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53-579: The goddess Ratnakar Nandini was born during Samudra Manthana . Upon seeing God Vishnu , Ratnakar Nandini devoted herself to him. When she met Vishnu, he gave her a jewel-studded ornament named Chudamani. Mahalakshmi was instead married to Vishnu and Ratnakar Nandini was left by herself. Vishnu advised her to go to the Trikuta Mountain and meditate there during Dvapara Yuga and Treta Yuga , blessing and fulfilling devotees wishes. While setting out for penance Ratnakar Nandini gave Chudamani as

106-469: A boon. Kadru asked for one thousand Nāga sons, while Vinata asked for just two, but each an equal to all of Kadru's thousand sons. Kashyapa blessed them, and then retreated to a forest to meditate. Later, Kadru gave birth to one thousand eggs, while Vinata gave birth to two eggs. After incubating them for five hundred years, Kadru's eggs hatched and out came her 1,000 sons. Vinata, eager for her own sons, impatiently broke one of her eggs. From this egg emerged

159-429: A large bird with eagle-like features that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist epic as the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu . Garuda became the national emblem of Thailand and Indonesia ; Thailand 's Garuda is rendered in a more traditional anthropomorphic style, while that of Indonesia is rendered in heraldic style with traits similar to the real Javan hawk-eagle . The word Garuda ( Khmer : គ្រុឌ – " Krud ")

212-763: A nāga by the tail and force him to vomit up his stone (Pandara Jātaka, J.518). The Garudas were among the beings appointed by Śakra to guard Mount Sumeru and the Trāyastriṃśa heaven from the attacks of the asuras . In the Maha-samaya Sutta (Digha Nikaya 20), the Buddha is shown making temporary peace between the Nagas and the Garudas. In the Qing dynasty fiction The Story of Yue Fei (1684), Garuda sits at

265-455: A serpent. Defeated warriors are like snakes beaten down by Garuda. The Mahabharata character Drona uses a military formation named after Garuda. Krishna carries the image of Garuda on his banner. Though Garuda stautues and iconography can be seen in many Vishnu temples, there are very few temples dedicated to Garuda as a deity in India. A 1800 year old ancient kavu dedicated to Garuda, it

318-567: A souvenir to Vishnu. On watching this, Indra was tempted to get the Chudamani. Vishnu gave it to him, who in turn placed it in the hair of Indrani (Indra's wife). When the native of Indra, Swarga (Heaven) was attacked by a Demon named Shambarasur, Indra sought help from Dashratha . Dasharatha along with Kaikeyi came to the rescue of Indra and defeated Shambarasur. As a token of appreciation, Indra gifted wings of four swans belonging to Mandakini. Indrani gifted her Chudamani to Kaikeyi and gave

371-620: Is a giant mythological bird likened to the Middle Eastern roc . Garuda's Chinese name is Great Peng, the Golden-Winged Illumination King ( 大鵬金翅明王 ). The Garuda is a yaksha or guardian for Shantinatha in Jain iconography and mythology. Jain iconography shows Garuda as a human figure with wings and a strand-circle. In India and the rest of Southeast Asia the eagle symbolism is represented by Garuda,

424-569: Is common across Buddhist traditions. In Buddhism , the Garuda (Sanskrit; Pāli : garuḷā ) are enormous predatory birds with a wingspan of 330 yojanas . They are described as beings with intelligence and social organisation. They are also sometimes known as suparṇa (Sanskrit; Pāli: supaṇṇa ), meaning "well-winged, having good wings". Like the Nāgas , they combine the characteristics of animals and divine beings, and may be considered to be among

477-602: Is famous in the state for the alleviation of 'sarpa dosham'. Nearby the main temple is a rare subsidiary shrine dedicated to the Kurma avatar of Lord Vishnu. This temple was believed to have been constructed after Garuda himself manifested in eagle form in front of the devotees during the consecration ceremony. Lord Vishnu is present in his Mohini swaroopam in this temple, adding to its rarity. Garuda, also referred to as Garula , are golden-winged birds in Buddhist texts. Under

530-550: Is found in early temples of India, such as on the underside of the eave at Cave 3 entrance of the Badami cave temples (6th-century). Garuda's mythology is linked to that of Aruna , the charioteer of the Hindu sun god Surya . Both Aruna and Garuda developed from an egg. According to one version related by George Williams, Kashyapa Prajapati's two wives Vinata and Kadru wanted to have children, and Kashyapa granted each of them

