Garuda

Suparna · Vainateya · Pakshiraja

King of birds and the mount of Vishnu, who stole the amrita from the gods to free his mother.

Abode: Vaikuntha
Vahana: He is himself the vahana of Vishnu
Colour: Golden, with red wings
Arms: 2

Garuda, the great eagle, is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata. His mother had been enslaved by her sister Kadru, the mother of the serpents, who demanded the amrita as her ransom. Garuda flew to heaven, overcame the gods and carried off the nectar, freeing his mother without letting the serpents taste it. Pleased with his strength and selflessness, Vishnu granted him immortality and made him his mount. He stands with folded hands facing Vishnu in temples, and the Garuda Purana is his dialogue with the Lord.

Mantra

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे सुवर्णपक्षाय धीमहि। तन्नो गरुडः प्रचोदयात्॥

Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Suvarnapakshaya Dhimahi, Tanno Garudah Prachodayat

We know the Supreme Person and meditate on the golden-winged one; may Garuda inspire us.

रूप और प्रतीक

How Garuda is shown

Half man and half eagle, with a hooked beak, golden wings and hands folded in prayer, often kneeling.

Wings: Swift as thought; his wings are said to be the metres of the Vedas.
Folded hands: The perfect servant, ready for the Lord's command.
Serpents: Worn as ornaments: mastery over poison and fear.

कथाएँ

Stories

The theft of the amrita

The amrita lay ringed by a wall of fire and a spinning wheel of blades, guarded by two serpents. Garuda drank whole rivers to quench the fire, shrank to slip between the blades, blinded the serpents and flew off with the pot without tasting a drop. Indra struck him with the thunderbolt; Garuda let fall a single feather out of respect, and was otherwise unhurt.

Related forms

विष्णु
Vishnu