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Re: About Lord Hayagriva

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Rajeev Karamchedu • September 27, 2001 


Sri:
Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Guru Paramparaayai Nama:

Dear Sri Srinivasan

You have indeed asked a VERY timely question. Hayagriva Stotram
is a composition of Swamy Sri Vedanta Desikan, whose
Thirunakshatram will be celebrated tomorrow. (Indian Time)
Lord Sri Laxmi Hayagriva is the Lord of ALL knowledge
and enlightenment.

Sri Laxmi Hayagriva avataram of Sriman Naarayaana is the foremost
of all the avatarams, although not included in the popular
dashaavataaram. However, this avataram is of great significance.
Sriman Narayana took this avataram to rescue the Vedas that
were lost by Brahma to the asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha. Lord
appeared in the form of Sri Hayagriva (Horse-faced) and rescued
the Veda so that the process of creation of the world can continue.
Sri Laxmi Hayagriva is the Lord of all knowledge and enlightenment.
('aadhaaram sarva vidyaanaaam hayagrivam upaasmahe')
It is said that one becomes wise and erudite, worshipping Lord
Laxmi Hayagriva.

Regarding the temples of Sri Laxmi Hayagriva, Sri Brahmatantra
Swatantra Parakala Matham of Mysore (http://www.parakalamatham.org)
is the most prominent of all the institutions that has Sri Hayagriva
as the archa murthy. When Bhagavan Ramanuja submitted His SriBhashyam,
commentaries on BrahmaSutras, at the Saraswati Peetham in Kashmir,
Goddess Saraswati appeared to Him and presented the vigraham of Lord
Laxmi Hayagriva. Legend has it that the Goddess Saraswati used the
same idol during Her worship to PerumaL. This vigraham was passed on
through the  illustrious Acharya Paramapara and was presented to Swamy
Sri Vedanta Desikan, whose Thirunakshatram celebrations are underway
all over the world. In his later years, Swamy Desikan appointed his
disciple, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer, as the first Jeer of Sri
Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Matham after establishing it and
installed the vigraham for daily worship.

If one visits the Sri Parakala Matham in Mysore, one can have the
darshanam of the same vigraham. While having the darshanam,
reflecting for just a fraction of a second on the fact that that
it is the same vigraham that was once worshipped by Goddess Saraswati,
Bhagavan Ramanuja and Swamy Sri Vedanta Desikan, is quite overwhelming
and can drown us in emotions....

There are several other and very important places where Sri Laxmi
Hayagriva darshanam can be had.

1) When Swamy Desikan meditated upon Garuda at Thiruvahiindrapuram,
He recieved the darshanam of Sri Garuda who presented him
with the archa vigraham

(http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/temples/tiruvahindrapuram/subsidiary.html)

of Yogaasikaa Hayagriva and initiated Swamy Desikan into Sri Hayagriva 
Mantram. Swamy Desikan started to meditate upon Sri Hayagriva with the help 
of Sri Hayagriva Mantram. The Lord appeared to Swamy Desikan and
instantly, the 20-odd-year old Sri Venkatanaathan, ascended to the
stage of an Acharya, endowed with infinite knowledge! We all know
about the contributions of Swamy Desikan to the philosophy
of SriVishitaadvaita and His convincing wins over all the philosophical
and logical debates in this subject, true to his title, 'kavitaarkika
simha'.

2) Sri Laxmi Hayagriva is also the presiding deity of Sri Poundareekapuram 
Andavan Ashramam and His darshanam can also be
had in any of the following places: Sri Ahobila Matham in India,
Sri Ranganaatha Swamy Temple in Pomona, NY, Sri Hayagriva temple at Hajo in 
Assam, near Guwahati etc and may be many more

Sri Hayagriva Stotram
---------------------
This is a beautiful composition of Swamy Vedanta Desikan. It is believed
that for the sake of all mankind, Swamy Desikan has woven the
most sacred Sri Hayagriva Mantram, into Sri Hayagriva Stotram.
Traditionally, the first verse of Sri Hayagriva Stotram is
used teach children in the ritual of Vidyaabhaasam ('jny~aanaananda
mayam devam nirmala sphaTikaakR^itim, aadhaaram sarva vidyaanaam,
hayagrivamupaasmahe').

PURPOSE AND USE
-----------------
This stotram can be recited by ANYONE. The only purpose
of ANY act of a Sri Vaishnava should be to praise the Glory
of Lord. One should not recite any stotram for one's own
benefit/pleasure/gain. Stotras such as Sri Hayagriva Stotram
are recited so that one may reflect upon the divya mangaLa
swaroopam of Sri Laxmi Hayagriva. When done without
expecting/desiring/asking for any gains, one is automatically
blessed with knowledge that can be used to praise
His Glory in a better fashion! During the times of struggle and
fear, Swamy Desikan's Abhitistavam can be recited so that we
may seek refuge at His Divine Lotus Feet, so that we may get rid
of this fear and continue our contemplation of PerumaL's ananta
kalyaana gunas.

To understand the meaning and beauty of Sri Hayagriva Stotram,
please visit the web site of Sri Parakala Matham at
www.parakalamatham.org and after reading about our Lord and
the Matham, you can also read and enjoy the beautiful translations
of this stotram by Sri Sadagopan that are housed here.

Sri Laxmi Hayagriva Parabrahmane Nama:

--rajeev
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