The central myth of Hayaśīra-Viṣṇu (Introduction)

In the śānti parva of Mahābhārata, we find the major mythological narrative of Hayaśira Viṣṇu. Janamejaya was very curious about the Hayaśīra form of Lord Viṣṇu and asked Vaiśampāyana to tell him all about how Madhu and Kaiṭabha stole the Vedas from Brahmā, how Lord Nārāyaṇa in his horse headed form brought back the stolen Vedas and how he killed the demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha.^[1] Janamejaya inquired about the origin of the Horse headed form of Viṣṇu, who has been earlier mentioned as a receiver of offerings, havya and kavya for both the gods and manes. In response to the query the story of Hayaśira Vīṣṇu was narrated. Vaiśampāyaṇa says to the king that all existent objects, in this world, are the result of a combination of the five primeval elements, a combination due to the prudence of the supreme Lord. The creator of the universe known as Virāṭa Puruṣa, the inner soul of all things and divested of attributes, again possessed of them, he is the supreme Lord Nārāyana.^[2]