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 In Hinduism, Lord Hayagriva is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

He is worshiped and adored as the God of wisdom and knowledge, with a human body and a horse’s head, brilliant white in color, and seated on a white lotus.

He is celebrated in the Puranas for rescuing the sacred Vedas from the demons Kaitabha and Madhu and teaching them again to Lord Brahma.

In Tibetan Buddhism, He is a wrathful manifestation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion – Chenrezig. Devotion to and practice based upon His teachings is a fast method to overcome negative forces and hindrances.

Symbolically, the story of Lord Hayagriva represents the victory of pure knowledge, guided by the hand of God, over the demonic forces of darkness and passion.

He is a central deity in Vaishnava tradition (one of the major traditions within Hinduism).

His blessings are sought when starting the study of both secular and sacred subjects.

He can also grant spiritual powers (siddhis) to you when you connect with His divine healing energies, with sincere devotion.

Special worship is conducted on the day of the full moon in August (Sravana-Paurnami, which is believed to be the day when He appeared on Earth) and on Mahanavami, the 9th day of the Navratri festival (the word Navratri translates as ”nine nights” in Sanskrit).

Also, Lord Hayagriva is amongst the deities present at the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam.

Iconography

He is usually depicted seated, with his right hand either blessing the supplicant or in the pose of teaching.

The right hand also frequently holds a rosary, representing His identification with meditative wisdom and knowledge.

His left hand holds a book, representing His role as a spiritual teacher.

His face is always peaceful and serene, if not smiling.

His beauty, like fresh-cut crystal, is a fortunate brilliance that never decays.

In Buddhism, He is illustrated with one face, 2 arms, and 2 legs.

Everything about Him is wrathful – a roaring mouth with protruding fangs, a scowling face with 3 glaring eyes, a broad belly bulging with inner energy, His left hand raised in a threatening mudra, and a sword raised threateningly in his right hand.

This terrifying aspect expresses compassion’s fierce determination to help us overcome outer obstructions and inner egotism.

Gnanananda Mayam Devam Nirmala Spatika krutim

Aadharam Sarva Vidyanaam Hayagreevam Upasmahe.”

We worship or meditate upon, Lord Hayagreeva, who is the embodiment of  wisdom or divine knowledge (Gyaana) and blissaanandam (aanandam), who is the base of all vidyas, whose body is radiant emanating brilliant white light like that of a blemish less Spatikam.”

Hayagriva Gayatri mantra lyrics:

”Aum Vanishwaraaya Vidmahe.

Haya Grivaaya Dhimahee.

Thanno Hayagriva Prachodayath.”

Meaning – ”Om, Let me meditate on the god of learning. Oh, God who has a horse face, give me higher intellect. And let God Hayagreeva illuminate my mind.”

Gnanaswaroopa”, embodiment of all growth, knowledge and spiritual wisdom.

It is assumed that our sages and seers have derived their spiritual ideas and extraordinary powers through the grace of Lord Hayagreeva. It is believed that Lalitha sahasranama, the thousand names of Mother Lalithambika, were taught by him to Agasthya Maharshi.

Shri Hayagriva Ashtottara Shatanama Stotram Lyrics in English:

॥ srihayagrivastottarasatanamastotram ॥

atha viniyogah –

Om asya srihayagrivastotramantrasya sankarsana rsih,

anustupchandah, srihayagrivo devata rm bijam

namah saktih vidyarthe jape viniyogah ॥

atha dhyanam –

vande puritacandramandalagatam svetaravindasanam

mandakinyamrtabdhikundakumudaksirenduhasam harim ।

mudrapustakasankhacakravilasacchrimadbhujamanditam

nityam nirmalabharatiparimalam visvesamasvananam ॥

atha mantrah –

Om rgyajuhsamarupaya vedaharanakarmane ।

pranavodgithavacase mahasvasirase namah ॥

srihayagrivaya namah ।

atha stotram –

jnananandamayam devam nirmalam sphatikakrtim ।

adharam sarvavidyanam hayagrivamupasmahe ॥ 1 ॥

hayagrivo mahavisnuh kesavo madhusudanah ।

govindah pundarikakso visnurvisvambharo harih ॥ 2 ॥

adisah sarvavagisah sarvadharah sanatanah ।

niradharo nirakaro niriso nirupadravah ॥ 3 ॥

niranjano niskalanko nityatrpto niramayah ।

cidanandamayah saksi saranyah sarvadayakah ॥ 4 ॥

subhadayakah

sriman lokatrayadhisah sivah sarasvatapradah ।

vedoddharttavedanidhirvedavedyah puratanah ॥ 5 ॥

purnah purayita punyah punyakirtih paratparah ।

paramatma paranjyotih paresah paragah parah ॥ 6 ॥

sakalopanisadvedyo niskalah sarvasastrakrt ।

aksamalajnanamudrayuktahasto varapradah ॥ 7 ॥

puranapurusah sresthah saranyah paramesvarah ।

santo danto jitakrodho jitamitro jaganmayah ॥ 8 ॥

jaramrtyuharo jivo jayado jadyanasanah । garudasanah

japapriyo japastutyo japakrtpriyakrdvibhuh ॥ 9 ॥

var jayasriyorjitastulyo japakapriyakrdvibhuh

vimalo visvarupasca visvagopta vidhistutah । virat svarat

vidhivisnusivastutyah santidah ksantikarakah ॥ 10 ॥

sreyahpradah srutimayah sreyasam patirisvarah ।

acyuto’nantarupasca pranadah prthivipatih ॥ 11 ॥

avyakto vyaktarupasca sarvasaksi tamoharah ।

ajnananasako jnani purnacandrasamaprabhah ॥ 12 ॥

jnanado vakpatiryogi yogisah sarvakamadah ।

yogarudho mahapunyah punyakirtiramitraha ॥ 13 ॥

visvasaksi cidakarah paramanandakarakah ।

mahayogi mahamauni munisah sreyasam nidhih ॥ 14 ॥

hamsah paramahamsasca visvagopta virat svarat ।

suddhasphatikasankasah jatamandalasamyutah ॥ 15 ॥

adimadhyantarahitah sarvavagisvaresvarah ।

pranavodgitharupasca vedaharanakarmakrt ॥ 16 ॥

namnamastottarasatam hayagrivasya yah pathet ।

sa sarvavedavedangasastranam paragah kavih ॥ 17 ॥

idamastottarasatam nityam mudho’pi yah pathet ।

vacaspatisamo buddhya sarvavidyavisaradah ॥ 18 ॥

mahadaisvaryamapnoti kalatrani ca putrakan ।

nasyanti sakalan rogan ante haripuram vrajet ॥ 19 ॥

॥ iti sribrahmandapurane srihayagrivastottarasatanamastotram sampurnam ॥