583-504: Is literally derived from Sanskrit. India primarily uses Garuda as a martial motif: As an art form Indonesia uses the Garuda in a form called the Garuda Pancasila as its national symbol . The Garuda Pancasila is coloured black or gilded , symbolising both the greatness of the nation and the elang Jawa ( Javan hawk-eagle Nisaetus bartelsi ). The black color represents nature. There are 17 feathers on each wing, 8 on

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636-517: Is shown either alone or with Vishnu, signifying divine approval of the power of the state. He is found on the faces of many early Hindu kingdom coins with this symbolism, either as a single-headed bird or a three-headed bird that watches all sides. Throughout the Mahabharata, Garuda is invoked as a symbol of impetuous violent force, speed, and martial prowess. Powerful warriors advancing rapidly on doomed foes are likened to Garuda swooping down on

689-509: Is the younger brother of Aruna , who is a charioteer of the sun god, Surya . According to George Williams, Garuda has roots in the verb gri , or speak. He is a metaphor in the Vedic literature for Rik (rhythms), Saman (sounds), Yajna (sacrifices), and the atman (Self, deepest level of consciousness). In the Puranas, states Williams, Garuda becomes a literal embodiment of the idea, and

742-506: The Amrita to the Nagas though, as it would bring great trouble later, so they forged a plan. Upon reaching his brothers Garuda placed the vessel before them, and asked them to first purify themselves before drinking. Meanwhile, Jayanta (the son of Indra) stole the vessel back. On returning, the nagas were all devoured by Garuda. Some myths present Garuda as so massive that he can block out

795-890: The Ashvini twins and Vrishaparva, Surya and the hundred sons of Bali, the sons of Brahma with Ilvala and Vatapi, the Maruts and the Nivatakavacha , Kali with Shumba and Nishumba , the Rudras and the Krodavasas , and the Vasus and the Kaleyas. Rejuvenated by the amrita, the devas emerged victorious and exiled the asuras to the Patalaloka , regaining Svarga . Medieval Hindu theology extends this legend to state that while

848-591: The Buddhist concept of saṃsāra , they are one of the Aṣṭagatyaḥ , the eight classes of inhuman beings. In Buddhist art, they are shown as sitting and listening to the sermons of the Buddha. They are enemies of the Nāgas (snakes) and are sometimes depicted with a serpent held between their claws. Like the Hindu art, both zoomorphic (giant eagle-like bird) and partially anthropomorphic (part bird, part human) iconography

901-655: The Hindu , Buddhist , and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the Devas , Gandharvas , Daityas , Danavas , Nāgas , Vanara and Yakshas . He is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata . He is the younger brother of Aruna , the charioteer of the Sun . Garuda is mentioned in several other texts such as the Puranas and the Vedas . Garuda is described as the king of

954-725: The Indian Army uses the Garuda on their Guards Brigade Regimental Insignia. The Indian Air Force named their special operations unit after him as the Garud Commando Force . It is often associated with the Greater adjutant stork ( Leptoptilos dubius ). In Hinduism , Garuda is a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds. A Garutman is mentioned in the Rigveda who is described as celestial deva with wings. The Shatapatha Brahmana embedded inside

1007-457: The Satavahana dynasty . Sculptures of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda can be seen wearing Chudamani. In Gujarat, ivory bangles are known as Chuda or Chudamani . The bride receives them from her mother's family just before marriage and it is worn during the marriage ceremony. Samudra manthan The Samudra Manthana ( Sanskrit : समुद्रमन्थन , lit.   'churning of

1060-883: The Sudarshana Chakra . From that day, his head was called Rahu and his body Ketu , the Hindu myth behind eclipses. When all the Devas were served, Vishnu assumed his true form, riding on Garuda and departing to his abode. Realising that they had been deceived, the asuras engaged in combat with the devas, who had been bolstered by their consumption of amrita. Indra fought Bali, Kartikeya fought Taraka , Varuna fought Heti, Yama fought Kalanabha, Brihaspati fought Sukra , Mitra fought Praheti, Vishvakarma fought Maya , Vrishapati fought Jambha, Shani fought Naraka, Savitri fought Vilochana , Chandra fought Rahu , Vayu fought Puloman , and Aparajita fought Namuchi. There are also descriptions of duels between groups of beings:

