Garuda: Difference between revisions

{{other uses|Garuda (disambiguation)}}

{{for|the giant Indonesian wasp|Megalara garuda}}

{{short description|Eagle-like divine bird in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

| image = Garuda_by_Hyougushi_in_Delhi.jpg

| name = Garuda  

| caption = Garuda at the National Museum in [[New Delhi, India]].

|siblings = [[Aruṇa]]

|god_of =  

|spouse = Unnati<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daniélou|first=Alain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C&q=Bhishma|title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series|date=December 1991|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co|isbn=978-0-89281-354-4|language=en|pages=161}}</ref>

'''Garuda''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|गरुड Garuḍa}}; [[Pāli]]: {{lang|pi|गरुळ Garuḷa}}; [[Vedic Sanskrit]] गरुळ Garuḷa), also '''Galon''' or '''Nan Belu''' in [[Burmese language|Burmese]] and [[Karura]] in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], is a [[Legendary creature|legendary]] bird or bird-like creature in [[Hindu mythology|Hindu]], [[Buddhist mythology|Buddhist]] and [[Jain]] faith.<ref name="Lopez314">{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ|year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8|pages=314–315}}</ref><ref name="Dalal2010p145">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC |year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=145}}</ref><ref name="Glasenapp1999p532">{{cite book|author=Helmuth von Glasenapp|title=Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WzEzXDk0v6sC&pg=PA532|year=1999|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1376-2|page=532}}</ref> He is variously the vehicle mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]], a dharma-protector and Astasena or the [[Eight Legions]] in Buddhism, and the [[Yaksha]] of the Jain Tirthankara [[Shantinatha]].<ref name="Dalal2010p145"/><ref name="Glasenapp1999p532"/><ref>{{cite book|author1=Robert E. Buswell Jr.|author2=Donald S. Lopez Jr.|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DXN2AAAAQBAJ|year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4805-8|pages=249–250}}</ref> The [[Brahminy kite]] is considered as the contemporary representation of Garuda. He is younger brother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]], the charioteer of [[Sun God|Sun]].  

Garuda is described as the king of birds and a [[Brahminy kite|kite]]-like figure.<ref name=williams21/><ref name=rao285/> He is shown either in zoomorphic form (giant bird with partially open wings) or an anthropomorphic form (man with wings and some bird features). Garuda is generally a protector with the power to swiftly go anywhere, ever watchful and an enemy of the serpent.<ref name="Lopez314"/><ref name=rao285>{{cite book|author=T. A. Gopinatha Rao|title=Elements of Hindu iconography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJD-KresBwIC&pg=PA285 |year=1993 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0878-2|pages=285–287 }}</ref><ref name="Donaldson2001p253"/> He is also known as '''Tarkshya''' and ''' Vynateya'''.<ref name="Dalal2010p123">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC |year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-341517-6|page=123}}</ref>

Garuda is a part of state insignia in India, [[Indonesia]] and Thailand. The [[Indonesia]]n official coat of arms is centered on the Garuda. The [[national emblem of Indonesia]] is called ''[[National emblem of Indonesia|Garuda Pancasila]]''.<ref name="embassyofindonesia.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/about/natsymbols.htm |title=National Symbols |access-date=17 March 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827103247/http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/about/natsymbols.htm |archive-date=27 August 2013}}</ref> The [[Indian Air Force]] also uses the Garuda in their [[Brigade of the Guards|Guards Brigade]] coat of arms and named their special operations unit after it as [[Garud Commando Force]]. It is often associated with the [[greater adjutant|Greater adjutant stork]] (''Leptoptilos dubius'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Garuda's population now 500 in Bhagalpur, Bihar|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/garudas-population-now-500-in-bihar_1617481.html|website=Zee News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723004138/http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/garudas-population-now-500-in-bihar_1617481.html|archive-date=23 July 2015|date=21 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stork nests spread|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/stork-nests-spread/cid/1371119|website=The Telegraph|date=16 May 2020}}</ref>

| footer = Garuda may be shown as a [[brahminy kite|kite]] (left, painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]) or a semi human being carrying Vishnu (right, c. 1725 painting from [[Punjab States Agency|Punjab hills]]).<ref name=rao285/><ref name="Donaldson2001p253"/>  

In [[Hinduism]], {{IAST|Garuda}} is a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds.<ref name=williams21>{{cite book|author=George M. Williams|title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC |year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2|pages=21, 24, 63, 138}}, Quote: "His vehicle was Garuda, the sun bird" (p. 21); "(...) Garuda, the great sun eagle, (...)" (p. 74)</ref> A ''Garutman'' is mentioned in the ''[[Rigveda]]'' who is described as celestial [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]] with wings.<ref name=dalal144/><ref name="Williams2008p138">{{cite book|author=George M. Williams|title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&pg=PA138 |year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2|pages=138–139}}</ref> The ''Shatapatha [[Brahmana]]'' embedded inside 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.<ref name=dalal144/> 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.<ref name=dalal144>{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC |year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|pages=144–145}}</ref> He is younger brother of [[Aruna (Hinduism)|Aruna]]. Aruna is the charioteer of the [[Sun God|sun god]] .

