Garuda Alwar

WHO IS THIS AZHWAR?
Sometime ago, we posted a query as follows:
"A few days ago, the Tirunakshatram of an important Azhwar went
unnoticed.
I was expecting someone to post on his greatness on the occasion.
But, none did.
Can you guess who it is?
Keep guessing and stay tuned.
To help you guess, I give below two clues:
1. Though we celebrate "Tirunakshatrams" that, strictly speaking,
are based on the birth stars, the birth of this Azhwar is based on
Thithi as in the case of Sri Rama Navami, Sri KrishNa AshTami etc.
2. He is NOT one of the 12 Azhwars or Amudanaar who together
composed the 4000 holy collects.
You may post your guesses to "Sri Ranga Sri", but I can see your
responses only on my return"
===============================================
Several Bhaagavatas came up with different answers:
Some guesses (incorrect) are given below:
KambanaaTTaazhwar, ILaiyaazhwar, Bharataazhwar, Satrugnaazhwar,
Sudarsanaazhwar, and VibheeshaNaazhwar
===============
Sri Garudadwajan Respected anbil swAmin,
My best guess is Lord Vynatheyar.
His birthday is celebrated as Garuda Panchami - along with his
cousin (step) brothers as nAga Panchami.
Regards
Garudadwajan
A few others, also, could identify the correct Azhwar viz.
GaruDaazhwar. Congratulations to those who guessed it right.
===================================================
We commence a series on "THE GLORY OF GARUDAAZHWAAR"

(This write up is based partly on KaalakshEpams attended while in
India and partly from "Sri GaruDan Perumai"- a booklet by Sri
S.Sundaram of Vasu Chemical Industries published on 14th May 1995
for free distribution on the occasion of Kanchipuram GaruDa SEvai")
======================================================
THE EVENT
This TaaraNa year GaruDaazhwar's birthday (Avani Sukla Paksha
Panchami) fell under the "Swati" Tirunakshatram that is also the
birth star of Periyaazhwar. It is worth noting that Periyaazhwar is
considered the amsam of GaruDaazhwar.

This event occurred on Friday the 20th August 2004.
Village damsels used to observe Vratam on this day. SrivaishNava
temples perform special pujas on this day to propitiate GaruDaazhwar.

THE AZHWAR
Sri GaruDan is the divine falcon, the mount of Lord Srimahaa VishNu.
He is considered to be the very soul of the Vedas (Vedaatmaa
VihagEswara :). His glory is beyond description and defies
description. Like the Lord's disc "Chakrath Azhwaar", Sri GaruDan is
known as "GaruDa Azhwaar", a rare tribute to them. Some esoteric
aspects of GaruDa Azhwaar can be learned only from learned
Achaaryas. We allude to some of these in this write up. Bhagavatas,
who are knowledgeable, may wish to add their tributes.

HIS OTHER NAMES:
GaruDaazhwar is also known by several other names like VihagEswara,
Garuthmaan, SuparNan, Pannakaasanan, KhagEndran, Pakshiraajan,
Daarkshyan, MOdakaamOdar, Pushpapriyar, MangaLaalayar, KshEmakaaree,
Periya TiruvaDi, KrishNan, JayagaruDan, PuLLarasu, Kaluzhan,
SuvarNan, Giri etc. (Vide GaruDa PuraaNa)

SIGHT
We come across several omens in our life. Some bring auspiciousness
when seen; other when heard. For example, it is considered good if
one sights a fox (nari mugathil vizhippadu). Forget, what is in
store for one whom the fox sees!

When GaruDa is seen flying, elders used to recite mentally the
words "MangaLaani Bhavantu". They would advise not to pat your
cheeks and not to bring your palms together in Anjali mudra.

SOUND
As for sound, it is considered auspicious if one hears the donkeys
bray, however, horrible the noise may be! There are certain others
like the owl that forebode evil whether seen or heard! But, in the
case of GaruDan, whether one sees or hears or even if one thinks of
it, one is assured of good fortune. The sound of GaruDa known
as "GaruDa Dwani" is deemed to be the very sound of "Saama Veda". In
fact, Lord GaruDa is considered the very personification of the
Vedas (Vedaatma VihagEswara:)

THE THOUGHT:
The very thought of GaruDa and mediation and recitation of GaruDa
mantra are said to confer auspicious benefits especially at the time
of going to bed, setting out for a long distance journey,
commencement of activities relating to wedding etc.

