Hayagriva (Buddhism)
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In Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism, Hayagrīva ("having the neck of a horse") is an important deity who originated as a yaksha attendant of Avalokiteśvara or Guanyin Bodhisattva in India.[1] Appearing in the Vedas as two separate deities, he was assimilated into the ritual worship of early Buddhism and eventually was identified as a Wisdom King in Vajrayana Buddhism.[1]
In Tibet, Hayagriva was promoted especially by Buddhist teacher Atiśa[2] and appeared as a worldly dharmapala.[1] His special ability is to cure diseases, especially skin diseases even as serious as leprosy, which is said to be caused by nāgas.[citation needed]
In Japanese Mahayana Buddhism, Hayagriva was evaluated as a Avalokiteśvara of the guardian deity for horses. The horse was symbolized as a vehicle, not as one of Hayagriva's heads.
Buddhist iconography
In his simplest form Hayagriva is depicted with one face, two arms and two legs. Everything about him is wrathful - a scowling face with three glaring eyes, a roaring mouth with protruding fangs, a pose of warrior’s aggressiveness, a broad belly bulging with inner energy, a sword raised threateningly in his right hand (poised to cut through delusion), his left hand raised in a threatening gesture and snake ornaments. This terrifying aspect expresses compassion’s fierce determination to help us overcome inner egotism and outer obstructions.
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lopez 2013, p. 346.
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Bibliography
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de:Hayagriva es:Hayagriva fr:Hayagriva hi:हयग्रीव id:Hayagriwa ja:馬頭観音 pl:Hajagriwa ru:Хаягрива ta:ஹயக்ரீவர் uk:Хаягріва zh:馬頭明王