According to George Williams, Garuda has roots in the verb ''gri'', or speak.<ref name="Williams2008p138"/> 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 the Self who attached to and inseparable from the Supreme Self (Vishnu).<ref name="Williams2008p138"/><ref name="Dyczkowski1988p40">{{cite book|author=Mark S. G. Dyczkowski|title=The Canon of the Saivagama and the Kubjika: Tantras of the Western Kaula Tradition |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qoZIJMGo4W0C&pg=PA40|year=1988|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-88706-494-4|pages=40–41}}</ref> Though Garuda is an essential part of the [[Vaishnavism]] mythology, he also features prominently in [[Shaivism]] mythology, Shaiva texts such as the ''Garuda Tantra'' and ''Kirana Tantra'', and Shiva temples as a bird and as a metaphor of ''atman''.<ref name="Dyczkowski1988p40"/><ref name="Heehs2002p195">{{cite book|author=Peter Heehs|title=Indian Religions: A Historical Reader of Spiritual Expression and Experience |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jgsu-aIm3ncC&pg=PA195 |year=2002|publisher=New York University Press|isbn=978-0-8147-3650-0|pages=195–196}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Dominic Goodall |title=Hindu Scriptures |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKUteclXOK8C&pg=PA341|year=2001|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1770-8|pages=341–358}}</ref>

In some iconography, Garuda carries Lord Vishnu and his two consorts by his side: [[Lakshmi]](Thirumagal) and [[Bhūmi]] (Bhuma-Devi).<ref name="Dalal2010p123"/>

Garuda's mythology is linked to that of [[Aruṇa|Aruna]] – the charioteer of [[Surya]] (The Hindu Sun god). However, these Indian mythologies are inconsistent across texts. 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 a boon.<ref name="Williams2008p62"/> 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 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.<ref name="Williams2008p62">{{cite book|author=George M. Williams|title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC |year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2|pages=62–63}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/70 70]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> 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 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 on 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 beyond thinking, 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 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 <ref name="Williams2008p62"/><ref name="K2012">{{cite book|author=Ashok, Banker K|title=Forest of Stories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3sQqQQhe5aQC|pages=173–175|access-date=6 March 2013|year= 2012|publisher= Westland|isbn=978-93-81626-37-5}}</ref>

Garuda is presented in the Mahabharata mythology 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 lesson to Garuda and cured his pride on might.<ref name="Buitenen1973p167">{{cite book|author=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus Buitenen|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 3 (Book 4: The Book of the Virata; Book 5: The Book of the Effort) |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wFtXBGNn0aUC&pg=PA167 |year=1973|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-84665-1|pages=167–168, 389–393}}</ref> Garudas are also a race of birds who devour snakes in the epic.<ref name="Buitenen1973p167"/>

Garuda's links to Vishnu – the Hindu god who fights injustice and destroys evil in his various [[avatar]]s to preserve [[dharma]], has made him an iconic symbol of king's duty and power, an insignia of royalty or dharma. His eagle-like form is shown either alone or with Vishnu, signifying divine approval of the power of the state.<ref name="Williams2008p138"/> 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.<ref name="Bajpai2004p19">{{cite book|author=K. D. Bajpai|title=Indian Numismatic Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=chGrJUMarHoC |date=October 2004|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-035-8|pages=19–24, 84–85, 120–124}}</ref>

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 a serpent. Defeated warriors are like snakes beaten down by Garuda.  The Mahabharata character [[Drona]] uses a military formation named after Garuda. [[Krishna]] even carries the image of Garuda on his banner.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

[[File:Garuda vanquishing the Naga clan. Gandhara. Met.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Garuda vanquishing the [[nāga|Naga]] clan, a [[Gandhara]] artwork, 2nd century CE.]]

[[File:Garuda (Koh Ker style).jpg|thumbnail|upright|Garuda ({{lang-km|គ្រុឌ}}, {{lang|km-Latn|Krŭd}}) in [[Koh Ker]] style. Made of sandstone, this statue is from the first half of 10th century, ([[Angkor|Angkor period]]). On display at the [[National Museum of Cambodia]].]]

In the [[Qing Dynasty]] fiction ''[[Yue Fei#The Story of Yue Fei|The Story of Yue Fei]]'' (1684), Garuda sits at the head of the Buddha's throne. But when a celestial bat (an embodiment of the [[Aquarius (constellation)|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 [[Hanjian|traitor]] Prime Minister [[Qin Hui (Song Dynasty)|Qin Hui]], and is instrumental in formulating the "Eastern Window" plot that leads to Yue's eventual political execution.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hsia|first=C.T.|title=C. T. Hsia on Chinese Literature|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=2004|isbn=0231129904|page=154}}</ref> ''The Story of Yue Fei'' plays on 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hsia|first=C.T.|title=C. T. Hsia on Chinese Literature|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=2004|isbn=0231129904|page=149}}</ref> 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 ({{lang|zh|鵬舉}}).<ref name=hsia>{{cite book|last=Hsia|first=C.T.|title=C. T. Hsia on Chinese Literature|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=2004|isbn=0231129904|pages=149, 488, n.30}}</ref> A [[Peng (mythology)|Peng]] ({{lang|zh|鵬}}) is a giant mythological bird likened to the Middle Eastern [[Roc (mythology)|Roc]].<ref>Chau, Ju-Kua, Friedrich Hirth, and W.W. Rockhill. ''Chau Ju-Kua: His Work on the Chinese and Arab Trade in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, entitled Chu-Fan-Chi''. St. Petersburg: Printing Office of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, 1911, p. 149, n. 1</ref> Garuda's Chinese name is Great Peng, the Golden-Winged Illumination King ({{lang|zh|大鵬金翅明王}}).<ref name=hsia/>