THE MANTRA:
There are several mantras dedicated to important deities
called "Gaayatris". "GaruDa Gaayatri" is enshrined in the 4TH PRASNA
OF TAITTREEYA UPANISHAD (MAHAA NAARAAYANA UPANISHAD).starting with
the words "Tat purushaaya VidmahE". This has to be secured only from
a qualified Acharya, after due process, to be efficacious. Swami
Desika obtained this mantra from his preceptor and he was blessed by
Lord GaruDa with "Hayagriva Mantra". We know how prolific and
effective Swami Desika became as a result of these mantras.

PAANCHARAATRA SAMHITA, however, recommends reciting the following
Mantra while offering obeisance at the Sannidi of GaruDa. (This is
NOT the GaruDa Mantra mentioned above)
"GaruDaaya namas tubhyam sarva sarpendra satravE/
Vaahanaaya mahAAvishNO: Daarkshyaaya amita tEjasE//

ISWARA SAMHITA avers that GaruDa mantra can confer strong memory
power, knowledge of Vedantas, gift of the gab and whatever one
desires etc"
"Vaag siddhi mahatee BhavEt/
Jnaanam cha mahat aapnOti/
yat cha anyatadi kaankshitam //

PADMA PURAANAM in 4 slOkas that start with the
words "Siddhayachayathaa poorvam" catalogues the various super
powers that GaruDa mantra can confer on the Upasaka:
1) winning over others
2) vanquishing enemies
3) making others forget their evil designs
4) making others oblivious to their surroundings
5) floating in air
6) playing safe and being fearless and unaffected in the midst
of hurricanes, forest fires, floods etc.
7) performing magical feats
8) acquiring concentration in studies and improving retention
of what is studied
9) Being victorious in debates, arguments and war.

ATHARVA VEDA:
GaruDA Vidya occupies the pride of place among the 32 Vidyas
enumerated in the Atharva Veda.

SATHAPATA BRAAHMANA:
In the Vedas, he is known as "Garutmaan" that became "GaruDa" in the
PuraaNa period.
Sathapata BraahmaNa explains the word "Garutmaan" as "Dheeran"
(i.e.) Valorous.

MATSYA PURAANA:
Matsya PuraaNa equates GaruDa with Lord Himself even as we speak of
Sudarsana Bhagavaan as Bhagavaan Himself.

GARUDA PURANA:
This details a lot of information on Dharma Rahasyas, Laws of
justice "PrEta kalpam" (disposal of corpses), "VyaakaraNam"
(grammar), Chandas (metres), JyOtisham (astrology), "Saamudrikaa
lakshaNam" (defining the characteristics of ideal physical
shapes), "Ratna pareeksha" (evaluating precious gems) etc.

THE BELL:
You would have noticed the image of GaruDa on the top of the temple
bell used at the time of Tiruvaaradana. This is one of the four
images considered auspicious on top of the bell, the other three
being "AadOthyam", "Sri Sudarsana Jwaala" and "Araadhana MaNI"

THE SHADOW:
Fields where the shadow of GaruDa falls are found to yield profuse
bumper crops and render the very locations holy.

THE ROOT:
There is a root of a plant known as "GaruDak kizhangu". Elders used
to hang a bit of the root on the front entrance of the house (Just
like we hang mango leaves) and this is said to ward off poisonous
creatures while conferring auspiciousness to the home.




1. WHO IS THIS AZHWAR?
GLORY OF GARUDAZHWAR ?
Part 2
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------OTHER
NAMES OF GARUDA:
Apart from the names mentioned earlier, GaruDaazhwar is also known as:
Kaasyapi (after his father), Vainateya and Vinataasuta (after his mother),
Daakshaayana (after his maternal grandfather, Daksha), Saalmaalin, Vinaayaka
(not to be confused with the elephant headed Ganapathi), and epithets like
Sitaananaa (white faced), Raktapaksha (Red winged), Sweta-ROhita (the white
and red), SuvarNakaaya (Golden bodied), GaganEswara (Lord of the sky),
Naagaantaka (Slayer of serpents), Pannaganaasana (Destroyer of serpents)
Sarpaaraati (enemy of serpents), Tarasvin (the swift one), Rasaayana (who
moves like quicksilver), Kaamachaarin (who goes where he will), Kaamaayus
(who lives at pleasure), Chiraad (eating long), VishNu-ratha (vehicle of
VishNu), AmritaharaNa and Sudhaa hara (Stealer of Amrita) SurEndra-jit
(Vanquisher of Indra), Vajra-jit (Subduer of thunderbolt) etc.

