Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Temple Pondicherry
Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Temple- Pondicherry
Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Perumal Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is located in Pondicherry.It is noteworthy that the temple lies in between the Thiruvahindapuram Lakshmi Hayagreeva temple and the Chengalpattu Chettypunniyam Lakshmi Hayagreeva Temple.
The idol of Lord Hayagreeva is made of Salagrama stone. Lord and Goddess Lakshmi
are embracing each other with their left and right hands respectively. Generally, idols are made showing the alone embracing Lord. As this idol shows both of them embracing each other, it is believed that worshipping the Lord and Mother in this form ensures stronger marital affinity among couples. Lord graces the devotees with his right eye while the left eye is set on Mother. Mother graces the devotees with her left eye keeping the right on the Lord.
Legend
Lord Vishnu, at the time of Pralaya the end of the world then, kept all the beings in his belly, slept on the banyan leaf bed in the ocean. Later, for the recreation of the world, he created Brahma from his Naval Chord and taught him the four Vedas. Brahma began the creation. Two water drops appeared on the naval leaf of Lord changed into two demons. As they were thus born to Lord Vishnu, they summed up the courage to snatch the creation profession from Brahma, stole the Vedas from him and hid them in the deep underground – Pathala Loka.
Brahma surrendered to the Lord. Lord came to Pathala Loka and found the demons as two horses and therefore, He also took the form of the horse and began the war with the demons Madhu and Kaituba. He defeated the demons and recovered the Vedas and returned them to Brahma. The Vedas felt that their sanctity was affected due to the touch of the demons and entreated the Lord to restore their dignity. Lord smelt them. The Vedas got back their sacred status.
As the Lord was furious after the war against the demons, it is said that Sri Mahalakshmi was requested to cool him. Installing Mahalakshmi on his lap, the Lord came to be known as Lakshmi Hayagreeva. Hayagreeva-Lord with horse face.
Lord Hayagreeva is worshipped as Lord of Wisdom as he recovered the Vedas from the demons. Where there is wisdom, wealth joins there. The Lakshmi Hayagreeva form combines wisdom and prosperity.