What is the significance of the horse in the horse-sacrifice (ashvamedha yaagam)?

[An online spiritual discussion was conducted on November 22, 2020, in which several devotees participated. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Smt. Sudha Rani asked: What was the aśvamedha yāgam which was done by King Daśaratha, as a result of which, Lord Śrī Rāma was born to him? What is the significance of the horse there? Bharat Krishna: Why is it that my senses are not under my control?]

Swāmi replied: The horse stands for the senses and the mind stands for the reins that control the sense-horses, as said in the Veda (Indriyāṇi hayānāhuḥ, manaḥ pragrahameva ca…). Aśva means a horse and medha means purification. Controlling the sense-horses with the help of the mind-reins is the actual meaning of aśvamedha. The body is said to be the chariot and the driver of the chariot is the intellect (buddhiṃ tu sārathiṃ viddhi…—Veda). The mind is in the hands of the intelligence. With the help of the intelligence, one analyzes and arrives at the right decision. With the help of the right decision, the intellect-driver controls the sense-horses through the mind-reins. The soul is said to be the owner of the body-chariot (Ātmānaṃ rathinaṃ viddhi, śarīraṃ rathameva ca…—Veda). Only if the chariot runs in the right direction, can both the chariot (body) and the owner of chariot (soul) remain safe.

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