KAARKODAKA:
There is a sloka that says:
KaarkODagasya naagasya, Damayantyaa naLasya cha,
RituparNasya RaajarishEh keerthanam kali naasanam?
Meaning
?If you mention the name of the serpent, KaarkoDakan, Damayanti, NaLa, the
RaajaRishi called RituparNa - all ill effects of the 7 ½ year Saturn will be
neutralized?

You will find that the name of the huge poisonous serpent, KaarkODaka, is
mentioned first in this sloka. This KaarkODaka is said to be the vassal and
under the control of Lord GaruDa and it is because of this that he is said
to neutralize the poisonous effects of Sani dOsha associated with his 7½
years sojourn in everyone?s horoscope.

GARUDA MANTRA:
In the Japa dedicated to GaruDaazhwar, there is a ?maala mantra?, a powerful
mantra that should be recited with the ?Dhyaana SlOka?. For the 5 lettered
?GaruDa mantra?, the Rishi is ?Viswamitra? and the Devata is ?Sriman
NarayaNa?.

VYUHAM:
Like Sriman NarayaNa, he has also 5 Vyuha forms known as: GaruDan, Satyan,
SuparNan, Daarkshyan and VihagESwaran?

TATTVATRAYAM:
When PerumaaL gives His Darsanam mounted on GaruDa vaahanam, the base is
said to represent the insentient ?achEtana?, Garuda, the sentient ?ChEtana?
and the Lord the all-sentient Iswara. Thus, this is said to be an allusion
to the ?Tattva Trayam?.

VEHICLE TO THE VEHICLE:
Mostly the vehicles (Vaahanas) of the Lord have no vehicles for themselves.
But, GaruDaazhwar is said to have his own vehicle. He is known as
?Vaayuvaahana? ? one who rides on air. Elders used to point out ?Sri VishNu
Sahasra naamam? in which a reference is made as ?SuparnO vaayu vaahanah?.

REFERENCES TO GARUDAAZHWAR:

MAHABHAARATA:
In 21st Chapter of Anusaasana Parvam of Mahaabhaarata, the form of
GaruDaazhwar is literally equated with that of Bhagavaan Himself thus:
?tvam hi sourEh mahaabhaahO suparNa: prOchyatE puraa?

The PaaNDavas won the battle ultimately while fighting with the formation
known as ?GaruDa vyuham?

BY AZHWARS:
POIGAI AZHWAR: says that the Lord with SuparNan will confer on us Infinite
bliss?

PERIYAZHWAR:
?Udavap puLLoorndu angu urutuyar theertha?

TIRUMANGAI AZHWAR:
?ponmalaimEl ezhunda maamugil pOnruLar vandu kaaNeer?

KAMBANAATTAAZHWAR:
In his verse ?Ponvarai?? says ?ennai aalUdAIYAVAN ThOLL ninru?

BY ACHARYAS:
BHAGAVAD RAMANUJA in his ?Vaikunta Gadhyam?:
?vainateyaadhibhih?.yathaa yOgam sEvyamaanam?

KOORATHAAZHWAN:
?Laksmipriyaa: parijanaah pathakEndra mukhyaah?

SWAMI DESIKA:
?BhujagEndra Garutmatadhi labhyai:?
>From the above, we learn that GaruDaazhwar is one of the ?Nitysooris?
(eternal ones)

Swami Desika has eulogized the glory of GaruDaazhwar in two of his StOtras
viz., ?GaruDa DanDatakam? and ?GaruDA Panchaasath?.(More on these later). He
assures us that by his grace GaruDaazhwar would cure even prolonged and
chronic ailments, mental depravity, gastric and other allied discomforts,
heart diseases. All auspicious aspirations would be fulfilled leading one to
wonder how it was possible to achieve what was earlier considered impossible
of achievement.

In his ?Amritaaaswaadinee?, Swami Desikan avers that GaruDaazhwar would show
to his Bhaktas the two feet of the Lord that he holds in his hands -
?chala chEtasaam paada aravindam harEh that san-darsayateeva?

