Hayagreeva Puja
Lord Hayagreeva is one of the avatars of Sri Maha Vishnu. In this avatar, Sri Maha Vishnu took the form wherein he bears the face of a white Horse.The Hayagreeva avatar is depicted in Maha Bharatha in the Moksha Parvam(357 adhyayam, Hayagreevopakhyanam) The name is derived from Sanskrit words, Hayagreeva means haya=Horse, greeva=Neck. Lord Hayagreeva is regarded as the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. Hayagreeva is one of the prominent deities in the Vaishnava tradition. Children pray and seek the blessings of Sri Hayagreeva for success and advancement of education and higher studies and to seek “Divya Gnanam” (Knowledge). One also prays to Lord Hayagreeva to bestow higher levels of “VaakhSakthi” (Speech) and to attain the status of “Vachaspati” (Master in speech)According to Bhagavata Puranas, Lord Vishnu took Hayagreeva avatar toretrieve Vedas from the hands of Rakshasas Madhu and Kaitabha. The demons stole the Vedas from Lord Brahma and kept it hidden deep under the seas and water. To recover Vedas from evil hands, Lord Brahma pleaded to Lord Vishnu for help. Sri Maha Vishnu manifested as Lord Hyagreeva avatar and recovered Vedas by killing the demon Rakshas Madhu an Kaitabha.
Hindus worship Sri Hayagreeva and Sri Sarasawathi for enrichment of knowledge and education. Children and Students in particular are highly encouraged to pray for Lord Hayagreeva for success and excellence in education. Legends state that Sri Maha Vishnu bestowed Sri Saraswathi, wife of Sri Brahma, the power of knowledge and wisdom to bless the devotees. The following Sanskrit Sloka extracted from Hayagreeva Stothram clearly sums up the significance of the knowledge enrichment power of Lord Hayagreeva. Gyaanaananda mayam devam nirmala sphatikaa kritim Aadhaaram sarva vidyaanaam hayagreevam upaasmahe We meditate and pray to Lord Hayagreeva, the Supreme One; who is the embodiment of Gyaana (divine Knowledge) and Ananda (Bliss); The Lord that possesses a form that is “blemish less” and is clear like a crystal; The God who is the abode and authority and stands out on the “Top” for education and all Vidyaas (branches of Learning).
Puja at home (process) (Link to the complete puja process)Hindu worship or puja at home requires idols (murtis/deity) and prayers (mantras). Usually the deity(s) or pictures are kept in a quiet place called a puja room. Puja in Sanskrit means “honor” or “worship”. We welcome God or Goddess the same way as we welcome our guests. If time is of the essence, the following steps can be taken for the puja:
- Sit on a small carpet or low stool (raised wood plank) facing North or East.
- Create an altar for the Hayagreeva Swamy and Lakshmi.
- Clean the place and God/Goddess by sprinkling few drops of water. Use a separate cloth to wipe the deity and later, apply Haldi (turmeric) Kumkum to the deity.
- Light the lamps and place in front of the altar.
- Keep betel leaves, nuts, flowers and fruits in a plate in front
of the altar. - After keeping the items in front of the God/Goddess, begin with Ganesh or Vishwaksena puja or Prathana.
- Then, start chanting slokas or mantras as per your family traditions.
- After worshiping with slokas, you decorate the God/Goddess with flowers and offer Naivedyam.
- Light aarti deya and perform aarti.
- Finally, conclude with Pradakshina (circumambulation, which means going in a clockwise direction) namaskar at the end of puja.
- Give everyone present, prasad which you offered as Naivedyam.