Japan: Bato Kannon, the horse-headed Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kyoto, 12th century

Hayagriva (also Hayagreeva; Sanskrit: Hayagrīva) is a horse-headed deity that appears in both Hinduism and Buddhism and is known as Bato Kannon in Japan.

In Hinduism, Hayagriva is also considered an Avatar of Vishnu. He is worshipped as the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, with a human body and a horse's head, brilliant white in color, with white garments and seated on a white lotus. Symbolically, the story represents the triumph of pure knowledge, guided by the hand of God, over the demonic forces of passion and darkness.

In Japan, Batō Kannon 馬頭観音 is the Horse-Headed Kannon (Guanyin). Protector of Animals. Batō Kannon appears in the Mahāvairocana Sūtra (Jp. = Dainichikyō 大日經; composed sometime in the 6th / 7th century AD) and other tantric texts. He is thus a member of the esoteric pantheon.

Batō is also one of the Six Kannon. In this latter role, Batō protects those reborn in the animal realm (chikushōdō 畜生道), a realm characterized by stupidity and servitude.

In Japan, farmers pray to Batō Kannon for the safety and preservation of their horses and cattle. Batō Kannon is not only said to protect dumb animals, particularly those who labor for mankind, but extends those powers to protecting their spirits and bringing them ease and a happier life than they experienced while on earth.

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