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{{short description|Sanskrit text, part of Atharva Veda}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox Upanishad
| image = Hayagreeva.jpg
| caption = Hayagriva
| Devanagari = हयग्रीव
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Hayagrīva
| meaning = horse-necked, one of the [[avatar]]s of [[Vishnu]]
| composition_date = Medieval period
| authors = [[Bramha]]
| type = [[Vaishnava]]
| Veda = [[Atharvaveda]]
| chapters = 2
| verses = 20
| philosophy = [[Vaishnavism]]
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
'''''Hayagriva Upanishad''''' or '''''Hayagrivopanishad''''' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: हयग्रीव उपनिषद्) is one of 108 [[Upanishad]], written in [[Sanskrit]] language. It is a minor Upanishad, dedicated to [[Hayagriva]] – the horse-faced avatar of the god [[Vishnu]].<ref name="Dalal2010">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=157, 431}}</ref> It belongs to the [[Vaishnava]] sect, which worships Vishnu, and is associated with the ''[[Atharvaveda]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=An outline of the religious literature of India|first=John Nicol|last=Farquhar|publisher=H. Milford, Oxford University Press|year=1920|isbn=81-208-2086-X|page=364}}</ref>

In a [[Telugu language]] [[anthology]] of 108 Upanishads of the [[Muktika]] in the modern era, narrated by [[Rama]] to [[Hanuman]], it is listed at number 100.{{Sfn|Deussen|Bedekar|Palsule|1997|p=557}} The Upanishad is neither part of the anthology of 52 popular Upanishads in north India by Colebrooke, nor is it found in the ''Bibliotheca Indica'' anthology of popular Upanishads in south India by Narayana.{{Sfn|Deussen|Bedekar|Palsule|1997|pp=561-564}}

The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' presents [[mantra]]s to know the nature of the supreme reality [[Brahman]].<ref name=vedlit589>Vedic Literature, Volume 1, {{Google books|2YIoAAAAYAAJ|A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts|page=PA589}}, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, India, pages 579-580</ref>{{Sfn|Hattangadi|2000}}

==Date==
The composition date of the text is unknown. Given the Vishnu avatar-oriented sectarian nature, and the description of tantric mantras in the text, it is likely a relatively late Upanishad. Sectarian Upanishads with tantra mantras were likely composed after the 10th century, states Douglas Brooks.<ref name="Brooks1990p13">{{cite book|author=Douglas Renfrew Brooks|title=Secret of the Three Cities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dXD8crHUdPQC|year=1990|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-07570-9|pages=13–14}}</ref> [[Patrick Olivelle]] states that sectarian Upanishads attached to Atharvaveda were likely composed in the 2nd-millennium, until about the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Patrick Olivelle|title=Upanisads|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WJGL2tUm6P4C|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-954025-9|page=xxxiii}}</ref>

==Name==
The word ''Hayagriva'' means "horse necked".<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?beginning=0+&tinput=+hayagriva&trans=Translate Hayagriva] Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany (2012)</ref> The term also refers to several different mythological characters found in all three major ancient Indic religions – [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]].<ref name="VyasShah1995p87"/><ref name="Mishra1999p107"/><ref name="EisenstadtShulman1984p22">{{cite book|author1=S. N. Eisenstadt|author2=D. Shulman|author3=R. Kahane|title=Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy and Dissent in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xNKj3osNaGEC|date=1 January 1984|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-085256-1|pages=22–24}}</ref>

Hayagriva refers to a horse-themed avatar, also known as Ashvamukha, Ashvasirsa and Hayashirsa. In one legend, Hayagriva is the persistent horse who brought back the [[Vedas]] from [[asura]]s [[Madhu-Kaitabha|Madhu and Kaitabha]] who stole them, during the mythical battle between good and evil – a battle described in the [[Mahabharata]].<ref name="VyasShah1995p87"/> In an alternate mythology, Hayagriva refers to a demon who stole the Vedas and was slain by Vishnu in his [[Matsya]] (fish) avatar, a story presented in the Bhagavata Purana.<ref name="VyasShah1995p87"/><ref name="EisenstadtShulman1984p22"/> In a third version, a mythology presented in medieval era [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]], Vishnu appears in a hybrid human-body, horse-headed form called Hiyagriva who battles and kills a horse-like demon also named Hiyagriva.<ref name="VyasShah1995p87"/><ref name="Brown1990">{{cite book|author=Cheever Mackenzie Brown|title=The Triumph of the Goddess: The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=erENsMcblGAC&pg=PA48|year=1990|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-0363-1|pages=34–45}}</ref> Finally, in Pancaratra Vaishnava tradition, Hayagriva-Vishnu becomes the god of learning and one who protects, maintains the Vedas.<ref name="VyasShah1995p87">{{cite book|author=D. Desai|editor=R. T. Vyas|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC|year=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=87–88}}</ref><ref name="Mishra1999p107">{{cite book|author=P. K. Mishra|title=Studies in Hindu and Buddhist Art|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqSAQpCOifoC|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-368-7|pages=107–108}}</ref> In the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'', the term refers to half-human horse-headed Vishnu avatar who is the teacher of humanity.{{Sfn|Mahadevan|1975|pp=221-222}}

