Hayagreeva - A Special Sweet With Bengal Gram Dal & Jaggery

HAYAGREEVA 

Hayagreeva - the horse faced God - is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and He is the Lord of all knowledge and wisdom. By chanting His name three times with faith before an exam or an interview one is assured of great success in all his/her endeavours. Interestingly a special sweet which is offered as neivedyam to Lord Hayagreeva with great devotion is also called as Hayagreeva. Today being Sri Rama Navami I prepared Hayagreeva as an offering to Lord Sri Rama who is the seventh and one of the most popular avataars of Lord Vishnu. 

INGREDIENTS 

Bengal gram dal - 1 cup 

Jaggery ( Powdered ) - 3/4 cup 

Ghee - 4 tbsps 

Cardamom powder - 1 pinch 

Saffron strands - 1 pinch 

Cloves - 6 

Cashew nuts - 2 tbsps 

Raisins - 2 tbsps 

METHOD 

1. Heat one table spoon of ghee and fry the Bengal gram dal till it emanates a very pleasant aroma. 

2. Add two cups of water and pressure cook the fried dal until three whistles. 

3. When the pressure subsides remove the cooked dal and drain saving any excess water for later use. 

4. Dissolve jaggery in 3/4 cup of warm water and filter. 

5. Add the water drained out of the cooked dal to the jaggery water and cook till it becomes syrupy. 

6. Add the cooked dal (without mashing) and the saffron strands, and keep cooking till the Hayagreeva thickens. 

7. Stir in the cardamom powder and one tbsp of ghee and switch off flame when it reaches a porridge like consistency. 

8. Heat the remaining ghee and fry the cloves, cashew nuts and raisins and mix into the Hayagreeva. 

 Enjoy the delicious and flavoursome Hayagreeva dripping with ghee while it is still hot.