Hayashirsha, Hayaśīrṣa: 7 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Hayashirsha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Hayaśīrṣa can be transliterated into English as Hayasirsa or Hayashirsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष).—An avatār of Viṣṇu, who appeared in the sacrifice of Brahmā.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 7. 11.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: eScholarship: Chapters 1-14 of the Hayasirsa Pancaratra

Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष) is a name of Viṣṇu mentioned in the Śāstrāvatāra portion of the 9th century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra.—“[...] for what reason did the mighty Viṣṇu previously become manifest as Hayaśīra [Hayaśiras] and what was the reason that the Lord of the Gods assumed a radiant body? [...] Mighty Lord Hayaśīrṣa—who was the slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha—when he was in the cosmic ocean—was asked by you Bhṛgu about the Pañcarātra. [...]”.

Hayaśira [Hayaśiras], Hayaśīrṣa and Hayagrīva are all names for the same horse-headed incarnation of Viṣṇu; haya means horse and śira, śīrṣa, head and grīva, neck, respectively. Hayaśīrṣa was widely adored by the Vaiṣṇavas. The two epics (Rāmayana and Mahābhārata) as well as the Bhāgavata-purāṇa (II.7.11) mention him. Gupta thinks that his position among the Pañcarātras was not important, in so far as the Sātvata and Pauṣkara-saṃhitās describe Hayagrīva in the third category of Narayaṇa’s emanations.

The Pāñcarātra tradition intimately ties the Hayaśīrṣa incarnation of Viṣṇu, who is literally credited as the original source of the tradition, to itself.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष) refers to:—The horse-headed incarnation of the Lord who spoke the Vedas to Śrī Brahmā. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: archive.org: Bharatiya vastu-sastra

Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष) is the name of an ancient teacher (ācārya) of Vāstuśāsta (science of architecture) according to the Agnipurāṇa.—All these great teachers cannot be said to be legendary. Some used to be propagated in ancient India. No nation can flourish without its care for its material prosperity. All this technique and training and their systematic and successful teaching and transmission were of equal importance. Most of the treatises of Vāstuśāstra carry many of these names [i.e., Hayaśīrṣa], yet a good many of them are quoted as authorities, yet still others are honoured with actual passages being quoted from their works.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष).—[adjective] & [masculine] = [preceding]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Hayaśīrṣa (हयशीर्ष):—[=haya-śīrṣa] [from haya] mfn. having a horse’s head, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Viṣṇu in a [particular] form ([probably] as Haya-grīva; cf. -śiras), [ib.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Hayashirsha in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 14 books and stories containing Hayashirsha, Haya-shirsha, Haya-śīrṣa, Haya-sirsa, Hayaśīrṣa, Hayasirsa; (plurals include: Hayashirshas, shirshas, śīrṣas, sirsas, Hayaśīrṣas, Hayasirsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Third Adhyaya, Twelfth Khanda (9 mantras)

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Iconographical descriptions of Hayagrīva in different Purāṇas < [Chapter 4]

Chronological Development (4): Śānti Parva < [Chapter 3]

Table 1: Genealogy of Lord Hayagrīva in the Purāṇās < [Chapter 4]

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(v,5) Vāstu in the Purāṇas < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

(v,6-7) Vāstu in the Āgamas and Tantras < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

(iv) Other Ācāryas (chief preceptors) of Vastuśāstra < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

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Verse 1.11.42 < [Chapter 11 - Meeting with Śrī Īśvara Purī]

Verse 1.12.235-240 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]