Horses in Indian and Hindu Mythology
Aśva
Aśva (अश्व) — Sanskrit word for the animal “horse”. This animal is from the group called grāmya-paśu (‘domestic animals’), according to the Vāyu Purāṇa.
Aśva — The horse is said to have been born of the Creator’s feet.
The Aśvinī-nakṣatra, which comes under the zodiac of Aries, the exaltation sign of the Sun, is said to be favorable to the acquisition of horses.
Aśva (अश्व, “Horse”): — In the Vedas, the horse has a deeper meaning. “It is an image of life's great dynamic force, vital and nervous energy. It is a force, a figure of prāṇa, the universal life energy, and “he who knows the summit of intelligence of the horse, becomes illumined and fit for the sacrifice.”
Aśva represents the number 7 in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, and metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.
Number 7 has a unique significance. Many legends consider the seventh to be exceedingly pure and religious. The rainbow has seven colors, seven oceans, and seven constellations, not to mention ancient India's seven sages (saptrishi). In addition, the bride and groom must take seven pledges during their wedding ceremony in Hinduism. As a result, the number seven is significant in our lives and has a pleasant and prosperous significance.
Uchchaihshravas
According to Hindu mythology, the very first horse was a seven-headed creature called Uchchaihshravas. In addition to having seven heads, Uchchaihshravas could fly and reach all of the divine worlds, and he is the ancestor of all the current horses.
In Hindu mythology, the origin of the horse comes from the “Samundra Manthan” in Sanskrit. This is one of the fundamental myths of Hinduism. Uchaisravas is one of the nine sacred treasures that the gods made.
It is considered the king of horses. Uchchaihshravas is said to be snow white.
Uchchaihshravas is often described as a “vahana” which means a vehicle of Indra, the king of the gods, but is also recorded to be the horse of Bali, the king of the asuras (demons).
Horses and the Gods
White horses are particularly noteworthy in Hindu mythology. The Lord of the Devas, Indra, had such a liking for white horses that he would sometimes steal those intended for sacrifice, rescuing them from their fate.
Lord Vishnu had taken the Hayagreeva avatar to restore the Vedas from the demons, and after killing them, he handed over the Vedas to his son Lord Brahma Dev, and he contains horse head
The word for horse in the Vedas is vaja. It is derived from the root vaj or uj, which also gives the word vajra, which means hard and mighty; it is also the name of Indra’s celebrated weapon with which he reduces his foes.
Thus, the word stands not only for the horse but also for the strength, speed, and impetuosity of a horse and the general ideas of power, energy, swiftness, heroism, virility, and invincibility in war. These devotees seek boons from their gods.
The Hindu god Kalki, a manifestation or avatar of the god Vishnu, was portrayed as riding a giant white horse. Some historians believe that Kalki’s name is derived from the word Karki, meaning white. The god Kalki rode on a white horse and punished those who were evil while rewarding good people.
In the fight between Brahma and Surya, Brahma, the creator of the universe, and Surya, the god of the sun, competed for ownership and possession of the seven horses in charge of pulling the solar disk. In this way, horses are responsible for the passage of the sun throughout the day.
In the Vedas, horses often represent the Sun and its yearly course, which is associated with the wandering of the horse in Ashwamedha Yagnya. The horse is also said to be analogous to the Prajapati-Agni or the Purusha as the Creator or Varuna. The horse in the Vedas symbolizes energy.
The seven horses that draw the chariot of the Sun God Surya are named after the seven Vaidik meters of the verse: Gayatri, Brhati, Ushnik, Jagathi, Trishtubh, Anushtubh, and Pankti.
This representation makes symbolic sense, as the horses that draw the Sun, like the meters of the Vedas, are the seven mechanisms that deliver sacred illumination to its recipients. They are also often used to represent the seven colors of sunlight, the seven chakras, and the seven days of the week.
To praise the bhakti of Sri Vadirajar, Lord Vishnu used to come in the form of a divine horse and eat the holy prasad, jaggery mixed with pulses.
The great Mahabharata warrior, Ashwathama, was given the horse’s name since he produced the sound of a horse during his birth.
The divine Gandharva sage Tumburu has a horse head, and he used to sing melodious songs to Lord Vishnu and wander in the divine worlds, similar to Rishi Narad.
Lord Panchamukha Hanuman, among his five heads, also contained a horse head.