1113-561: The Yajurveda text mentions Garuda as the personification of courage. In the Mahabharata , Garutman is stated to be same as Garuda, then described as the one who is fast, who can shapeshift into any form and enter anywhere. He is a powerful creature in the epics, whose wing flapping can stop the spinning of heaven, earth and hell. He is described to be the vehicle mount of the Hindu god Vishnu , and typically they are shown together. He

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1166-428: The nāga , a race of intelligent serpent- or dragon-like beings, whom they hunt. The Garudas at one time caught the nāgas by seizing them by their heads; but the nāgas learned that by swallowing large stones, they could make themselves too heavy to be carried by the Garudas, wearing them out and killing them from exhaustion. This secret was divulged to one of the Garudas by the ascetic Karambiya, who taught him how to seize

1219-419: The sun . The text Garuda Purana is named after him. Garuda is presented in the Mahabharata as one who eats snake meat, such as the story about him planning to kill and eat Sumukha snake, where Indra intervenes. Garuda in anger, vaunt about his feats and compares himself to Indra's equal. Vishnu teaches a lesson to Garuda and cured his pride on might. Garudas are also a race of birds who devour snakes in

1272-593: The Kumbha Mela relatively recently, in order to show scriptural authority for the mela. This episode has been analyzed comparatively by Georges Dumézil , who dubiously connected it to various historical "Indo-European" facts and even the European medieval legend of the Holy Grail , reconstructing a proto-story (the " ambrosia cycle", or "cycle of the mead ") about a theoretical trickster deity who steals

1325-529: The Kumbha mela, one can attain moksha . While several ancient texts, including the various Puranas , mention the Samudra Manthana legend, none of them mentions the spilling of the amṛta at four places. Neither do these texts mention the Kumbha Mela. Therefore, multiple scholars, including R. B. Bhattacharya, D. P. Dubey and Kama Maclean believe that the Samudra Manthana legend has been applied to

1378-703: The Self who attached to and inseparable from the Supreme Self (Vishnu). Though Garuda is an essential part of the Vaishnavism , he also features prominently in Shaivism , Shaiva texts such as the Garuda Tantra and Kirana Tantra , and Shiva temples as a bird and as a metaphor of atman . The Hindu texts on Garuda iconography vary in their details. If in the bird form, he is eagle-like, typically with

1431-490: The asuras and the devas. Though the ratnas are usually enumerated as 14, the list in the scriptures ranges from 9 to 14. According to the quality of the treasures produced, they were claimed by Shiva, Vishnu, Maharishis, the devas, and the asuras. There were three categories of goddesses who emerged from the ocean; most lists include: Likewise, three types of supernatural animals appeared: Three valuables were also produced: Additionally produced were: This list varies among

1484-489: The asuras were carrying the amṛta away from the devas, some drops of the nectar fell at four different places on the Earth: Haridwar , Prayaga (Prayagraj), Trimbak ( Nashik ), and Ujjain . According to the legend, these places acquired a certain mystical power and spiritual value. A Kumbha Mela is celebrated at these four places every twelve years for this reason. People believe that after bathing there during

1537-521: The birds and a kite -like figure. He is shown either in a zoomorphic form (a giant bird with partially open wings) or an anthropomorphic form (a man with wings and some ornithic features). Garuda is generally portrayed as a protector with the power to swiftly travel anywhere, ever vigilant and an enemy of every serpent. He is also known as Tarkshya and Vainateya . Garuda is a part of state insignia of India , Indonesia and Thailand . Both Indonesia and Thailand has Garuda as their coat of arms ,

1590-476: The boon that the lady wearing this will remain Akhand Saubhagyawati (she will die with married bliss) and the kingdom she lives in will remain unconquered. Kaikeyi gifted this to Sumitra who in turn gave it to Seeta , Shree Ramachandra 's wife. Seeta gave it to Mahaveer Hanuman as a signage when he returned from Lanka to Shree Ramachandra after finding Sita. The Chudamani has been worn since

