Avatar of Lord Hayagreeva and his temples
In Hinduism, there are many God and Goddess. It is argued by many that why there are many Gods. Though the God is said to be one, these are avatars came into this universe to protect devotees. Human is one but with many faces like this only the God also. There is a strong belief that praying to the Lord Hayagreeva will give betterment in Education in children. Here we are going to see about the God Hayagreeva and His temples in Tamilnadu as pilgrim places.
Avatar of Hayagreeva
God Hayagreeva is Guru of Goddess Saraswathi. He is Gnana Guru. He made known all the thousands of Names of Lord Parasakthi, in the form of Lalitha sahasranaama through Saint Agasthya.
According to Puranas, there should be Heavy calamity for the universe after certain period and new world formed by Lord Vishnu. The demons named Mathu and Kaidaba started to torture the Devas and further they seized the Vedas from Lord Brahma and hide them in the underground. The entire thing was protected by them with his horse-faced knights. Lord Brahma unable to fight with them, seek the help of Lord Vishnu to protect the Vedas. Lord Vishnu went to the underground to bring the Vedas by fighting with them and found everybody was in the horse face. So, He himself took the horse-face avatar and fight with them. 'Haya' means 'horse' and 'greeva' means hear/neck. So, Hayagreeva is the name derived to Lord Vishnu. Since Lord Hayagreeva, avatar of Lord Vishnu in the Horse-face, protected the Vedas from the demons after fighting and defeated them.Hayagreeva and education
After releasing the Vedas from the demons, the Vedas felt themselves as unpurified and asked the Lord to get them purified. Lord accordingly, purified them with His Grace. Goddess Lakshmi came there and made Him cool from his fury of fighting with the demons. This position is called as Lakshmi Hayagreeva. Since He purified the Vedas He presumed as God for Wisdom and Education. Since Lakshmi also with him the devotees of Lord Hayagreeva will get the benefits of Education and Wealth at a time. Temples in South India for Lord Hayagreeva
There are shrines for Lord Hayagreeva in many temples. But separate temple is there in 'Thiruvaheendra puram' and 'Chettypunyam' in Tamilnadu where devotees are throng. Thiruvaheendrapuram
This place is situated at 5 kilometer west from cuddalore, Tamilnadu. This temple is called 'Devanatha Perumal Temple' and is construed as one among 108 Vaishnav Dhivya Kshetras. Chetty Punyam
Another temple famous for Lord Hayagreeva is in Chetty Punyam village. It is located at three kilometers west from Mahendra city near Singaperumal Koil on the Chennai-chengalpat route. There are many city buses from Tambaram, chennai to this temple. The temple will get opened on all days between 7.30 am and 12 noon and 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm. The Contact numbers of the Temple Trustees are 8675127999. Lord Hayagreeva Shrines in other Temples
Besides the above main temples, there are many temples having shrines for Lord Hayagreeva. They are:Prayer to Lord Hayagreeva for betterment in education
Many students with parents are thronging in such temples for their children's better education. There are special prayers during the examination and admission times. Before admitting in schools first time, the parents bring their children here and do special prayers with 'Vidhyarambam'.
It has been mentioned in the temples that the following prayer, if chanted daily by the students, they can avail betterment in Education and wisdom.
'Gnaanandamayam Devam nirmala spadikaakrithim aadhaaram sarva vidhyaanaam hayagreevam upaasmahE'
One thing which is commendable about the author, is that the new point of view. Most people believe that the God is one and it is worshiped into different manifestations in different castes and different religions.
But who would have thought it in this way that human is one soul and bears different faces? This is a very innovative thought of the author. I think there should be more articles like this. I would just like to add here than all humans have only one motto - Make this world a better place to live in. The motto might be accomplished through different trajectories.