There are specific horses or horse-like beings in Hinduism, like the horse-headed Avatar of Vishnu named Hayagriva, who are worshipped for knowledge and also to exorcise evil spirits.
Horses in Astrology
In Vedic Astrology, Ashwini Nakshatra is the first Nakshatra among the 27 Nakshatras, falling under the zodiac sign of Aries. The word Ashwini means ‘horse-like’ or ‘one who possesses horses’ or ‘one who tames horses’.
The symbol of this nakshatra is a horse’s head. The Ashwin Kumaras are the ruling deities of this nakshatra.
They were born after the Sun God Vivasvat and his wife Saranyu (Sanjna) engaged in lovemaking in the form of a stallion and a mare, respectively.
Sometimes the Indus River is stated to be their mother, and other times they are also mentioned as the sons of the Vedic mother goddess Ushas.
According to the Rigveda, the Sun God had a daughter named Sūryā and arranged a horse race to choose her bridegroom. The Ashwins won the race, and thus, both of them married Sūryā. We can also see that the sign Aries exalts under the Sun.
In the Rigveda, they are described as youthful divine horsemen, traveling in a chariot drawn by horses that never weary. They were seen as guardian deities that would protect and rescue people by aiding them in various situations. They are depicted as helping the mortals and bringing them back to life. The Rigveda also describes the Ashwins as “bringing light”: they gave "light, bringing help”.
They are associated with the “return from darkness”. The twins are called darkness slayers. Their horses and chariot are described as “uncovering the covered darkness”.
It is said that Sūryā, the daughter of the Sun, rides with them in the chariot.
They are associated with honey.
A sage, Dirghashravas, prayed to the Ashwins for rain, and the twins poured sweet water from the sky. They also helped the sage Gotama, who was lost in a desert and begged for water. The Ashwins dug a water well and planted sage. Rebha was stabbed and cast into the waters for 9 days and 10 nights before being saved by the twins.
In the later Mahabharata, the Aświns are often called Nasatyas (saviors) or Dasras. Sometimes one of them is referred to as Nasatya and the other as Dasra.
They are also fierce deities, and they destroyed the asura Vishvaka as well as his dynasty.
The Ashwins once tried to seduce Sukanya, the daughter of King Saryati and the wife of an old sage named Chyavana. She refused, claiming that the twins were imperfect, and told them to restore the youth of Chyavana. Desperate to know the reason for her words, they fulfilled the condition, and the sage revealed that the Ashwins were excluded from a yajna (fire sacrifice) performed by the gods, and thus, they were incomplete. The Ashwins went to the sacrifice, but the gods don’t accept claims that the Ashwins were spending too much time with the mortals. After many attempts at exclamation, they were finally accepted.
Importance and Symbolism
Horses have played a significant role in Indian history and are a recurring theme in Hindu mythology. Horses are highly regarded in Hindu culture to this day.
According to ancient Sanskrit writings, horses are referred to as gifts from the gods.
The horse is a major figure in Hindu mythology, and it’s closely associated with various gods. The horse is also an animal that has been considered sacred since ancient times, with hymns praising its qualities found in many Indian religious texts.
The Hindu tradition gives the horse a significant religious meaning. The horse in Hindu culture is a symbol of loyalty, respect, and great power, as well as generosity and royalty.
Horses symbolize loyalty, respect, and power in Hinduism. The worship of Hayagriva, a form of horse worship, was established in India around 2000 BC. Back in the days of native life on the continent of India, horses revolutionized the way people traveled, hunted, and conducted warfare.
In Vastu Shastra, painting seven galloping horses with a rising sun in the background is extremely important. They are a real representation of strength, bravery, solidity, and devotion and are thought to boost positive energy in all parts of one’s life.
Horses in motion are symbols of speed. Place it on the east wall of your home, business, lodge, or wherever you want to see progress in your activity.
Horses respect their masters and perform their duties according to the commands given by their masters. However, they would disrespect us only when they are treated cruelly. During the wars, the kings mostly used horses to fight easily with their enemies.
Another common symbolism of horses in Hinduism is the psycho-physical complex of the body and the grosser and sensory levels of the mind, which are driven by the Atman, like a horse by its rider. Similarly, horses pulling a chariot are often compared to the senses, which are incredibly useful when guided by a skilled charioteer, but, when left to wander without such guidance, will pull the chariot (representing the entire person) in random and non-helpful directions.
Horses significantly impact Hindu culture and have a highly respected place in it in all aspects. They need to be well protected and well respected.
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