Hayagriva (Buddhism)

Common card · No. 489783

Hayagriva ("having the neck of a horse", IAST: Hayagrīva) is an important deity in Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism. He originated as a yaksha attendant of Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin) in India, and was assimilated into the ritual practices of early Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, Hayagriva is a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, and is considered an extremely wrathful male deity in the pantheon of Herukas in Vajrayana Buddhism. Hayagriva together with his female consort Vajravarahi (Dorje Pakmo) remove hindrances and are renowned for their epic conquering of the Buddhist demonized Hindu god Rudra. Hayagriva's iconography encapsulates his embodiment of a wrathful manifestation of compassion, symbolizing an unwavering determination to surmount internal obstacles and external challenges. Displaying attributes such as a scowling countenance with three penetrating eyes, green horse heads, a raised sword, a threatening mudra, and symbolic ornaments, Hayagriva conveys an intense resolve...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Unknown artist, Ming Dynasty, Public domain