Thiruvanthipuram Lakshmi Hayagrivar Temple

Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivar Temple Thiruvandipuram 

Tiruvanthipuram temple is the only historical temple in South India to house an image of Hayagriva, an avatar of Vishnu with horse face. Two iniquitous horses, named Madhu and Haitaba, are believed to have taken the Vedas away from the world. Brahma sought the help of Vishnu who propitiated in the form of Hayagriva.

Hayagriva is believed to be the god of knowledge and wisdom, who is believed to have restored the Vedas to Brahma. Hayagriva is also called Hayavadhana. Vedanta Desikar has eulogized Hayagriva in his works. Many people reach here to perform Aksharabhyasam (the ceremony conducted for commencing education of a child).

Down the hill, Devanathaswamy temple is one of the Divya Desam among 108 Divya Desam. The presiding deity is Lord Devanatha Perumal and Thayar (Goddess) is Hemambjavalli.

Tiruvanthipuram  - Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivar Temple திருவந்திபுரம் -  ஸ்ரீ லட்சுமி ஹயக்ரிவர்  திருக்கோவில்
Main Deity	Lord HayaGrivar
Name	Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva
Goddess Name	Sri Lakshmi
Location	Thiruvanthipuram
Historical Name	Tiruvaheendrapuram , Vaheendran
Significance	Prarthana sthalam for ‘Good Education’ and to cure ‘Speech delay, speechless children' Located on the Kidelam River Bank,
Ancient	1500 years old
Travel Base	Cuddalore

The great Sri Vaishnava Guru Swami Vedanta Desika reached here as a human incarnation of the Lord's Ghanta (bell) who would attain fulfilment in his penance carried out on the Hill. When he was about 20 years old and had mastered all Sastras, he came to this place, worshipped Sri Hayagriva at the hill, prayed Garuda who appeared before him and initiated him in Hayagriva Upasana which helped Desika attain religious knowledge to its greatest depths. Swami Desikan spent nearly 40 years of his illustrious life in this Divya Desam. To this day, the house in which he lived (Desikan Thirumaaligai) can be visited when one comes to Thiruvahindrapuram.

Hayagriva, also spelt Hayagreeva,  is a horse-headed avatar of the Supreme God Vishnu in Hinduism. In Sanskrit, Hayagriva means haya=Horse, griva=Neck.

In Hinduism, Hayagriva is also considered an avatar of Vishnu. He is worshipped as the God of knowledge and wisdom, with a human body and a horse's head, brilliant white in color, with white garments and seated on a white lotus. Symbolically, the story represents the triumph of pure knowledge, guided by the hand of God, over the demonic forces of passion and darkness.

Hayagriva Sloka - Slokas for Children

கல்வி ஞானத்தில் சிறந்து விளங்க கலைமகளுக்கு குரு ஹயக்ரீவர். இவர் குதிரை முகம் கொண்டவர். திருமாலின் உருவங்களில் ஒன்றாக விளங்குபவர்.

கல்வியில் சிறப்படைய இந்த சுலோகத்தைத் தினமும் காலை, மாலை கூறி வந்தால் நல்ல கல்வி கிடைக்கும்.

ஹயக்ரீவர் மூலமந்திரம்

உத்கீத ப்ரண வோத்கீத

ஸர்வ வாகீச்வரேச்வர

ஸர்வ வேத மயோசிந்த்ய

ஸர்வம் போதய போதய

ஹயக்ரீவர் காயத்ரீ

ஓம் தம் வாகீச்வராய வித்மஹே

ஹயக்ரீவாய தீமஹி

தந்நோ ஹஸெள ப்ரசோதயாத்

How to reach: Tiruvandipuram Hayaagriva Temple is located about 6 kms West of Cuddalore Town on the way to Panruti. Buses are available from Cuddalore. The temple is 8 km from Cuddalore, 20 km from Panruti bus stand and 40 km from Villupuram.