Hayashirshasamhita, Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā, Hayashirsha-samhita: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Hayashirshasamhita 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 Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā can be transliterated into English as Hayasirsasamhita or Hayashirshasamhita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā (हयशीर्षसंहिता) or Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitāsaṃhitā is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā: a large Pāñcarātra Āgama consisting of roughly 6500 verses dealing primarily with architecture, temple-building and consecration rituals and iconography.—The passage listing these titles concludes by saying that originally there were only these twenty-five. Later on, however, saṃhitā-works multiplied in numbers. But all of them are to be understood to be derived from the ones named above.
Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā (हयशीर्षसंहिता) is the name of a Pāñcarātra Āgama text written in roughly 6500 Sanskrit metrical divided into four sections having 144 chapters in total dealing with architecture and iconography.—The four sections of the Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā are: Ādikāṇḍa, Saṃkarṣaṇakāṇḍa, Liṅgakāṇḍa and Saurakāṇḍa of 42, 39, 20 and 43 chapters respectively. The entire work is almost exclusively concerned with matters pertaining to construction of temples and images and to the subsequent rites of installation and sanctification. As such, then, it is an unusual work among the texts of the Pāñcarātrāgama for its concentration on these matters to the exclusion of such subjects as dīkṣā-initiation, mantra lore, ācāra-behavior norms, worship routines and festival cycles.
The Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā takes the form of a dialogue between Mārkaṇḍeya and Bhṛgu, the latter of whom recapitulates a conversation that Śiva and Gaurī had with Brahmā. After a conventional opening chapter in which the framework of the dialogue is set, a second chapter turns to the greatness of the Pāñcarātra system and its literature.
Note: Care should be taken to distinguish the Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā of the Pāñcarātrāgama with another Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā —a work of seven paricchedas and comprising 2250 granthas divided into 199 chapters on mantraśāstra (e.g., Adyar 33. A. 1 and 2), as well as the Hayagrīvasaṃhitā.
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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā (हयशीर्षसंहिता) is the name of a text dealing with mantraśāstra consisting of seven paricchedas and comprising 2250 granthas divided into 199 chapters.—It is not to be confused with the similarly-named text belonging to the Pāñcarātra canon.
Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.
General definition (in Hinduism)
The Hayaśīrṣa-saṃhitā consists of four parts; the first part, called the Pratiṣṭhā-kāṇḍa, consists of forty-two chapters; the second, the Saṃkarṣaṇa, of thirty-seven chapters; the third, the Liṅga, of twenty chapters; and the fourth, the Saura-kāṇḍa, of forty-five chapters. All the chapters deal with rituals concerning the installation of images of various minor gods, the methods of making images and various other kinds of rituals.
The Hayaśīrṣa Saṃhitā is probably an early Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā. It consists of four sections (kāṇḍa). It derives its name from the fact that according to its framestory (ādikāṇḍa 1) it was revealed by God in the form of Hayaśiras, the Horse-Headed One. At the beginning of each chapter of this text, the narrator is identified as Bhagavat.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Hayashirsha, Samhita.
Full-text (+320): Hayashirsha, Sugata, Nagna, Shri, Akshapada, Nastika, Shrilakshanapatala, Shrilakshana, Narasimha, Bhutalakshana, Shridhara, Rama, Varaha, Balidana, Vyuhapratimalakshana, Vamana, Adhivasa, Yama, Bhumi, Agni.
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Search found 4 books and stories containing Hayashirshasamhita, Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā, Hayashirsha-samhita, Hayaśīrṣa-saṃhitā, Hayasirsa-samhita, Hayasirsasamhita; (plurals include: Hayashirshasamhitas, Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitās, samhitas, saṃhitās, Hayasirsasamhitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 3 - The Pañcarātra Literature < [Chapter XVI - The Pañcarātra]
Diksha (initiation) in Pancharatra (by Shanta Srinivasan)
2. Qualification of a Preceptor (Acarya) < [Chapter 2 - Aspects of Diksa]