==Content==
The ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' has 20 verses and is divided into two chapters. It is narrated as a sermon by the god [[Brahma]] to sage [[Narada]]. The text opens with an invocation to the god [[Vishnu]], [[Indra]], [[Garuda]], the [[Sun]], and [[Brihaspati]] are also invoked for welfare of all.<ref name="translation">{{cite web | url=http://www.celextel.org/upanishads/atharva_veda/hayagriva.html | title=Hayagriva Upanishad | publisher=Vedanta Spiritual Library | access-date=14 January 2015 | author=P.R.Ramachander}}{{Better source needed|date=March 2016}}</ref><ref name="Nair2008">{{cite book|author=Shantha N. Nair|title=Echoes of Ancient Indian Wisdom|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1020-7|pages=387–8}}</ref>

Narada asks Brahma to grant him the knowledge of ''[[Brahman]]'', which saves one from sins and grants spiritual and material wealth. Brahma declares that one who "masters" the [[mantra]]s of [[Hayagriva]] learns the wisdom of the scriptures [[Śruti|Shruti]]s ("heard knowledge"), [[Smriti]]s (memorized knowledge), [[Itihasa]]s (Hindu epics, literally "history"), and [[Puranas]] and is bestowed with wealth. Brahma then starts narrating the various mantras that are used in Hayagriva's worship.<ref name="translation"/><ref name="Nair2008"/>

The first mantra salutes Hayagriva as Vishnu, the ruler of knowledge. He is praised beyond the material universe and as a saviour. The second mantra identifies Hayagriva as the manifestation of the three [[Vedas]] — [[Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda]] and [[Samaveda]] — and [[Om]]. He is, asserts the text, the symbol of all Vedas, the teacher of everything. Hayagriva is described to be radiant like the moon and holds a [[shankha]] (conch), [[Sudarshana chakra|chakra]] (discus) and a book in his three hands, while the fourth makes the ''maha-[[mudra]]'' hand gesture. The 29-syllabled mantra (''Om srim hlaum om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya vishnave mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') and 28-syllable mantra (''Om srim hrim aim aim aim klim klim sauh sauh hrim om namo bhagavate hayagrivaya mahyam medham prajnam prayaccha svaha'') are then told, ending the first chapter.<ref name="translation"/><ref name="Nair2008"/>

The second chapter begins with Brahma telling about the one-syllable mantra (''bija'') of Hayagriva: ''Lhoum''.<ref name="translation"/><ref name="Nair2008"/> The mantra ''Amritam kuru kuru svaha'', asserts the text, grants control over words, wealth and the eight [[siddhi]]s. Another mantra ''Lhoum sakala-samrajyena siddhim kuru kuru svaha'' through which, claims the text, in life the reciter gains pleasures and after death, salvation. This helps one realize the true spiritual meanings of the Vedic maxims ([[Mahāvākyas|Mahavakya]]):
*''Prajnanam Brahma'' (Brahman is [[Prajna (Vedic)|wisdom]]),
*''Tat tvam asi'' (You are that)",
*''Ayam atma brahma'' (My soul is Brahman),
*''Aham Brahmasmi'' (I am Brahman).

Four supplementary Vedic mantras are then recited, which are "''Yad Vak Vadanthi ...''", "''Gowrimimaya...''", "''Oshtapidhana ...''" and "''Sa Sarpareeramathim ...''".<ref name="translation"/><ref name="Nair2008"/>

In tradition of Upanishads, the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' ends by mentioning the merits of the text. The canon declares that one who recites the ''Hayagriva Upanishad'' on [[ekadashi]] (11th lunar day, which is sacred to Vishnu) would be blessed with Hayagriva's grace and attain salvation. The text ends with a prayer that this knowledge of the ''Brahman'' may remain with the devotee.<ref name="translation"/><ref name="Nair2008"/>

==See also==
*[[Ganapati Upanishad]]
*[[Mahanarayana Upanishad]]
*[[Nirvana Upanishad]]
*[[Varaha Upanishad]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last1= Deussen |first1=Paul |last2= Bedekar|first2=V.M. |last3= Palsule |first3=G.B. |title=Sixty Upanishads of the Veda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYepeIGUY0gC&pg=PA976|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1467-7}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/hayagriva_upan.pdf |title= हयग्रीवोपनिषत् (''Hayagriva Upanishad'')|access-date=7 March 2016| language = sa|last= Hattangadi| first= Sunder| year= 2000 }}
*{{cite book|last= Mahadevan |first=T. M. P. |title=Upaniṣads: Selections from 108 Upaniṣads|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yluXuM5NuUIC | year=1975| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ| isbn=978-81-208-1611-4}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151106024350/http://www.gayathrimanthra.com/contents/documents/Vedic-related/Hayagriva_Upanishad.pdf Hayagriva Upanishad] in Sanskrit

{{Mukhya Upanishads}}

[[Category:Upanishads]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]

Hayagriva Upanishad - Revision history

>Kridha at 17:08, 8 May 2021