Re: Digest bhakti.v003.n043
From the Bhakti List Archives
• August 11, 1998
In a message dated 8/11/98 12:13:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Sri TV Venkat writes: << I have a doubt regarding the name Hayagreeva. While it is known that Sri Hayagreeva is the form of Sriman Narayana as the bestower of knowledge, it is also known that the name Hayagreeva is given to an asura who in fact tried to destroy all the Vedas by taking it under the sea. How is this that the same name is given to both the Supreme God and to a demon. I request the scholars in our group to enlighten me on what is the difference between the two names. >> While pure Bhaktas may be able to offer deeper insight into the term, "Hayagriva", let me share with Sahridayas here what I gathered from my study. An understanding of Tantra and its spread across isms of the past lends insight into how Hayagriva, the asura becomes the Hayagriva, emanation of the Supreme. References of Hayagriva abound in Buddhist works where the transformation seems to have taken place. 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. I hope other Bhaktas can illumine further... Adiyen daasi radhika
- Next message: Vijay Triplicane: "pachchai mA malai pOl mEni"
- Previous message: Madhavakkannan V: "sabhaash! sariyaana pOttI!"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] [ attachment ]