Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2.5 Lecture 70 on 20 September 2026 Q&A

Discussion on Hayagriva, Upasana, and Keeping the Head Cool

Question 1: Are All Hayagrivas the Same?

Participant: Maharaj, this Hayagriva – here it is Dadhyang Rishi, and previously you had said it is the sun god who taught Yajnavalkya. And then in the Lalita Sahasranama also we have seen, Maharaj, that it is a conversation between Hayagriva and Agastya.

Response (Maharaj): Agastya, yes, correct.

Participant: Are all these Hayagrivas the same?

Hayagriva Is One; Many Are His Upasakas

Response: No, no. Hayagriva is only one. But there are so many upasakas of Hayagriva – so many. Even I mentioned about Bellamkonda Ramaraya Kavi. Very interesting story. He was a pakka Vishishtadvaiti. He was a greatest devotee.

One day he was travelling in a train, and there was a pundit or so – somebody who had a book on Advaita, and he was reading it for himself. Then this Bellamkonda Ramaraya – very curious – "What is the book you are reading?" Then this passenger explained, "This is a work of Shankaracharya." You just have a glimpse at it – and what we call – he was sucked. He changed his religion because the right time had come, and he became bigger.

So he was previously a greatest upasaka of Hayagriva, and he composed brilliant compositions trying to explain the commentaries of Shankaracharya. Some have come, for example, Bhagavad Gita Bhashya Arkaprakashika, Bhashya Arkaprakashika – illuminating Shankara's bhashya. If there are some points which need elaboration, and because he was a thinker, he could do that. It was almost like Vartika – Sureshwaracharya's Vartika. He did that. He became very famous. He is one of the most popular – what is called – authors for Advaitins.

Worship and the Grace of God

Response: Anyway, it is worshipping God. So Hanuman Singh was an upasaka of Hanuman. Why? Because he was called Hanuman Singh. That means what – he was singing always about Hanuman. And he was defeated by whose grace?

Participant: Hanuman's grace.

Response: We have to understand Bhagavan's grace. Only Sri Ramakrishna used to think of that Saguna Brahman or Ishvara as my Mother Kali. So he also contemplated Hanuman. He also was Hanuman Singh only, and Radha Singh also. So he practiced many upasanas.

So it doesn't matter whom you are worshipping, but you should have that idea: this is none other than God Himself, and out of His grace, I will worship Him. What is this worship? Worship means preparing one's own mind for receiving. Every sadhana is only to receive the grace of God. Once we are ready, once the field is ready, the grace will come – which Swamiji used to call the seed. And that seed means knowledge. Knowledge grows, goes on growing. What is evolution? Progress in knowledge. Yeah, as simple as that.

So what? Any doubt anymore?

Question 2: How to Change from Inside Out and Keep the Head Cool?

Participant: One more question, Maharaj. You mentioned about keeping the head cool – yeah – and which is common for everyone, be it householders or sannyasis or anybody. Are there – I know that there are some techniques, Maharaj. We've seen some people who on the outside, they look as if they're not affected, but inside they're super affected, and very stressful behaviour shows. How do we go about changing from inside out slowly?

The Example of Swami Vivekananda's Boyhood

Response: One hint we can get from Swami Vivekananda's life – from boyhood, childhood, he was hot-headed. Whenever his mother recognised this fellow is in that hot-headed mood, she takes him to a tap and lets the cold water run all over him. Immediately it cools. And later on he developed a technique. That is why always above Shiva, this Ganga is flowing.

Participant: He is hot-headed, always cooling.

Rudra and Shiva

Response: That's why he was called Rudra. The very name Rudra means Rodhayati iti Rudra – one who makes another person weep. Ahh, that Rudra is a Vedic God. Slowly, after a lot of this water, Mother Ganga made him Shiva. Even now his head is quite hot only. That is why Abhisheka Priya. I love Sabhisheka.

Techniques for Cooling the Mind

Response: Anyway, so we have to develop through meditation that whatever happens is because of my prarabdha karma – one technique. Whatever is happening, that is all because of Ishvara's will. Inshallah, they call it. So everybody has to develop.

Swami Vivekananda developed a technique. Whenever he realises, "I am very hot-headed now," he simply repeats "Shiva, Shiva," and immediately he cools down. Remember Shiva and cool down. Yeah.

So through practice we can also develop and say: so it is not the other person who is giving me trouble. I earned it through my poorvajanma karma, and that is infallible. In fact, I would say that whatever is happening is the will of the Divine Mother – Shakali Tomari Ichcha.

Conclusion: Practice Brings Coolness

Response: Yeah, yes, that is through spiritual practice. We can really keep ourselves really cool, no doubt about it.