1643-550: The different Puranas and it is also slightly different in the Ramayana and Mahabharata . Lists are completed by adding the following ratnas : Finally, Dhanvantari , the heavenly physician, emerged with a pot containing the amṛta , the heavenly nectar of immortality. Fighting ensued between the devas and the asuras for its possession. The Asuras took the Amrit from Dhanvantari and ran away. The devas appealed to Vishnu, who took

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1696-528: The drink of immortality for mankind but fails in freeing humans from death. Dumézil later abandoned his theory, but the core of the idea was taken up by Jarich Oosten, who posits "similarities" with the Hymiskviða . In this Old Norse poem, beer is prepared for the gods by the Jotunn sea god Ægir, after Thor and Tyr recover a giant kettle Ægir needs to make the beer. Oosten claims the serpent Jörmungandr takes

1749-552: The epic. The Suparṇākhyāna , a late Vedic period poem considered to be among the "earliest traces of epic poetry in India," relates the legend of Garuda, and provides the basis for a later, expanded version which appears within the Mahābhārata . Garuda's links to Vishnu – the Hindu god who fights injustice and destroys evil in his various avatars to preserve dharma – have made him an iconic symbol of kings' duty and power, an insignia of royalty or dharma. His eagle-like form

1802-481: The form of Mohini , a beautiful and enchanting damsel. She enchanted the asuras into submitting to her terms. She made the devas and the asuras sit in two separate rows and distributed the nectar among the devas, who drank it. An asura named Svarbhanu disguised himself as a deva and drank some nectar. Due to their luminous nature, the deities of the sun and the moon, Surya and Chandra , noticed this disguise. They informed Mohini who, cut off his head with her discus,

1855-658: The head of the Buddha's throne. But when a celestial bat (an embodiment of the Aquarius constellation ) flatulates during the Buddha's expounding of the Lotus Sutra , Garuda kills her and is exiled from paradise. He is later reborn as Song dynasty General Yue Fei . The bat is reborn as Lady Wang, wife of the traitor Prime Minister Qin Hui , and is instrumental in formulating the "Eastern Window" plot that leads to Yue's eventual political execution. The Story of Yue Fei plays on

1908-412: The legendary animosity between Garuda and the Nagas when the celestial bird-born Yue Fei defeats a magic serpent who transforms into the unearthly spear he uses throughout his military career. Literary critic C. T. Hsia explains the reason why Qian Cai, the book's author, linked Yue with Garuda is because of the homology in their Chinese names. Yue Fei's courtesy name is Pengju ( 鵬舉 ). A Peng ( 鵬 )

1961-480: The lower tail, 19 on the upper tail and 45 on the neck, which together make up the date 17 August 1945, when Indonesia proclaimed its independence . The shield it carries bears the motto Panca Sila , which symbolises self-defense and protection in struggle. In the northern Peninsular state of Kelantan , the Geroda ( Jawi : ݢرودا ‎ ) often appears in stories of Wayang Kulit Kelantan as well as becoming

2014-434: The lowest of the devas . The Garudas have kings and cities, and at least some of them have the magical power of changing into human form when they wish to have dealings with people. On some occasions Garuda kings have had romances with human women in this form. Their dwellings are in groves of the simbalī , or silk-cotton tree . Jataka stories describe them to be residents of Nagadipa or Seruma. The Garuda are enemies to

2067-538: The main motif of Burung Petala Indera boat-chariot made for special royal processions in the early 20th century. Thailand uses the Garuda ( Thai : ครุฑ, khrut ) as its national symbol , known as the Phra Khrut Pha , meaning "Garuda, the vehicle (of Vishnu)," also used as the symbol of royalty. It adorns the banknote of their currency - the Baht - as well. The Electronic Attack Squadron 134 ( VAQ-134 ) of

2120-408: The massive mountain, several devas and asuras fell to their deaths and some perished due to sheer exhaustion. Vishnu flew upon his mount Garuda and revived them all, and placed Mandara on his mount and carried it towards its destination, the midst of the ocean. Reaching their destination, Vasuki coiled himself around Mandara. Vishnu counseled the devas to tug from the head of the serpent and the asuras

2173-464: The mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. Shiva consumed the poison to protect the three worlds, the consumption of which gave a blue hue to his throat, offering him the epithet Neelakantha (the blue-throated one; "neela" = "blue", "kantha" = "throat" in Sanskrit ). All kinds of herbs were cast into the ocean and fourteen ratnas (gems) were produced from it and were divided between