Swami further describes GaruDaazhwar as the presiding deity (adishTaana
dEvata) of the five winds that activate our bodies. ?mrith pancha
aakaadeesa?

Because GaruDaazhwar is known to devour serpents, he is also called ?Giri?-
which also means ?One who devours?. Swami Desika refers to this aspect when
he says
?pakshavaan mandasaila:? meaning he is like the flying mountain.

BY OTHERS:
Even poets with allegiance to faiths other than SrivaishNavam are seen to
have referred to GaruDaazhwar (e.g.) ?karai aNi mookkuDaip piLLai kaDaavi?

SAINT THYAGARAJA:
GaruDaazhwar helped Lord KrishNa in his fight against BaaNan in the Paataala
lOka. Referring to this incident, Saint Thyagaraja hails him as a great
devotee of Lord KrishNa.

NARAYANA TEERTHAR:
praises GaruDa in his work ?TarangiNi?

GUNAADYAN:
Gunaadya was a poet in 1st century BC who wrote ?Brihad Kathaa? in a
language called ?Paisaacha? (demoniac) based on ?Naaganandam? ? a drama
written by King Harsha vardhana who makes mention of the prowess and
compassion of GaruDaazhwar in 4 verses in Acts 4 and 5 of the drama.

SAIVA TIRU MURAI:
In Chapter 11, Kaarmali glorifies GaruDaazhwar?s wings as ?siragin
GaruDanai?

YAKSHAGAANAM:
A Telugu drama is said to describe in glowing terms the greatness of
GaruDaazhwar.



GLORY OF GARUDAZHWAR ?
Part 3
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARED TIRUNAKSHATRAM:
We saw that the Tirunakshatram of GaruDaazhwar is Swati and that this is
also the Tirunakshatram of Periyazhwar. It was under this Tirunakshtarm that
the Lord took His Avatara as Nrisimha. The specialty of this star is that
the Vedas praise it as ?JyOtir nakshtram?. It is believed that girls whose
weddings are celebrated in the Suba muhoortam of Swati will live happily in
their husband?s homes. The Vedas aver this by saying ?nishTaayaam
dadhyaath?.

MUKTA KALAAPAM:
When the Sun is in Tulaa Raasi and in conjunction with Swati nakshatram, it
is said that pearls appear in the shells. These pearls are known as ?Swati
pearls? and ?Muktaakalaapam?

KULA DEIVAM:
The Kula devata of GaruDazhwar is Brihaspati otherwise known as ?Guru?. We
know the popular saying that the wedding bells toll when there is ?Guru
Paarvai? in the Jatakam as per JyOtish Sastra. The inference is that if a
Jataka is a recipient of the blessings of Guru, he/she would get married
soon.

THE FAMILY TREE:
GaruDa?s father was ?Kaasyapa Maharishi?, son of Sage ?Mareechi?. His mother
?Vinatai?, was the daughter of Daksha. His elder brother ?Arunan? has no
limbs below his waist and appears on the sky with a red glow before Sunrise.
GaruDa had two wives called ?Rudrai? and ?Sukeerthi?.

VAALAKHILYAS:
Valakhilyas were a group of 60.000 Sages born to Brahma?s ?manasa putra
?Kratu? and his wife ?Kriya?. They were as dwarfish in stature as to be no
taller than the line across the middle finger. But, they were great
Tapasvis, who acquired great power by dint of their rigorous penance. They
used to move in groups. When once they were proceeding to a sacrifice
performed by Sage Kasyapa, they could not ford a small pit with a handful of
water because of their physical stature and they did not like to invoke
their spiritual powers just for this small purpose. They were struggling to
cross the waters, when Indra came on his elephant. On seeing their plight,
he made fun of them. Enraged, they cursed Indra that he would be defeated by
a son of Kasyapa. Thus, they were born as a result of the penance of
Valakhilyas and their curse on Indra.
During the visit of GaruDa in search of nectar (amrita), Indra with his army
came to fight and was defeated by GaruDa, son of Kasyapa. (We will revert to
the story of ?amritaapaharaNa? later)

GaruDa?s IDs:
- As per the Aagamas, he wears a red garment below his waist.
- As per Azhwar?s description, he has a mole on the top right portion of
his
nose.
- GaruDa birds have sharp eyesight and could identify even small objects
with utmost clarity of vision. They are otherwise known as Sem-parundu?.
- Experts have identified 48 types of the species belonging to this kind
of
bird.
- The height of GaruDa birds ranges up to 1½ feet
- As per Veda Vaakhyas, however, generally for birds, the ground would
appear at nights as a flame of fire. So, normally birds would not sit on
ground during nights. GaruDa birds also do not sit down on ground at nights.
- When GaruDa birds fly, you can witness a special majesty in their gait.
They fly without fluttering their wings and fly in an even manner
reminiscent of the Swastik symbol.



