Garuda is mount of Lord Vishnu, a relevant figure in Hindu Mythology.
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Introduction
As we all know, the tales of Hinduism are majestic and diverse. In our blogs, we have been exploring the various characters of Hindu mythology. Today, we will discuss Garuda. Hinduism is rich in teachings, lessons, stories and characters. The Trinity of Gods includes Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu. Garuda is an important character form Hindu Mythology who is mount of Lord Vishnu. Let’s read more about him.
Who was Garuda?
Garuda is a mythological deity in Hinduism who has half body of human and half body of an eagle. Also, he is worshipped alongside Lord Vishnu at many places in Southern India.
Appearance of Lord Garuda
The mythological bird creature Garuda has always fascinated me with his unique appearance. Imagine a being with the torso and arms of a man, yet adorned with the wings, head, beak, and talons of a majestic eagle or vulture. His golden body gleams with divine radiance, his vibrant red wings seem ready to take flight, and his white face exudes a calm yet powerful aura.
Different names of Lord Garuda
Garuda is popularly known by given names as
- Khagesvara means king of the birds.
- Suparna who has beautiful feathers.
- Suvarnakaya one who is golden bodied.
- Nagantaka the devourer or the enemy of snakes.
- However in southern texts, Garuda represents birth and heaven. In addition to he is associated with the Sun and fire.
Who was wife of Garuda?
Garuda’s wife is Unnati (Vinayaka in other texts) and his son is Sampati, another mythical bird and ally of Lord Rama.
Parental details of Garuda
Garuda, the magnificent bird deity, has an intriguing lineage.Sage Kashyapa and Vinata are the parents of Garuda.His deep-seated dislike for snakes stems from a pivotal incident involving his mother. It was after a bitter quarrel between Vinata and her co-wife Kadru, the queen of serpents, that Garuda’s animosity towards snakes took root—a sentiment that became an integral part of his story.
Key Highlights of Garuda
- Garuda Purana is believed to be narration by Lord Vishnu to Garuda. Do you know Garud Purana is recited for the departed soul after the funeral till Terhavi (13th day) in many communities?
- During Ram- Ravana war, Garuda freed Lord Rama and his younger brother Lakshmana from Nagastra.
- Besides, he also freed his mother by stealing pot of amrita (nectar of elixir) from Indra.
- Also, Sumati, his who was married to king Sagara.
- Additionally, his brother Aruna is charioteer of Surya Dev aka Lord Sun.
- He is enemy of Nagas, his half brother.
- Garuda is a national symbol of Indonesia and Thailand.
Garuda Temple, Koladevi
The Garuda Temple in Koladevi village, near Kolar, Karnataka, is the only temple in the world dedicated to Garuda, the mythical humanoid eagle and Lord Vishnu’s vehicle. Believed to date back to the Vijayanagara period, the 5.5-foot-tall idol depicts Garuda in a kneeling position, holding Lord Vishnu in his right hand and Goddess Lakshmi in his left, symbolizing prosperity and blessings.
The temple’s significance are there in both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. In the Ramayana, the heroic bird Jatayu fights Ravana to protect mata Sita, losing his wings in the process. Hence, at this spot, he , and the place came to be known as Koladevi, meaning “kill” in Kannada.
Additionally, in the Mahabharata, Arjuna builds a Garuda temple to absolve his sins after killing many snakes during a hunt.
Moreover, Garuda’s desire to emulate the devotion of lord Hanuman to Lord Rama is symbolized by a small shrine to Hanuman within the temple. According to legend, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi blessed the temple by placing themselves on Garuda’s shoulders, empowering it as a place of divine intervention.
The temple, believed to be over 1100 years old, continues to attract devotees seeking blessings for prosperity and fulfillment of their wishes. Its rich mythology and serene atmosphere make it a significant spiritual site.
Story behind birth of Garuda
There was a great sage Maharishi Kashyap. Maharishi Kashyap had thirteen wives. However, he loved Vinata and Kadru the most. One day, while he sat in a blissful mood, both wives approached him and began massaging his feet lovingly. Their care pleased the sage. He said, “You both are very dear to me. If you have any wishes, tell me now.” Kadru immediately replied, “Swami, I want a thousand sons.” Kashyap then turned to Vinata. She said, “Swami, I want just one son, but he should be so powerful that he can defeat Kadru’s thousand sons.”
Birth of Nagas and Garuda
Sage Kashyap thought for a while and then decided to perform a yagya, to ulfill their wishes. He soon performed the yagya with the participation of gods and sages. Afterward, Kashyap returned to his penance. Meanwhile, Kadru laid a thousand eggs, and Vinata laid two. After a few months, Kadru’s eggs hatched, and thousands of black snake babies emerged. Overjoyed, Kadru called out, “Vinata, look at my beautiful children!”
