Hayagriva Jayanthi : Rituals and Its Significance

Hayagriva, the Unique God

Hayagriva is the Supreme God of Knowledge and Wisdom. He was a unique Avatar of the universal Protector and Sustainer Vishnu, who incarnated with a horse's head and a human's physique. The Sanskrit term 'Haya' refers to the horse, whereas 'Griva' stands for the neck portion, that is, the head or the face. As per the legends, Vishnu took this Avatar to protect the Sacred Vedas, the treasure trove of Divine wisdom, and hence Hayagriva is hailed the God of Supreme Wisdom. He is also said to be the Guru, the teacher of Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. Some saints also regard Hayagriva as the God who can manifest wealth and materialize desires.

Hayagriva Jayanthi is the Day of the advent of this mighty incarnation of Vishnu and is celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm. In the current Year, Hayagriva Jayanthi 2023, his birthday is observed on August 29, 2023.      

Hayagriva Legend

Puranas, including Mahabharata, speak elaborately about the Hayagriva incarnation. The most popular legend links his advent to the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. Once, these mighty demons took away the holy Vedas from the Supreme Creator Brahma and hid them under the ocean bed. The Vedic texts contained all the wisdom absolutely essential for creation, and their loss incapacitated Brahma from performing his core function. So he sought the help of Vishnu, who then intervened immediately, assumed the man-horse form of Hayagriva, fought a fierce battle with the mighty Asuras, slew them, retrieved the Vedas, and restored the Sacred texts to Brahma so that Brahma could continue with his creation for the universal beings to sustain and prosper. While the grateful Brahma and the Devas thanked Hayagriva, applauded him for his valor and timely action, and prayed to him, the world started worshiping him as the great savior and benefactor. This Year, people celebrate his birthday Hayagriva Jayanthi 2023, on August 29.

There is one more story about another Hayagriva, the demon with a horse face, who had armed himself with a strange boon that he could be killed only by another Hayagriva, the horse-faced one! As he let out his reign of terror on the people, Vishnu had to challenge him in a battle. But to circumvent the protection, his boon gave him, Vishnu managed to get his own head severed, got a horse head fixed in its place by Goddess Durga, thus becoming Hayagriva himself, and then destroyed the demon and saved the world from his oppression.  

The Hayagriva Form

It is purity and grace that represent Hayagriva. His depictions show this horse-faced Lord as fair-complexioned and seated on a white lotus adorned with white garments. While he holds the conch and discus in his upper arms, one of his lower arms carries manuscripts or scriptures, and the other holds the wisdom-bestowing Gnyana Mudra posture.        

Hayagriva Jayanthi 2023

As per traditional beliefs, the horse itself represents knowledge, and this horse-faced divinity is hailed as the embodiment of immense knowledge and supreme wisdom. People observe his birthday, Hayagriva Jayanthi, on the Full Moon Day of Shravan month, which corresponds to July/August.

People believe Hayagriva can ward off evil and bless devotees with good learning and wealth. On Hayagriva Jayanthi, people worship the Lord in their homes and Temples, chanting hymns, performing Archanas and Poojas, making oblations, and offering prayers to him. Along with his consort Goddess Lakshmi, people also worship him as Lakshmi Hayagriva.

It is a practice in some sections of society, especially in the southern parts of the country, to perform Upakarma on the occasion when they observe the Sacred thread ceremony after doing rituals. On the other hand, the north celebrates the Rakshabandhan festival on that Day, denoting the Sacred bond between brothers and sisters. Grand Hayagriva Jayanthi celebrations take place in the famous Hayagriva Temple in Hojo, Assam State, while a large number of devotees offer prayers to him at his Temples and shrines all over the country.   

It is a traditional belief that Hayagriva worship, especially on Hayagriva Jayanthi, can bestow his blessings and enhance intellect, learning abilities, and knowledge, improve analytical skills, intuition, and insight, and help grow in wisdom. It can also bless students with academic excellence and help them perform well and come out with flying colors in examinations and competitions.    

Let us also observe Hayagriva Jayanthi 2023 with devotion and faith and seek Hayagriva's grace for a blessed life.