GLORY OF GARUDAZHWAR ?
Part 4
(Anbil Ramaswamy)
---------------------------------------------------------------
AN ANTIDOTE TO FEVER
Power of GaruDa?s vision is praised in the 21st SlOkam of Soundarya Lahari
thus:
?jvara pLushTaan drishTyaa samayati sakuntaadipa iva? ? That his vision
would greatly reduce fever and bring comfort.

GARUDA SEVAI:
It is considered a special blessing to meditate on the Lord as seated on
GaruDaazhwar. When the Lord rushed to save GajEndra from the crocodile, the
Lord rode on his shoulders, placing His holy feet on the palms of
GaruDaazhwar. It was on an Akshaya Triteeyai day, which incidentally invests
an importance to the Akashaya Triteeyai day.

AMRUTA HARANAM EPISODE:
There was a dispute between Vinata, (mother of GaruDa) and Kadru (mother of
1000 serpents) regarding the color of the tail of a cow. The tail was indeed
white and Vinata stated the fact. And, Kadru argued it was black in color.
The wager was that whoever proved the color chosen would be the master and
the other would be a slave to the master for life. Kadru made a secret
arrangement whereby she made all her serpent sons that were black in color
to wind themselves to the tail of the cow. When the time came for proof, the
tail appeared black and Vinata had to become the slave of Kadru. When GaruDa
wanted to secure her freedom from this slavery, Kadru laid a condition that
she would free Vinata, if GaruDa could bring Amritam that was in the custody
of Indra. Accordingly, GaruDa set out in search of Amritam and succeeded in
taking possession thereof. Though he ultimately succeeded in bringing the
Amrita kalasam, he could declare ?Mission Accomplished? only after a stiff
fight with Indra. What helped him in succeeding in his mission is the SlOkam
with which his mother blessed him. It reads as follows:
Pakshou tE maarutah paatu, chandrah prushTam cha putrah /
Siras tu paatu tE Vahnih Bhaaskarah SarvamEva tu //
VisNuh sarvagatah sarvaaNi angaani tava chaiva hi //

It is believed that when one sets out on a long journey reciting this SlOka,
no harm can occur to the person. In fact, it was with this SlOkam that
Kaousalya blessed Sri Rama when he set out for his ?Vanavaasam?.

GARUDA?s RESPECT TO A SAGE:
When on his return bearing the pot of nectar (amruta kalasam), he had to
engage in a fight with Indra. Though he had all the powers to vanquish
Indra, when Indra used the weapon made of the backbone of Dadeechi
Maharishi, out of deference to that great sage, he submitted himself, shed
one of his wings and feigned defeat at the hands of Indra.

HOW GARUDA BECAME THE VEHICLE OF BHAGAVAAN?
During this fight with Indra, the Lord in His role as ?UpEndra? fought with
GaruDa. When GaruDa got defeated at the hands of the Lord, he prayed that he
should be allowed to take the Amrita Kalasam and be accepted as the Lord?s
vehicle. From then on, GaruDa has been acting as the chauffer? cum - vehicle
of the Lord.

VAIRA MUDI OR VAINA MUDI:
When GaruDa was acting as a canopy for the Lord of the milky ocean
(Kseeraabdi naathan), in what is known as ?VeLLayam teevu? (white island)
near ?Saaka island? in the vicinity of the milky ocean, he came to know that
the diamond studded crown (VairamuDi) of the Lord was stolen by an asura
called ?VirOchana?. As directed by the Rishis, he defeated VirOchana and
recovered the crown. When the crown was placed on the archaa vigrahams
elsewhere, it would not fit. When it was placed on ?Sri Ramapriya? of
TirunarayaNapuram (MElkOttai), it fitted Him smugly. Because it was brought
by Vinata?s son Vainteya, it came to be known as ?Vaina muDi?. Incidentally,
he spilled the white clay clinging to the crown at that place. It is this
white clay that SrivaishNavas wear on their forehead and other spots on
their bodies to this day.