In [[India]], [[Indonesia]] and the rest of [[Southeast Asia]] the eagle symbolism is represented by Garuda, 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 [[Garuda Pancasila|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]].

*In China, Garuda (Chinese: {{lang|ja|迦楼羅}} Jiālóuluó) is considered one of the [[Eight Legions|Eight Legions of Devas and Nāgas]]. Another Chinese name for Garuda is [[Golden Winged Great Peng |Great Peng]], the Golden-Winged Illumination King ({{lang|zh|大鵬金翅明王}})

[[India]] primarily uses Garuda as a martial motif:

* The insignia of the 13th century [[Aragalur]] chief, Magadesan, included [[Rishabha (Hinduism)|Rishabha]] the sacred bull and the Garuda

[[Image:Coat of Arms of Indonesia Garuda Pancasila.svg|thumb|The [[coat of arms of Indonesia]], which utilizes a Garuda.]]

[[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg|thumb|upright|Wingless statue of Garuda or [[Karura]] in [[Kofukuji]] Temple, [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], Japan, 8th century.]]

Garuda is found in Nepalese traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism.

[[File:C360 2015-07-05-14-06-53-267.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Sun Dhoka Golden Gate with the Goddess Taleju Bhawani<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/2015/03/03/taleju-bhavani-and-kumari-worship|title=Taleju Bhawani and Kumari (goddess) worship|date=2015-03-03|last=Rodrigues|first=Hillary}}</ref> and Garuda, leading to the Royal Palace, [[Durbar Square]], [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], [[Bhaktapur]], [[Nepal]].]]

* in [[Luzon]] Mythology, Garuda or Galurâ (in [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]]) is a winged assistant of Mariang Sinukuan, he is represented by a giant eagle and believed to be the bringer of storms. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://arayat2012.tripod.com/maria.htm|title=The Legend of Maria Sinukuan|access-date=2010-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document|url=https://www.academia.edu/11314629|title = Myths and Legends of Pinatubo and Arayat|last1 = Manansala|first1 = Paul}}</ref>

 

* The [[Maranao people]] of southern Philippines believe in a race of creatures called ''garuda'' who dwell beneath the sea. These beings are winged, have big teeth, and huge talons that can carry six men. They look like eagles when flying in the sky but transform into humans when in their lairs.<ref>{{cite web | title = A Compendium of Creatures & Mythical Beings from Philippine Folklore & Mythology | work = The Aswang Project| url = https://www.aswangproject.com/creatures-mythical-beings-philippine-folklore-mythology/}}</ref>

 

* Artifacts from the [[Tabon Caves]] in the island of [[Palawan]] ,is an image of Garuda, the bird who is the mount of Vishnu. The discovery of sophisticated Hindu imagery in gold <ref>Anna T. N. Bennett (2009), Gold in early Southeast Asia, ArcheoSciences, Volume 33, pp 99–107</ref>

* In [[Suriname]], there is a radio and TV station called Radio en Televisie Garuda, which broadcasts programming from [[Indonesia]], particularly [[Java]], aimed at the [[Javanese Surinamese]] population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rtv-garudasuriname.com/ |title=Garuda Radio & TV Suriname, het eerste Javaanse medium na 105 jaar Javaanse Immigratie in Suriname. |website= |publisher=Garuda Radio & TV |access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (US Navy) inisgnia 1969.png|180px]]

File:Badge of the Indian Air Force.png| Garuda as [[Badge of the Royal Air Force#Related badges|Badge of the Indian Air Force]]

File:Coat of Arms of Indonesia Garuda Pancasila.svg| Garuda as [[National emblem of Indonesia|national symbol of]] [[Indonesia]]

File:Garuda Emblem of Thailand.svg| Garuda as national symbol of [[Thailand]]

File:Ulanbataar.svg| Garuda (''Khangardi'') as the symbol of [[Ulan Bator]], [[Mongolia]]

File:Srivilliputtur15, a part.JPG|Garuda at [[Srivilliputur]] Temple, [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]

* [https://archive.org/details/garuapurasroddh00subrgoog The Garuḍa Purana (Sâroddhâra), by Ernest Wood and S.V.Subramanyam, 1918 (Online, downloadable PDF)] [[archive.org]]

* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/gpu/index.htm The Garuda Purana (Wood and Subrahmanyam translation, 1911)] at [[sacred-texts.com]]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150725121006/http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/garuda-purana.htm Garuda Purana]

 

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