Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha ! Srimathe Vedhantha Desikaya Namaha !! Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Divyapadukasevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya namaha !!! Dear Bhagavathas ! The writer , recently had query from some of the youths , asking for clarifications on the Hyagreeva Avataram of Sriman Narayanan. Same doubts could be there with some more of you , but due to various factors they are not being spelt out. Keeping those in mind , adiyen humbly , submits this article to the group , for the benefit of all concerned. The article was written based on the details collected during the various lectures and upanyasams attended and also reading some of the books on this subject. It is expected that the addressed audience would find this presentation quite interesting and useful . May Sriyapathi bless us all. Regards yours- Ramanuja Dasan G.Sampath. Quote Hyagreeva Avataram. The query raised had three parts. They were : 1. The significance of Hyagreevar Avatharam , 2. Why srivaisnavaite relate this avathar for education and 3. The reason for the Lord to take this avathar with Horse face . The adiyen submits the answer as under: First we should understand the difference between ? Brahma ? and ? Brahmam ? . Brahma was first created by the Lord Sriman Narayanan . Then He used him for the creation of this universe . Brahmam is the Lord Himself . The avataram of Hayagriva Bhagavan took place , to restore the Vedas to Brahma . This is the objective. This avtaaram was made by the Lord , in the month of Avani , in , sravana nakshathram paurnami thithi . So reading about this in this month of Avani , becomes more significant. Different puranams describe this avatar of Sriman Narayanan , in various versions . But the basic objective remains the same. To save and restore the Vedas to Brahma . Hyagreeva Avataram is narrated in detail in Mahabharath , ? Saanthi Parvam ?, 357th Sargam. After the Pralayakaalam , Lord Sriman Narayanan wanted to create the universe again. With this thought in mind He was having His Yoga Nithra. He then created Brahma , from His naval ( Naabhikamalam) . He taught Brahma the Vedas by His breadth. Brahma used that knowledge to create the entire Universe . Since Brahma was chosen by the Lord to understand the vedas first , Brahma got a bit proud and this pride entered his head and he lost his balance. To teach Brahma a lesson, Lord Sriman Narayanan created two asuras , Madhu and Kaitapa . One ( kaitapan) was of thamo guna and the other ( madhu) was of Rajo guna .They stole the vedas from Brahma and ran to Paathala Lokam , as their hiding place. Brahma was unable to carry on his further work of creation without these Vedas. So he rushed to the Lord Sriman Narayanan and pleaded the Lord for mercy and requested Him to save and restore the Vedas to him . Brahma prostrated to the Lord and said : " veda me paramam saakshi , veda me paramam param ! veda me paramam dharma, veda me Brahma sookshumam !! ? Meaning, "Vedas alone are the truth ! They are my Lord. They are the great Dharmas ! They are everything !? He then added , ? Oh! Lord ! The whole world is surrounded by darkness , now, due to the absence of Vedas. How am I to proceed on my creation work without the Vedas ? Please arise from your Yoga Nithra and help me Lord ! Please restore me back my eyes which have been blinded by my own pride ." Lord Sriman Narayanan took the Hayagreeva Avatar , appearing with the face of a white Horse . Since Lord is the Suddha Sathvam , His face was faultless , beaming like a spatikam and having Divya tejas. He destroyed the asuras and restored the Vedas to Brahma . Puranas describe this ( horse faced ) avatar as under. The Lord had a lovely long nose, like the heaven surrounded by white bright stars . The asva siras (head of horse) illumined the whole world . The upper world and the lower world became His ears. Sun's brightest rays are His hairs at the back of His neck (pidari) . Bhoomi became His forehead . Ganga and Saraswathi became His two lovely eyebrows. Chandra Sooryar (The Moon and the Sun) became His two eyes . Aakaasam and Paathaalam became His ears. Sandhya devathai became His nostrils . Pithru devathais became His teeth . Golokam and Brahma lokam became His two lips. kaalaraathri became His neck. The Divya tejas , Sathva moorthy Sri Hayagreevan thus appeared , with grandeur . He rushed to Paathaala lokam and raised His "uthgeetham " in samavedha swaram and terrified the two Madhukaitapa asuras . Sri Hayagreevar , after conquering them , took away the Vedas and handed over the same to Brahma . Brahma then continued his work of creation. Bhagavatha Puranam describes this avatar briefly in Skandam 2, chapter 7 , slokam 11 and in Skandam 11, Chapter 4 , slokam 17 . In Brahmananda PuraaNam , in Sri Devi Bhagawatham , it is mentioned that Parvathi devi , got impressed with the penance of the asuras to her ( asuras did penance to her also ) and offered them the boon , as per their request , that they could be killed only by a horse faced person . They asked this boon , thinking that it can never happen . That is the effect of their Thamo and rajo Gunas. Hence , the Lord Sriman Narayanan appeared as Hayagreevar ( Horse faced person ) and killed the two asuras , to save the world and bring back the Vedas to Brahma. Hence the horse face Avatar. Swami Desikan , in his Hyagreeva stotram , in the very first verse describes as under. ? Gnananandha Mayam Devam Nirmala Spatika Krithim ! Aadhaaram Sarva Vidhyaanaam Hyagreevam Upasmahe !! ? Meaning , ? The lord Hyagreeva ( Horse faced Lord) is an Aaanandha Mayan . He is also the Gnana Mayan. His body shines like a Spatikam , without any blemish and is white in color . He is the abode of all knowledge and skills ( Vidhdhyas ) . Let us do prayers to Him. ? And in the nineth slokam , Swami describes Hyagreeva as the Lord , who removes the doubts and obstacles of Brahma , who , incidentally , is supposed to be the Guru of all Devas. In the 33rd slokam , he categorically states that to attain brilliance in writing and to acquire the true knowledge about all things in this universe , one should do pooja to Lakshmi Hyagreevar. Swami desikan was blessed by Garuda Bhagwan , on this Hyagreeva Mantram , in Thiruvaheendrapuram ( near cuddalore ) in Tamilnadu. By reciting this mantra Swami desikan had the Kataksham of Lord Lakshmi Hyagreevan and was blessed by Him. Swami always kept Lord Lakshmi Hyagreeva?s idol in his Pooja room and Lord was his Aaradhana deivam. Hence , Srivaishnavites pray , specifically to Lakshmi Hyagreeva for getting better knowledge through education and high skills in profession. While Goddess Saraswathi and Vinayaga ( other demigods , within whom the Lord Sriman Narayanan is present as Antharyamai), could be worshipped by many others , for a Srivaishnavan , worshipping Lord Hyagreeva is alone enough for getting education , wisdom knowledge and removal of all obstacles in life . Since Lord Sriman Narayanan killed the Madhikaitapa Asuras , He got the Thirunamam " Madhusoodhanan ". In Krishkinthaa Kaandam of Vaalmiki Ramayan, Vaali tells Sri Rama ' even if that Ravana hides Sita in Paathaala lokam , no problem . You could have just told me . I would have brought back Sita from any where, any place whatsoever, like Sri Hyagreevar brought the Vedas killing Madhukaitapaas. ( 17th Sargam- 49th slokam ) . So let all Srivaishnavites convey their sincere pranams to swami Desikan , for having lit the light of wisdom in them on this Avatar's significance . Lakshmi Hyagreeva Thiruvadigale Saranam ! Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu ! Samastha Mangalani Santhu ! Om Shanthi , Shanthi , Shanthihi ! Adiyen , Ramanuja Dasan , G.Sampath. --------------------------------- Here's a new way to find what you're looking for - Yahoo! Answers Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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