Amongst the 168 paintings sanctioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, in the 1700’s, is a painting depicting Garuda, the great Eagle carrier of Lord Vishnu.
In this painting, Garuda has an elephant and a tortoise in each of his huge talons, as well having grasped in his beak is as a large branch of a banyan tree, onto which are hanging numerous sages.
The name Garuda means, the bearer of great weight, and it is this scene as well as his bearing Lord Narayana, in which his name is manifest. In Tibetan astrology, there is an animal for each of the elements Earth, Wind, Water & Fire. Garuda is the animal associated with Fire. His character shapes what he represents, and what he represents, is represented in his stories.
And so after hearing of the gamble between the two wives of Kashyap, Kadru and Vinata – Vinata, who was the mother of Garuda, was thrown into slavery of her co-wife Kadru.
Suta Goswami told of the births of Garuda and Aruna to Vinata.
1. Garuda Returns to His Mother & Kadru & The Snakes Order Garuda
The Suta then continued his dialogue with Sage Śaunaka:
The great Garuda, that bird of great strength and energy and capable of going at will to every place, then repaired to his mother's side on the other shore of the great ocean. And there lived Vinata in a condition of affliction, defeated in wager and put into a perpetual state of slavery at the behest of her sister Kadru. Once, Kadru calling Vinata who had prostrated herself before the former, addressed her these words in the presence of her son:
'O gentle Vinata, there is in the midst of the ocean, in a remote quarter, a delightful and fair region inhabited by the Nagas. Bear me and my snakes there!'
At this, Vinata commanded that bird of fair feathers to bear on his shoulders the mother of the snakes, and her children to that region. And Garuda also, directed by these words, carried on his back, the snakes. That ranger of the skies, born of Vinata, and of unmatched power, accelerated suddenly upwards in a burst of rapid flight that was second nature to him. And within less than a moment, they flew up close to the Sun; in expressing his movement, Garuda was not concerned in the least about those snakes on his back.
Thereupon these snakes, scorched by the rays of the Sun, began to swoon away in all directions.
And Kadru seeing her sons be devastated by Garuda, prayed to Indra, speaking the following words:
'I bow to thee, thou Lord of all the gods! I bow to thee, thou slayer of Vritra! I bow to thee, thou slayer of Namuchi! O thou of a thousand eyes, consort of Sachi! By thy showers, be thou the protector of the snakes scorched by the Sun. O thou best of the deities, thou art our great protector.’
In addition, Kadru offered a multitude of prayers and glorifications to Indra. And then that King of gods, having the best of horses for his bearer, thus adored by Kadru, covered the entire firmament with masses of blue clouds, to bring relief to the scorched snakes. And he commanded the clouds, saying “Pour ye, your vivifying and blessed drops!'
And those clouds, luminous with lightning, and incessantly roaring against each other in the welkin, poured abundant water. And the sky, in consequence of those wonderful and terribly roaring clouds that were incessantly begetting vast quantities of water, looked as if the end of Yuga had come. And in consequence of the myriads of waves caused in the falling torrents, the deep roar of the clouds, the flashes of lightning, the violence of the wind, and the general agitation, the sky looked as if dancing in madness. The sky became overcast, and the rays of the Sun and the Moon totally disappeared in consequence of that incessant downpour.
And upon Indra's causing that downpour, the Nagas became exceedingly delighted. And the Earth was filled with water all around. And the cool, clear water reached even the nether regions. There were countless waves of water all over the Earth. And the snakes with their mother reached in safety the island called Ramaniyaka.
And then the Nagas drenched by that shower, became exceedingly glad. Borne by that bird of fair feathers, Garuda, they soon arrived at the island. That island had been fixed by the Creator of the Universe as the abode of the makaras. There they saw the terrible ocean of salt, called Lavana Samudra.
On arriving there with Garuda, the snakes saw a beautiful forest washed by the waters of the sea and resounding with the music of winged choirs. And there were clusters of trees all around laden with various fruits and flowers. And there were also fair mansions all around; and many tanks full of lotuses adorned with many lakes of pure water. And it was refreshed with pure incense-breathing breezes. And it was adorned with many a tree that grew only on the hills of Malaya and seemed by their tallness to reach the very heavens. And there were also various other trees whose flowers were scattered all around by the breeze.
