatched scholarship

and unmitigated eloquence of speech.

 

The tremendous accomplishments of Swami Desikan are entirely due to

the Anugraham of Sri Garuda Bhagavan, who is recognized in Sri

Vaishnava tradition as Veda Swaroopi, and Bhagavan Hayagriva. Swami

Desikan composed the Garuda Panchasat to record his gratefulness to Sri

Garuda Bhagavan and incorporated the Garuda Mantram in the Garuda

Panchasat. He then recited Sri Hayagriva mantra and had the good fortune

of seeing Sri Hayagriva and received His blessings as well. Swami

composed the Hayagriva Stotram and incorporated all aspects of the

Hayagriva Mantram in this stotram.

 

The avataram of Hayagriva Bhagavan took place to restore the Vedas

to Brahma. Brahma became extremely conceited about his power as the

creator. Lord Narayana discerning this, decided to cure Brahma of his

pride. A couple of water droplets from the lotus seat of Brahma

incarnated as two Asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, who stole the Vedas from

Brahma. Unable to carry on his work of creation without the Vedas,

Brahma appealed to Lord Narayana for help. Lord Narayana incarnated as

Hayagriva restored the Vedas to Brahma upon killing the Asuras.

 

Swami Desikan has very eloquently described the greatness of Bhagavan

Hayagriva in the Hayagriva Stotram. Many references from the Hayagriva

Upanishad are succinctly contained in Swami Desikan's tribute. The

important aspects of Swami Desikan's salutation to Bhagavan Hayagriva in

the Hayagriva Stotram are the references to Bhagavan's Mantra Maya

Shariram, Veda Swaroopam, Pranava Swaroopam, Shuddha Satvam, and the

Udgita Vak.

 

In the opening salutation of the Hayagriva Stotram, Swami Desikan

salutes Bhagavan Hayagriva as the presiding deity of all knowledge

 

JnanAnanda Mayam Devam Nirmala Spatikakrutim AdAram Sarva VidyAnAm

Hayagrivam Upasmahe.

 

Next, Swami Desikan refers to the neighing sounds of Bhagavan Hayagriva

known as the "Hala Hala". The Hala Hala sound emanating from the throat

of Bhagavan Hayagriva contains the condensed Rks of the Rg, Yajur and

Sama Vedas. The Hala Hala sound removes all obstacles, dispels

inauspiciousness and paves the way for realizing one's desires (Ishta

PrApti). Swami Desikan then focusses on the Mantra Maya Shariram of

Bhagavan Hayagriva and eulogizes the Lord as the repository of all

Mantras. In verse 11 of the Hayagriva

Stotram, Swami Desikan refers to the Pranava Swaroopam form of Bhagavan.

Of particular importance is the line:

 

Vishuddha Satva Tatvena Jananti Tamakshara MatrukAm TvAm.

(The pure minded ones recognize your Shuddha satvam form).

 

Contemplating on the Pranava Swaroopam of Bhagavan Hayagriva through

this Shlokam even for a fraction of a second is sufficient to bless the

seeker with great scholarship and unmitigated eloquence of speech. This

aspect of Bhagavan Hayagriva is stated in the 15th verse.

 

In the 32nd Shlokam, Swami Desikan in sheer ecstasy asks to be blessed

with Lalamrutam. Bhagavan Hayagriva, in his infinite mercy, appeared

before Swami Desikan and drenched him with Lalamrutam (the nectar of

Bhagavan's saliva which contains the essence of Rg, Yajus, Sama Vedas

and Sakala Vidyas). Bhagavan Hayagriva blessed Swami Desikan with the

assurance that He (Bhagavan) would remain at the seat of Swami Desikan's

tongue while Swami is engaged in his work of propagating Ubhaya Vedanta

Siddhantam. Therefore, Swami Desikan's scholarship, eloquence of speech,

keen intellect, razor sharp memory and mastery over all skills were

unmatched.

 

Sri Srivatsankachariar Swamigal in his Upanyasams brilliantly

establishes connections between Lord Vamana and Bhagavan Hayagriva

through the Hayagriva stotram salutation

"Jihvagra Simhasana". Vamana is the presiding deity over Dadhi (yoghurt)

used in the performance of Tirumanjanam for the Lord. Dadhi Vamana is

saluted through the Vedic chant "DadhikraviNNO Akarushan JishNorashvasya

Vajina: SurabinomukhAkarat. PraNa Ayogam Shitarushath". Dadhi confers

Pushti Vardhanam(increased strength). Sri Srivatsankachariar Swamigal

refers to this in the

following manner:

Dadhi imparts a pleasing odor to the mouth. The inner meaning is that

Dadhi, whose presiding deity is Vamana, fortifies the tongue to utter

nothing but the truth and makes it a fitting royal seat (Simhasanam) for

Bhagavan Hayagriva.

 

In the final salutation of the Hayagriva Stotram, Swami Desikan has

blessed us with the Dhyana Shlokam on Bhagavan Hayagriva:

 

VyakhyA MuDRaM Kharasarasijai: Pustakam Shankha Chakrai:

Bibrabinna SpatikaruchirE Pundarike NishaNNa

Amlanashree: Amruta Vishadai: Amshubi: PlAvayanmAm

AvirbhuyAth Anaga Mahima MAnase VAgadisha:

 

The Aradhana Murthy Bhagavan Lakshmi-Hayagriva at the Desikar Sannidhi

of Srimad Paundarikapuram Ashramam depicts all aspects of the Dhyana

Shlokam salutation. The Shuba Tanu of Bhagavan Hayagriva is a real treat

to behold. Thayar's beauty is indescribable. During a recent visit to

India, I was blessed with a wonderful Darshanam of this Vigraham.

 

Sri Lakshmi Hayavadana Parabrahmane Namaha,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

 

 

 

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