WHY SERPENTS HAVE SPLIT TONGUES?
When GaruDa was bringing the nectar, a few drops were clinging to the reed
called ?viswamitram? that stuck to the pot. The snakes tried to lick the
nectar and the cutting edges of the reeds indeed cut their tongues and that
is why, we are told, that snakes have cleft tongues.

AMRITA VEERYAM:
The reeds because of their association with nectar came to be known as
?Amrita Veeryam? which today is being used as a purifier called ?Darbam? in
all our religious rites.

GARUDOTKAARAM:
It is said that GaruDa spat the bits of bones of ?valaasura? and these
became emeralds (maragatham) also known as ?GaaruDamaNi? or ?GaruDotkaaram?.



WHO IS THIS AZHWAR? ?
GLORY OF GARUDAZHWAR Part 5
(ANBIL RAMASWAMY)
-----------------------------------------------------
DO YOU NEED INSTANT RELIEF?

Sometimes, even the most compassionate Bhagavaan might put to test His
devotees and might delay granting relief. But, when one prays to Bhagavaan
in conjunction with His GaruDadwaja, it is said that He would give up this
testing and hasten to provide immediate relief. Nammazhwar attests to this
fact in his Tiruvoimozhi 1.6.10
?parivatil eesanai? Paasuram saying ?koDiyaa vaDu puLLuyarnda MaadavanaarE?.

In his Vyaakhyaanam, PiLLaaan also confirms this fact by saying ?
?piraaTTiyODu kooDa ninru Periya TiruvaDikkuk KoDuthu aruLumaap pOlE?.
It is, therefore, clear that Sri SuparNan (GaruDaazhwar) is the one who
compels the Lord to grant instant and real relief!

?PROTECTING THE VIRTUOUS AND PUNISHING THE WICKED?:

The Lord in Bhagavad Gita spelled out the secret of His Avataatras as
follows: ?PARITRAANAAYA SAADOONAAM, VINAASAAYA CHA DUSKRITAAM?

Swami Desikan referring to this says that for protecting the virtuous, the
Lord wears his Paadukais at His feet while for destroying the evil
bedeviling his devotees, he mounts on His GaruDa vehicle and hastens with
supersonic speed to their rescue

GARUDA DWANI - A UNIQUE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT!

As many as 16 auspicious musical instruments have been identified and
grouped into what is known as ?AadOthyam?. The sound of music emanating
from these instruments in the form of a symphony is said to represent the
sound vibrations of Saama Veda and is also known as GaruDa Dwani?.

GARUDA DWAJAM:

In the fight against Sisupaala, the flag that flew on top of Lord KrishNa?s
chariot bore the image of GaruDa and was called ?GaruDa Dwajam?. The word
?Dwajam? itself would mean ?GaruDa Dwajam? only.

GARUDA PURI:

In the olden days, whenever people wished to build a new city, or construct
a sacrificial altar (YaagavEdi), they would devise them in the form of the
flying GaruDa. There are several explanations for the naming of ?Thanjaavur?
as that. It would appear that the place was originally known as GaruDa
Puri?.

GARUDA/ NAAGA PANCHAMI:

We saw that GaruDa?s Tirunakshatram is AvaNi Sukla Panchami. Bucolic
womenfolk used to observe on this day a ?NOnbu? called ?GaruDa Panchami?.
Since GaruDa?s brothers, the Naagas were also born on the same
constellation, some used to observe it also as ?Naaga Panchami?

GARUDA DANDAKAM:

Swami Desika wrote a panegyric poem called ?GaruDa DaNDakam?. He mentions
that there is no deity equal to GaruDa ? ?na kaschit sama: tE?. It is
perhaps no coincidence that in English the word ?SuparNan? echoes this
sentiment when pronounced to mean that there is none superior to him -
?Super None?!

KUMBAABHISHEKAM:

People thronging to witness KumbaabhishEkam, would invariably expect GaruDa
bird to hover over the tympanum of the temple tower and GaruDa would never
disappoint them!

THE MOST FAVORITE DEITY OF THE RENOUNCED:

Do you know who is the most favorite deity Sannyaasis (Ascetics)?
It is none other than GaruDaazhwar.