And that forest was charming and dear to the Gandharvas and always gave them pleasure. It was full of bees maddened with the honey they sucked. And the sight of all this was exceedingly delightful; in consequence of many things there, capable of charming everybody, that forest was fair, delightful, and holy. And, echoing with the notes of various birds, it delighted greatly the sons of Kadru.
2. Garuda sent by his mother to eat the Nishada’s as part of solution to end his slavery
The snakes then commanded the lord of birds, Garuda, of great energy, saying:
'Convey us to some other fair island with pure water. Thou ranger of the skies, thou must have seen many fair regions while coursing through the air.'
Garuda, after reflecting for a few moments, asked his mother Vinata, saying:
'Why, O mother, have I to do the bidding of snakes?'
Vinata thus questioned by her noble-minded son, spoke unto him who invested with every virtue, of great energy, and great strength, as follows:
'My dear son, O thou best of birds, from misfortune, I have become the slave of my co-wife, Kadru. The snakes, by an act of deception, caused me to lose my bet and have made me so. This is how it is.'
When his mother had told him the reason, Garuda dejected with grief, instead of further inquiring from his mother, addressed directly the snakes:
“Tell me ye snakes, by bringing what thing, gaining a knowledge of what thing, or engaging in what act of prowess, may we be freed from this state of bondage to you.”
The snakes, hearing him, said:
“Bring thou the nectar of the gods, by force, then O bird, shall you be freed from this slavery.”
Garuda, thus addressed by the snakes, then said unto his mother:
'O Mother, I shall go to bring the nectar, however I desire to eat first. Please kindly direct me to my food.'
Vinata replied:
'In a remote region in the midst of the ocean, the Nishadas have their fair home. They are a tribe and race of fishermen. Having eaten the thousands of Nishadas that live there, bring thou amrita.
But let not thy heart be ever set on taking the life of a Brahmana. Of all creatures a Brahmana must not be slain. He is, indeed, like fire. A Brahmana, when angry, becomes like fire or the Sun, like poison or an edged weapon. A Brahmana, it has been said, is the master of all creatures.
For these and other reasons, a Brahmana is the adored of the virtuous. O child, he is never to be slain by thee even in anger.
O sinless one, neither Agni nor Surya truly can consume so much as does a Brahmana of rigid vows, when angry.
Hostility with Brahmanas, therefore, would not be proper under any circumstances.”
Garuda then asked:
'O mother, of what form is a Brahmana, of what behaviour, and of what prowess? Doth he shine like fire, or is he of tranquil mien?‘
Vinata replied, saying:
'O child, him shouldst thou know as the best amongst Brahmanas who having entered thy throat would torture thee as a fish-hook or burn thee as blazing charcoal. Him shouldst thou know as a good Brahmana who would not be digested in thy stomach.'
Although she knew the incomparable strength of her son, yet she blessed him heartily, for, deceived by the snakes, she was very much afflicted by woe, and said:
'Let Marut, the god of the winds protect thy wings, and Surya and Soma thy vertebral regions; let Agni protect thy head, and the Vasus thy whole body.
I also, O child, engaged in beneficial ceremonies, shall sit here for your welfare. Go then, O child, in safety to accomplish thy purpose.'
Then Garuda, having heard the words of his mother, stretched his wings, and ascended the skies.
In his flight, he raised such a quantity of dust that it spread all over the firmament and sucked up water from amid the ocean with each flap of his wings. He shook the trees growing on the adjacent mountains as he flew by, and endued with great strength, he swooned down with a huge gust unto the Nishada race, hungry and like another Yamaraj, the god of death. And then that lord of birds obstructed the principal thoroughfares of the town of the Nishadas by his mouth, increasing its orifice at will. And the Nishadas began to fly in great haste in the direction of the open mouth of the great serpent-eater. And as birds in great affliction ascend by thousand into the skies when the trees in a forest are shaken by the winds, so those Nishadas blinded by the dust raised by the storm entered the wide-extending cleft of Garuda's mouth open to receive them.
