The Place of Lord Garuda in the Indian Mythological Forum

Garuda- The Vehicle of Lord Vishnu

Garuda Gayatri Mantra

Om Tatpurushay Vidmahe Suvarnpakshaay Dheemahi Tanno Garudah Prachodayat ||

Om PakshiRajay Vidmahe Pakshidevaay Dheemahi Tanno Pakshi Prachodayat ||

ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे सुवर्ण पक्षाय धीमहि तन्नो गरुडः प्रचोदयात् |

ॐ पक्षिराजाय विद्महे पक्षिदेवाय धीमहि तन्नो पक्षिः प्रचोदयात् |

In Hindu mythology, Lord Garuda is considered a powerful deity, renowned for his immense strength, speed, and loyalty, serving as the mount (vahana) of Lord Vishnu, making him a prominent figure in the Vaishnava tradition; his greatness stems from his ability to overcome formidable obstacles, particularly his eternal battle against serpents, and his devotion to Vishnu which allowed him to acquire the divine nectar (Amrita) to free his mother from servitude to the snakes, ultimately earning him the privilege of being Vishnu's vehicle.

Let us look at the key points of importance of Lord Garuda in the Hindu pantheon:

First of all, his intense Bhakti or devotion to Lord Vishnu: This is a point to learn from Lord Garuda, as the devotion he displayed towards Lord Vishnu, made him eligible to be chosen as His vehicle. His steadfastness and one-pointed focus is what earned him this status.

Second is that of his presence being a daunting factor for the most powerful of all serpents: The ancient texts of our culture and our land speaks about the power exuded by Lord Garuda, and his power vanquishing the deadliest of snakes. The mention of his mere name is enough to thwart the progress of anything toxic exuded by the serpents; hence he became an intimidating presence among the snakes.

Power unlimited: Just like Lord Hanuman, Lord Garuda is also associated with immense power. In the Ramayana, Lord Garuda was a force to reckon with, for the Asuras (the evil energy entities). In the great epics, he is depicted as one who is incredibly intelligent, and who can fly long distances at lightning speed, tirelessly. He has so much power and might, that he is said to eclipse the rays of the sun if he wants, just by his wings.

Obtaining the nectar or the elixir of life : Garuda had to free his mother Vinata, from a life of servitude, by getting the elixir or potion of life, that would make one immortal. His attempts at getting the ‘Amrita’ from heaven, by fighting with the King of the Gods, Lord Indra, makes everyone realize that he is an incredible force to reckon with, as he managed to get the divine potion with a single- focused mind, just to free his mother.

It is believed that chanting the Garuda Gayatri Mantra has a lot of benefits, such as: protection from negativity, accidents, obstacles, and catastrophes. It is also believed that chanting it regularly, helps in healing physical and mental illnesses and diseases and in conferring one with extraordinary strength. Symbolically, Garuda represents luck, strength, opportunity, bravery, might, fortitude, and resilience. By keeping our mind focused on the form of Lord Garuda mentally, and visualizing His form and also what he symbolically represents, we unequivocally validate our desire to stay positive, optimistic, and brave the storms that come our way.

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