Chronological Development (3): Udyoga Parva

A reference of Hayaśiraḥ Viṣṇu is mentioned in the udyog parva. Nārada portrays the pātāla (nether world) as nāgaloka (the realm of snakes) where at during propitious occurrences, Hayaśiraḥ [Hayaśiras] with brilliant golden appearance is evoked as ‘suvarṇābha’, and the world is filled with chanting of Vedic hymns—

“Atra divyam hayaśirāḥ kāle parvaṇi parvaṇi/
Uttiṣṭhati suvarṇākhyaṃ vāgbhirāpūrayan jagat//”^[1]

It is inferred here that Viṣṇu manifests as the Horse-headed one. Nīlakaṇṭha gave an explanation that suvarṇākhyaṃ jagat to be veda prañca, i.e., the entire Vedas with all contents. As indicated by him, Viṣṇu in the horseheaded appearance spells the Vedic notes in his own voice that are recited by the Brāhmaṇas.

The Siddhāntavāgīśa commentary of the Mahābhārata mentions Hayaśiras by the word Āditya, whereas critical edition mentions the word divyo in exchange for Āditya.

Bhāratakaumudī, commentary of Siddhāntavāgīśa states that,

“Ādityaḥ Ādityāḥ putraḥ, suvarṇamiva ākhyāyaye kāntau ucyate iti suvarnākhyaḥ, hayaśirā hayagrīve/ Viṣṇuḥ parvvaṇi parvvaṇi kāle sarvadā darśapaurṇamāsyoḥ, vāgbhiḥ brahmacāriṇaṃ vedadhvanibhiḥ, jagadāpūrayan atra uttiṣṭhati.”^[2]

If we take on this indication with ‘ādityo’ as an epithet to Hayaśiraḥ, it shows the involvement of the horse headed one with the Āditya. This reminds us of the general connection between the Sun and the Steed; and also of the identification of Viṣṇu that appears later when, the horse headed Viṣṇu revives the Vedas. In this passage Viṣṇu appears as Hayaśiras, the son of Aditi and is connected with the Vedic hymns that indicate the central myth of Hayaśira Viṣṇu, where he recovered the Vedic texts from the demons.

In another passage of the same parva we come to know that Kṛṣṇa was the slayer of demon Madhu and Kaiṭabha as well as a demon named Hayagrīva—

“Ekārṇve ca svapatā nihatau madhukaiṭabhau/
Janmāntaramupāgamyahayagrīvastathāhataḥ//”^[3]

Here it appears that like Madhu and Kaiṭabha, there was another demon Hayagrīva by name who was also slain by Lord Kṛṣṇa. Bhāratakaumudī clearly identifies Hayagrīva as an abductor of the Vedas—“Hayagrīva nāmāsura vedahārī”. Interestingly the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha are abductors of the Vedas as stated in the śānti parva, but name of the demon Hayagrīva does not appears here as a performer of the same deed.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mahābhārata, 5.97.5.

[2]:

Siddhantavagisha, Haridas: Mahābhārataṃ, Part 15, p.904.

[3]:

Mahābhārata, 5.128.50.