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2226-467: The neck". His hands, recommends the text, should be in abhaya (nothing to fear) posture. In Sritatvanidhi text, the recommended iconography for Garuda is a kneeling figure, who wears one or more serpents, pointed bird-beak like nose, his two hands in namaste posture. This style is commonly found in Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu. In some iconography, Garuda carries Vishnu and his two consorts by his side: Lakshmi and Bhumi . Garuda iconography

2279-485: The ocean for the nectar of immortality , and to share it among themselves. However, Vishnu assured the devas that he would arrange for them alone to obtain the nectar. The churning of the Ocean of Milk was an extensive process. Mount Mandara was uprooted and used as the churning rod and Vasuki , a naga who resided on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope after being promised that he would get his share. While carrying

2332-589: The ocean') is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana , a major text of Hinduism . The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita . Indra , the King of Svarga , was riding on his divine elephant when he came across the sage Durvasa , who offered him a special garland given to him by an apsara . The deity accepted the garland and placed it on

2385-408: The oceans. Durvasa cursed Indra and all the devas to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune. In the battles following the incident, the devas were defeated and the asuras , led by Bali , gained control over the three worlds . The devas sought Vishnu 's wisdom, who advised them to treat with the asuras in a diplomatic manner. The devas formed an alliance with the asuras to jointly churn

2438-402: The other, while the front pair of hands are in anjali ( namaste ) posture. If he is carrying Vishnu, the rear hands provide the support for Vishnu's feet. According to the text Silparatna , states Rao, Garuda is best depicted with only two hands and with four bands of colours: "golden yellow colour from feet to knees, white from knees to the navel, scarlet from navel to neck, and black above

2491-399: The partially formed Aruna, looking radiant and reddish as the morning sun, but not as bright as the midday sun as he was promised to be. Aruna chided his mother Vinata for her impatience, and warned her to not break open the second egg, cursing her to be a slave until his brother rescued her. Aruna then left to become the charioteer of Surya, the sun god. Vinata waited, and after many years,

2544-409: The place of Vasuki, although his role in the story is not at all similar or comparable. Garuda Garuda ( Sanskrit : गरुड , romanized :  Garuḍa ; Pali : गरुळ , romanized:  Garuḷa ; Vedic Sanskrit : गरुळ , IAST : Garuḷa ) is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount ( vahana ) of the Hindu god Vishnu . This divine creature is mentioned in

2597-535: The second egg hatched and Garuda was born. After losing a bet to Kadru through trickery, Vinata was forced to become her slave. Garuda later asked his brothers to free his mother from her slavery, to which they demanded Amrita from heaven. Garuda waged a war against gods with his extraordinary might and abilities, and defeated all of them, including Indra . He then took Indra's nectar vessel and flew back to earth. Vishnu then came to Garuda, and asked him to be his ride, to which he agreed. Indra requested that Garuda not give

2650-479: The tail, but perceiving it as inauspicious the asuras refused. The devas relented and held the tail henceforth and the churning commenced. However, Mandara was too enormous and sank to the bottom of the ocean. Vishnu, in the form of his Kurma avatara (lit. turtle ), came to the rescue and supported the mountain on his shell. The Samudra Manthana bequeathed a panoply of substances from the Ocean of Milk. One of them

2703-431: The trunk (sometime the tusks or the head of the elephant in some scriptures) of Airavata (his mount) as a testament to his humility. The flowers had a strong scent that attracted some bees. Annoyed by the bees, the elephant threw the garland on the ground. This enraged the sage, as the garland was a dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was to be treated as a prasada or a religious offering. The goddess Lakshmi vanished into

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2756-406: The wings slightly open as if ready and willing to fly wherever he needs to. In part human-form, he may have an eagle-like nose, beak or legs, his eyes are open and big, his body is the color of emerald, and his wings are golden-yellow. He may be shown with either two or four hands. If he is not carrying Vishnu, he holds a jar of amrita (immortality nectar) in one hand in the rear and an umbrella in

2809-423: Was the lethal poison known as halahala . In some variations of the story, the poison escaped from the mouth of Vasuki as the demons and gods churned. This terrified the gods and the demons because the poison was so powerful that it could destroy all of creation. The asuras were poisoned by fumes emitted by Vasuki. Despite this, the devas and the asuras pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing

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