Lord Hayagriva

[Guest guest]

Like Ganesha, whose origins can be

found in the non-Vedic Tantric beliefs, Hayagriva, the asura who

stole the

Vedas and hid it under the sea, also had Tantik beginnings. His

act naturally

caused resentment amongst the established Brahminical Order.

But, killing it

with an embrace, as it were, in order to send the original

Hayagriva into

oblivion and absorb its believers into the Brahmincal fold,

legends of

Hayagriva, the Supreme Mahavishnu, the protector of the Vedas,

had to be

created to deal with the asura who stole the Vedas. A poison as

an antedote to

poison. Today, Hayagriva, the Buddhist redhorse-faced demon, has

also been

likewise transformed into Hayagriva, the white-horse faced

emanation of

Avalokiteshwara, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Compassion. All

this can be

dated to periods later then 5th Century, prior to which there is

no historical

evidence of Hayagriva. Matsyapurana or the Vedas do not have any

refs to this

concept.

 

 

In the material, when we want to get a degree in law, for example, we

find out which are the most reputable schools, see if we can get

admission, and spend several years studying under professors and also

choosing a method of study recommended by them and books they recommend.

Then only we will be able to pass the exam and call ourselves lawyers.

But we all have opinions about law. Whether it is about the O J Simpson

case or Monica Lewinsky, everyone has opinions on who is guilty or not

guilty. But no matter what the majority opinion is, it is only what the

judge decides that matters.

 

Similarly, when it comes to spiritual quest, the ones with the perfect

answers to all questions are the ones who have transcended the stages of

waking, dreaming and deep sleep. They have reached the turiya stage, in

which they can literally see the Vedas, which are as perfect as God

Himself and tell us everything about Him.

 

It is such people who have found out which of the Puranas, itihaasas and

smritis that are totally consistent with all the Vedas and to be

accepted. To be able to understand God, we have to approach such

Acharyas and learn from them only.

 

The Hayagriva avataram did not take place on earth. There is therefore

no relation to the Hayagriva demon of Buddhist folklore. Besides there

were 1,122 branches of the Vedas available among people even a thousand

years ago. Today we only have 15 or so branches left. We cannot

therefore say what was known or not known from the Vedas, going back

into the past. Sri Sadagopan can confirm for us whether the Hayagriva

mantra is from the Vedas or not.

 

Besides, the Divya Prabandhams, the essence of the Vedas, give us two

Pasurams on Lord Hayagriva, In that the Hayagriva mantra has been built

in and through these Pasurams you have a source of all knowledge.

 

Sri Krishna says to Arjuna (Chapter 9 verse 1) "I will tell you, who are

without jealousy, this most secret knowledge along with the special

knowledge, knowing which, you will be freed from all evil." It also

means that He will not reveal this information to one who is not free

from jealousy towards Sri Krishna manifested in the form of jealousy,

contempt or just plain ignorance of the presence of His close devotees.

 

Our Acharyas are today the source for freedom from all evil. They are

the ones who have true knowledge. Because of their purity, they will

free the rest of the population from tinges of jealousy towards Sriman

Narayana. As far as people who consider Sriman Narayana's incarnations

to be a figment of somebody's imagination, Sri Krishna describes:

(Chapter 9 verses 10 and 11) "Fools deride Me, the One who has taken a

human form, without knowing My supreme nature as the Lord of All

creatures. Those who have a deluding prakriti of the nature of Rakshasa

and asuras; their hopes are in vain, their actions are in vain and their

knowledge is in vain and their minds are perverted."

 

An Acharya from the Gaudiya sampradaya submitted that reading literature

from these sources is like drinking milk which has been touched by the

poison fangs of a snake. Just doing some research into various books

will not give one true knowledge. These historical datings are not

correct as well.

 

We can see that in the case of Krishna Janmashtami, the ashtami and

Rohini nakshatras do not come together on the same day. They did

however when Sri Krishna was born. Similarly, for the births of our

Azhwars etc our Acharyas have given evidence in relation to the day they

were born, the nakshatra in which they were born, the thithi in which

they were born, the place in which they were born. If we piece all this

together, we will realize that it does not match with evidence of people

claiming to have done research into the historical periods of the

Azhwars and that they lived between the 6th and 8th centuries AD.

 

Unfortunately, this is what today's atheistic education teaches us. As

stated in verse after verse of Yatiraja Saptati, we have to be on our

guard and only books approved by our Acharyas. Then by service to these

Acharyas and observing the rules they prescribe for us, we will get true

knowledge, after which there will be no misery either here on earth or

in Sri Vaikuntham after this life.

 

Srivaishnavism does not recognize Buddhism or any of the other religions

as being a valid path for getting rid of karma altogether. Buddhism

serves a minimum purpose of converting gross atheists into worshippers

of Buddha. To attract this segment of the population, this religion

denied the validity of the Vedas. Again there are religions like Islam

which talk about surrender to God, but allow activities like animal

sacrifices which the Vedas consider sinful for kaliyuga. It is not

possible to attain perfection by trying to synthesize the teachings of

various religions. If that were to be the case then Ramanujacharya and

Swami Desikan would have done that rather than give us Sri Bhashyam,

Sarvaartha Siddhi and Satadhooshani.

 

It is true that an individual has the freedom to practice a religion of

their choice. But this is a list for Srivaishnavas. A statement that

Lord Hayagriva is a creation of mankind to serve his need for petty

politics will not go unchallenged.

 

Namo Narayana

jaganath

[Guest guest]

Sri Jaganath had written:

> It is true that an individual has the freedom to practice a religion of

> their choice. But this is a list for Srivaishnavas.

 

I would like to point out an important fact about this

List, one that has been true from the beginning and

which has been noted in the informatory note about the List.

 

The Bhakti List is NOT merely _for_ Sri Vaishnavas. As the

informative note states:

 

This is an informal discussion group; consider it

a large living room of sorts, welcoming people from all

backgrounds. The only assumption is that you consider

yourself a devotee of the Lord, are inclined towards that

direction, or are interested in scholarly inquiry in Sri

Vaishnavism.

 

This is an important distinction. In other words the purpose

of the Bhakti List has always been for _discussing_ all aspects

of Sri Vaishnavism. Such a discussion is open to all people,

Sri Vaishnavas or otherwise.

 

Thanking you for your patience,

Mani