Apparently, Vinata, eager to see her own children, broke one of her eggs early. To her horror, a half-formed child emerged. The child rebuked her, saying, “Mother, your impatience has caused this. Now, you will live as a slave for some time.” Terrified, Vinata asked, “How can I fix this?” The child replied, “Do not break the second egg early. The son born from it will free you from slavery.” The child then flew away. Determined to avoid another mistake, Vinata waited patiently. Finally, the second egg hatched, and a radiant and powerful child was born. She named him Garuda.
A bet resulted into slavery
As Garuda grew, his strength surpassed that of Kadru’s serpent sons. This rivalry strained the relationship between Vinata and Kadru. One day, they spotted a horse in the distance. Kadru claimed its tail was black, while Vinata insisted it was white. They argued and eventually made a bet: the loser would become the slave of the winner. That night, Kadru instructed her snake sons to wrap around the horse’s tail, making it appear black. The next morning, Kadru pointed out the black tail and declared herself the winner. Vinata, shocked and defeated, became her slave.
Getting Amrit by Garuda
Garuda, seeing his mother’s distress, asked, “How can I free you?” Vinata replied, “Only Kadru can decide.” Garuda approached Kadru and pleaded for his mother’s freedom. Kadru agreed but on one condition. “Bring me the nectar of immortality,” she said, “and I will set her free.” Garuda vowed to fulfill the condition. He sought his father’s guidance. Kashyap warned him, “Indra (King of Swrg) guards the nectar heavily. It won’t be easy to obtain.” But Garuda replied confidently, “No matter how strong the security, I will succeed.” Thus, Garuda began his heroic journey to retrieve the nectar and free his mother.
Gatuda’s plightful journey towards Amrit
Garuda felt hungry and asked his father, “Father, I am starving. What should I eat during this long journey?” Maharishi Kashyap replied, “You will pass by many Nishad settlements along the seashore. These people are wicked and behave like demons. You can eat them to satisfy your hunger.” Garuda then asked, “What if I am still hungry after that?” Kashyap responded, “Near the lake where the Amrit is kept, you will find a massive tortoise and a fierce elephant.
Both are cruel and demonic. You can eat them too.” With these instructions, Garuda set out on his journey. First, he ate the Nishads along the way, which eased his hunger slightly. Then, he reached the lake and captured the elephant and tortoise in his powerful claws.
While searching for a spot to eat them, he saw tall trees on Mount Somgiri and decided to rest on a sturdy branch. However, the branch broke under their weight and began falling. Garuda immediately noticed sages hanging upside down from the branch, deep in meditation. To protect them, he caught the branch in his beak and continued flying. Holding the branch, the elephant, and the tortoise, he flew to his father’s ashram for advice.
Upon reaching the ashram, Garuda asked, “Father, the branch broke while I rested, and the sages on it are in danger. What should I do?” Maharishi Kashyap replied, “These sages are the Balkhilya sages. If they are harmed, they will curse you. Wait while I pray to them.” Kashyap prayed to the sages, who accepted his request and descended from the branch to continue their penance in the Himalayas. Relieved, Garuda dropped the branch and ate the tortoise and elephant to fully satisfy his hunger. Energized, Garuda resumed his journey to the Amrit Sarovar.
Fight with Dev
When he arrived, he saw fierce gods guarding the nectar pot and a spinning chakra protecting it. Eventually, he analyzed the situation and decided to shrink his size to slip through the chakra. As he approached, the gods mistook him for a demon and attacked. Thenafter, Garuda fought back fiercely, using his sharp claws and beak to overpower them.
Grip over Amrit kalash
Once they were unconscious, he grabbed the Amrit Kalash and flew away. Meanwhile, the gods informed Indra, who immediately chased after Garuda with his Vajra ( fierce weapon). Indra struck Garuda with the thunderbolt, but it only knocked off one feather. Certainly, impressed by Garuda’s strength, Indra decided to negotiate. “Garuda, your bravery is remarkable. Hand over the Amrit Kalash, and I will grant you any boon you desire,” Indra proposed. Garuda responded, “I do not want the nectar for myself. I am delivering it to free my mother from slavery.” Indra suggested, “Take the nectar to Kadru, but ensure the snakes cannot consume it. I will reclaim it later. In return, I will bless you with snakes as your food.”
Accepting this deal, Garuda delivered the nectar to Kadru and freed his mother. That night, Indra retrieved the nectar. The next morning, the snakes found the Amrit Kalash missing. In desperation, they licked the Kusha grass where the nectar had rested, splitting their tongues. Thus, pleased with Garuda’s devotion to his mother, Lord Vishnu appeared and blessed him. “Your dedication is extraordinary, O King of Birds. I appoint you as my mount and grant you eternal protection,” Vishnu declared.
At the end, Garuda, filled with gratitude, embraced his divine role.
Conclusion
At the end, Garuda’s tale is a timeless reminder of devotion, courage, and resilience. His unwavering love for his mother, fierce determination, and ability to overcome even the greatest challenges make him an inspiring figure in Hindu mythology. As Vishnu’s divine mount, Garuda symbolizes the triumph of selfless duty and the power of faith, teaching us that true strength lies in loyalty and righteousness.
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