Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature
by Anindita Adhikari | 2019 | 56,368 words
This page relates ‘Central Myth (6): Slaying of the demons Madhu-Kaitabha’ of the study on Lord Hayagriva as found in Sanskrit Literature such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Puranas and Tantras. Hayagriva as an incarnation of Vishnu is worshipped as the supreme Lord of knowledge and wisdom but also symbolizes power and intelligence. His name means “the horse-headed one”.
Central Myth (6): Slaying of the demons Madhu-Kaiṭabha
The two demons Madhu and Kaiṭabha, quickly came back to that spot where they kept Vedas after they could not find the source or person from where the sounds came. However, they guessed that the Vedas were stolen by Viṣṇu. The two extremely powerful demons rushed out from the nether region.
Returning to the spot where the primeval lotus gave them birth, they found the puissant being, the creator, who existed assuming the form of Aniruddha with fair complexion and endowed with grandeur like the moon.
He the possessor of immense powers was under the sway of yoga-sleep, his body stretched on the waters and dwelling in a space as vast as itself:[1]
“Tata uttamāsthāya vegaṃ valavatāmbarau/
Punaruttasthatuḥ śīghraṃ rasānāmālayāttadā/
Dadṛśāte ca puruṣaṃ tamevādikaraṃ prabhuṃ//
Śvetaṃ candraviśuddhābhamaniruddhatanau sthitaṃ/
Bhūyo’apyamitavikrāntaṃ nidrāyogamupāgataṃ//
Ātmapramāṇaracite apāmuparikalpite/
Śayane nāgabhogāḍhye jvālāmālāsamāvṛte//”[2]
The body of the supreme Lord possessing extraordinary brilliance, and with the attribute of sattva, laid on the anantanāga that appeared to radiate flames of fire for the resplendence attached to it. Looking at him the two demons roared into a loud laugh.[3]
Endued with the attributes of rajas and tamas, they said—
“Ayaṃ sa puruṣaḥ śvetaḥ śete nidrāmupāgataḥ//
Anena nūnaṃ vedānāṃ kṛtamāharaṇaṃ rasāt/
Kasyaiṣa ko nu khalveṣa kiñca svapiti bhogavān//
Ityuccāritavākyau tau vodhayāmāsaturhariṃ/”143
With these words, the two demons aroused Hari from his Yogaslumber.”[4]
Nārāyaṇa, was awakened and He anticipated that the demons planned to have an encounter with him. Nārāyaṇa also set his mind to satisfy their wish. Instantly a battle took place between them. The demons were embodiments of the attributes of rajas and tamas and Nārāyaṇa an attribute of sāttva.
“Atha yuddhaṃ samabhavattayornārāyaṇasya ca/
Rajastamoviṣṭatanū tāvibhau madhukaiṭabhau/
Brahmaṇo’pacitiṃ kurvvan jaghāna madhusūdanaḥ//”[5]
Nārāyaṇa slew both the demons to gratify Brahmā. By killing the demon Madhu Nārāyaṇa came to be known by the name of Madhusūdana, the slayer of Madhu. Thereafter aided by Lord Nārāyaṇa and assisted by the Vedas, Brahmā created all the three worlds with movables and immovables.
The story ends with the following ślokas—
“Tau dānavau harirhatvā kṛtvā hayaśirastanum/
Punaḥ pravṛttidharmārthaṃ tameva vidadhe tanum//
Evameva mahābhāgo vabhūvāśvaśirā hariḥ/
Paurāṇametat prakhyātaṃ rūpaṃ varadamaiśvaram//”[6]
In this way Lord Nārāyaṇa in his horse headed form killed the demon Madhu-Kaiṭabha and then resumed his original appearance for sake of worldly pleasure.
This ancient myth of Hayaśira Viṣṇu is said to be similar to the Vedas[7] and it has also been said that person who frequently listens to and recites this upākhyāna with devotion, his learning and wisdom can never be destroyed.[8] Lord Hayaśira is famous in the several purāṇic myths also. It will be discussed in the following chapter.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Roy. P.C, The Mahābhārata. p. 606.
[2]:
Mahābhārata, 12.335.53-55.
[3]:
[4]:
Roy. P.C, The Mahābhārata, p.606.
[5]:
Mahābhārata, 12.335.63b-64.
[6]:
Mahābhārata, 12.335.68-69.