Today is the day of my favorite Lord — as Hayagrīva and Vāmana. Yes, double action! But hey, He is Thiruvonathan. 😄

And this is the day famously celebrated as Thiru-“Onam” — quite literally, the Day of the Lord!

For Hayagriva, lets look at a beautiful Sloka from Sri Hayagriva Stotram composed by Swami Desika –

समाहारसाम्नां प्रतिपदमृचां धाम यजुषां लयः प्रत्यूहानां लहरिविततिर्बोधजलधेः।कथादर्पक्षुभ्यत्कथककुलकोलाहलभवं हरत्वन्तर्ध्वान्तं हयवदनहेषाहलहलः।।

अन्वयः -> साम्नां समाहारः ऋचां प्रतिपदं यजुषां धाम प्रत्यूहानां लयः बोधजलधेः लहरिविततिः हयवदनहेषाहलहलः कथादर्पक्षुभ्यत्कथककुलकोलाहलभवं अन्तर्ध्वान्तं हरतु।

हयवदनस्य हेषाहलहलः (the resonant neighing of Lord Hayavadana) which is like साम्नां समाहारः (Collection of the Sāmaveda), ऋचां प्रतिपदम् (underlying every word of the Ṛks), यजुषां धाम (the abode of the Yajus mantras), प्रत्यूहानां लयः (destruction of obstacles), बोधजलधेः लहरिविततिः (the vast succession/expanse of waves of the ocean of knowledge.), हरतु (may it dispel) अन्तर्ध्वान्तं (the inner darkness ) कथादर्पक्षुभ्यत्कथककुलकोलाहलभवं( arising from the tumultuous uproar of the multitude of disputants, agitated by pride in debate.)

Now, I could go into the samāsas and all that — and that’d be some good learning — but I wanna post my padya on Vāmana/Trivikrama. So, skipping grammar today! 😄

Here’s mine on this avatāra —

धृत्वा वटोः रुचिरवामनदिव्यरूपं मित्त्वा स्वपादकमलेन जगत्त्रयं तत्। तत्त्वा वदान्यदनुजस्य यशः प्रपञ्चे पण्णातटेऽयमिह राजति लोकमाता।।

And yes, I am rather proud of my versification 😄 — यतो हि क्त्वान्ताभ्यासोऽभूत्, राजति इत्युभयपदिनः परस्मैपदिप्रयोगः कृतः, लोकमातेति मानक्रिया, न तु जननी — and that is a copy from Veṅkaṭādhvari. 😉 Not to mention the reference to Peṇṇai Āṟu… and, of course, my favorite chandas — Vasantatilakā!

With that, it’s a wrap, makkale! Happy Hayagrīva and Vāmana Jayantī!