HAYAGRIVA - Haya means horse and Griva means neck. The horse faced form of Vishnu, is the god of Education or Knowledge and prosperity according to the scriptures.

One who prays lord hayagriva shall be blessed with all Knowledge and wisdom. Legend has it that during the creation, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha stole the Vedas from lord Bhramha. Lord Vishnu took the Hayagriva form to recover the Vedas from the demons.

Another legend has it that during the creation, Vishnu compiled the Vedas in the Hayagriva form and that the Hayagriva avatara precedes the Matsya Avatara wherein he recovered the stolen Vedas from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha.

Special worship is conducted on the day of the full moon in August,Sravaṇa-Paurṇami (his avatara-dina) and on Maha Navami, the ninth day of the Navaratri festival.