Hayagriva

Hayagriva or Hayagreeva (Sanskrit: हयग्रीव, lit. 'horse-necked one') was the horse-headed avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. The purpose of this incarnation was to slay a demon.[1]

Painting of Hayagriva in Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram

According to legend, during the period of creation, two demons Madhu and Kaitabha stole the Vedas from Brahma, and Vishnu assumed the Hayagriva form to recover them. Yet another legend has it that during the creation, Vishnu compiled the Vedas in the Hayagriva form. Hayagriva is listed as one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu in canto 10, chapter 40 of the Bhagavata Purana. In the text, Akrura's prayer contains Hayagriva's name when he had a vision while bathing in the Yamuna.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "The Hare Krsnas - Battles of Vishnu Avatars - Ajnana / Hayagriva". www.harekrsna.com. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  2. ↑ "Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 40". bhagavata.org. Retrieved 2026-04-08.


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