APARNA AND SUPARNA:

Do you know that both Paarvati (wife of Lord Siva) and mother of GaruDa,
Vinata were the daughters of Daksha and therefore, were sisters and both
were known as ?DaakshaayaNi?? Thus, GaruDa is closely related to Paarvati.
Elders used to say that perhaps this was the reason why Paarvati is called
?AparNa? and GaruDa is called ?SuparNa? to match in alliteration!

GARUDA?s ROLE IN KAALINGA NARTANAM:

It is said that it was GaruDa who transferred KaaLinga from the island of
?RamaNaka? to the river ?Yamuna?. We know the rest of the story as to how
KaaLinga tormented the peers of Lord KrishNa and how the Lord humbled him by
dancing on his hoods and how he was ordered to move over to the sea as
prayed for by his wives.

SAVIOR OF DWARAKA:

When Lord KrishNa had to be away from Dwaaraka, it is said that GaruDaazhwar
was assigned the duty to protect the city.

SAVIOR OF LORD RAMA AND LAKSHMANA:

During the Raama-RaavaNa war, they were bound by the powerful serpent weapon
?Naaga Paasam? and were lying unconscious. Lord GaruDa used his wings to fan
them and they were relieved of the trauma at a very crucial moment. Valmiki
describes this:?VainatEyEna samsprushTaa: tayO: samrooruhuh vraNaah?

MALYAVAAN EPISODE:

As per Uttara KhaaNdam of Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam, when the Lord was
fighting the powerful Maalyavaan, Lord GaruDa helped the Lord, struck
Maalyavaan with his wings and literally pulverized him.

CHURNING OF THE MILKY OCEAN:

When the milky ocean (Ksheeraabdi) was churned to produce nectar (amritam)
at theCommand of the Lord, GaruDa carried on his back the huge Mantara Mountain
to the milky ocean to be used as the churn-dashery.

GARUDAACHALAM:

We have heard of the name GaruDaachalam, one of the seven peaks in
TiruvEmkaTam.
Why is it so called?

It is because Lord GaruDa brought from SrivaikunTam, one of the eight peaks
called ?KireeTaachalam?. It is this golden Vimaanam, ?KireeTaachalam? that
stands majestically on top of the temple at Tirupati with the name ?Aananda
Nilaya Vimaanam?. In honor of this service, one of the peaks in Tirumalai is
called ?GaruDaachalam?

LET US VISIT A FEW KSHETRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH GARUDAAZHWAR:

SRIRANGAM:

While most of us may be familiar with the larger than life size image of
GaruDaazhwar in the ManTapam in front of ?AryabaTaaL Vaasal?, the entrance
to the Sanctum of the Lord, some may not know that there is a separate
Sannidhi of Amrita HaraNa GaruDa? on the way to Chakrattaazhwar Sannidhi.
This must have been in use in the olden days but for quite sometime remained
enclosed away from public view. Only recently discovered and Pujas resumed.
Bhagavatas visiting Srirangam will do well to visit this Sannidhi and
receive the blessings of ?Amrita HaraNa GaruDa?

NAACHIYAAR KOIL:

There is a famous Sannidhi for GaruDaazhwar here and he is known as ?Kal
GaruDan?. Science has not been able to explain the mystery underlying the
fact that when the Salagraama Vigraham of GaruDan is taken out for
procession, it is so light that it could be carried by just 4 persons; As
the ?Srimaan taangigaL? (bearers), cross the outer enclosures one by one, it
becomes progressively heavier that it needs 8, 16 and 32 men to hold the
vigraham after each enclosure. Similarly, after the outing (PurappaaDu),
when the Vigraham is brought back to the sanctum, it seems to lose weight so
that it need progressively lesser number of men to hold it - from 32 to 16
to 8 nd finally just 4 and in that order.

SRIVILLIPUTTUR AND TERAZHUNDUR:

In these KshEtrams, GaruDa shares the seat with the Lord (Eka aasanam)
unlike in other temples where GaruDa?s Sannidhi is positioned in front of
the Lord?s Sannidhi.

TIRUNARAYANAPURAM:

We have already seen how the VairamuDi Seva is the most celebrated event in
this KshEtram.

