Hayagriva

Hayagriva
God of Wisdom
Painting of Hayagriva, Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Other namesHayashirsha
Sanskrit transliterationHayagrīva
AffiliationVaishnavism
AbodeVaikuntha
Mantrajñānānandamayaṃ devaṃ nirmala sphaṭikākṛtim / ādhāraṃ sarva viddyānāṃ hayagrīvaṃ upāsmahe //
WeaponSudarshana Chakra Panchajanya
ConsortLakshmi

Hayagriva (Sanskrit: हयग्रीव IAST hayagrīva, lit.'horse-necked one') is a Hindu deity, the horse-headed avatar of Vishnu. The purpose of this incarnation was to slay a danava also named Hayagriva (A descendant of Kashyapa and Danu), who had the head of a horse and the body of a human.