MANNAARGUDI:

The peculiarity in this KshEtram is that the Sannidhi of ?SuparNee?, mother
of GaruDa, is in front and facing the Sannidhi of Thaayaar (Naachiyaar). You
do not find such positioning in any other KshEtram.

MAANKAADU:

In this temple, the pointed edges on the wings of GaruDa are sculpted
separately and beautifully around the wings.

We will see in the next posting some historical facts and references to
GaruDa within and outside the Indian subcontinent.






WHO IS THIS AZHWAR? ?
GLORY OF GARUDAZHWAR Part 6 (CONCLUDED)
(ANBIL RAMASWAMY)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOME HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO GARUDA:

VIDISA AND GARUDA:
A stone inscription at Vidisa shows that in the tear 140 BC, a stone pillar
was erected in Vidisa (Gwalior) and this transformed itself into a ?GaruDa
Sthambam? ??GaruDa Pillar?

HELIODORUS AND GARUDA:
The Greek King who lived in Takshasila was a Bhaagavata who raised a pillar
dedicated to VaasudEva, with the figure of GaruDa adorning the top of the
pillar.

MAURYAS AND GARUDA:
The Maurya dynasty considered GaruDa as the most auspicious deity who they
believed brought good luck to them.

SAMUDRA GUPTA AND GARUDA:
History reveals how the Gupta dynasty especially Kumaara Gupta and Samudra
Gupta minted gold coins with the image of GaruDa embossed on them and
believed that this would bestow prosperity on them.

GAJENDRA MOSHAM AND GARUDA:
During the 4th to 6th Centuries AD, Guptas are known to have inscribed the
?GajEndra mOksham? episode in which GaruDa was prominently chiseled with the
Lord riding on his shoulders.

CHANDRAGUPTA VIKRAMAADITYA AND GARUDA:
Chandragupta Vikramaadityan was the first to erect a GaruDa Sthoopam in
Delhi for blessing his kingdom with prosperity.

DEVAGIRI YAADHAVAS AND GARUDA:
The flag and the emblem of Devagiri Yaadhavas was GaruDa.
-----------------------------------------------------

GARUDA IN ALIEN LANDS:

NEPAL AND GARUDA:
A very famous festival in Nepal called ?GaruDa- Naaga Yuddham? is celebrated
every year. During this festival, perspiration would appear on the face of
the image of GaruDa. The priests would wipe off the perspiration with silk
cloth and send the cloth to the King of Nepal. The King would save every
strand of that cloth. It is believed that when the thread from the cloth is
tied around the wrist of anyone suffering from snakebite, miraculously, the
venom would lose its virulence and the patient would survive. This is
another mystery that Science has not been able to explain to this day.

U.S.A. AND GARUDA:
We all know the national bird of America is the ?bald eagle? with a white
band on its neck. This is none other than our very own GaruDa, as 44th
PaTTam Azhagiya Singhar used to say. Thus, GaruDa is one more aspect that
links India and America!

HOMER?S ILIAD AND GARUDA:
IN the great Roman epic ?Iliad? written by Homer, there is a reference as to
how GaruDa bird circled over the skies holding a huge snake in its mouth.

KALSAN AND GARUDA:
He was considered a world famous astrologer. He held that the sighting of
GaruDa was the most auspicious omen for all.

MATHEW AND GARUDA:
The Christian apostle, St. Mathew in 6.2 of his Gospel advises his followers
to look for GaruDa flying across the skies, as a good omen.

KAMBOJA AND GARUDA:
People in Cambodia (Kamboja) used to make the image of GaruDa first before
constructing anything, because they believed that it was GaruDa who would
bring to fruition any construction work.

BOUDDAS AND GARUDA:
GaruDa is a favorite deity with even the Buddhists. In Amaraavati, Buddhist
sculptures, we find the image of GaruDa holding a flower bud like sphere on
his right palm. This ball is believed to be the reputed pot of nectar
?Amrita Kalasam?.

MATHANGA LEELA AND GARUDA:
?Mathanga Leela? a work written in North India (author unknown) mentions
that GaruDa and SuparNa appeared at the dawn of time along with the wheel of
time - ?Kaala Chakram?.

SRILANKA AND GARUDA:
There is a belief that Lanka (the present day Sri Lanka) is a chip off the
block of MEru Mountain that GaruDa pulverized and which accidentally fell in
mid sea. WE do not know, however, whether this is a fact or mere fiction!