And then the hungry lord of all rangers of the skies, that oppressor of enemies, endued with great strength, and moving with greatest celerity to achieve his end, closed his mouth, killing innumerable Nishadas.
Meanwhile, a certain Brahmana along with his wife had entered the throat of that ranger of the skies. The former began to burn the bird's throat like a piece of flaming charcoal.
Garuda addressed him, saying:
'O best of Brahmanas, come out soon from my mouth which I open for thee. A Brahmana must never be slain by me, although he may even be always engaged in sinful practices.'
The Brahmana replied:
'O, let this woman, who is not a Brahmana, but is of the Nishada caste, but is my wife, please also come out with me.'
And Garuda said:
'Taking her with thee, come out soon and save thyself since thou hast not yet been digested by the heat of my stomach.'
And then that Brahmana, accompanied by his wife came out, praising Garuda, who fleet as the mind, stretching his wings ascended the skies once again.
3. Garuda meets his father Kaśyapa & sent on Elephant mission
After travelling some distance, in his flight Garuda with his excellent vision from far up in the skies, saw his father the great Sage Kashyapa, and hailed by him, spent some time in his hermitage. His father in affection, inquired of his dear son:
“O my dearest child, is all well with thee? Dost thou get sufficient food every day? Is there food in plenty for thee in this world of men?'
And Garuda replied:
'My mother is ever well. And so is my brother, and so am I. But, father, I do not always obtain plenty of food, for which my peace is incomplete. I am sent by the snakes to fetch the excellent amrita, the nectar.
Indeed, I shall fetch it today for emancipating my mother from her bondage. My mother commanded me, saying, 'Eat thou the Nishadas.' I have eaten them by the thousands, but my hunger is not still appeased.
Therefore, O worshipful one, point out to me some other food, by eating which, O master, I may be strong enough to bring away the nectar by force. Thou shouldst o Father, indicate some food wherewith I may appease my hunger and thirst.'
Kaśyapa replied:
'This lake that thou sees is sacred. It hath been heard of even in the heavens. There is an elephant, with face downwards, who continually draggeth a tortoise, his elder brother. I shall speak to you in detail of their hostility in former life. Just listen as I tell you why they are here. There was of old a great sage of the name of Vibhavasu. He was exceedingly wrathful. He had a younger brother of the name of Supritika.
Supritika was always averse to keeping his wealth jointly with his brother Vibhabasus, and would always speak of partition and independence. After some time, his brother Vibhavasu told Supritika:
'It is from great foolishness that persons blinded by love of wealth always desire to make a partition of their patrimony.
After effecting a partition, they fight with each other, deluded by wealth.
Then again, enemies in the guise of friends cause estrangements between ignorant and selfish men after they become separated in wealth, and pointing out faults, confirm their quarrels, so that they soon fall one by one.
Absolute ruin very soon overtakes the separated. For these reasons the wise never speak approvingly of partition amongst brothers who, when divided, do not regard the most authoritative scriptures, and live always in fear of each other.
But as thou, Supritika, without regarding my advice impelled by desire of separation, always wishest to make an arrangement about your property, thou shall become an elephant.'
Supritika, thus cursed, then spake unto Vibhavasu:
'Thou also shall become a tortoise moving in the midst of the waters.'
And thus, on account of wealth those two fools, Supritika and Vibhavasu, from each other's curse, have become an elephant and a tortoise respectively. Owing to their wrath, they have both become inferior animals.
And they are engaged in hostilities with each other, proud of their excessive strength and the weight of their bodies. And in this lake, those two beings of huge bodies are engaged in acts according to their former hostility. Look here, one amongst them, the handsome elephant of huge body, is even now approaching. Hearing his roar, the tortoise also of huge body, living within the waters, cometh out, agitating the lake violently. And seeing him the elephant, curling his trunk, rusheth into the water.
Eat thou up both of them that are madly engaged in the encounter and bent upon slaying each other, and then accomplish the task that thou desirest. Eating that fierce elephant which looketh like a huge mountain and resembleth a mass of dark clouds, bring thou amrita.'
Having said so unto Garuda, his father Kaśyapa blessed him, saying:
'Blest be thou when thou art in combat with the gods. Let water pitchers filled to the brim, Brahmanas, kine, and other auspicious objects, bless thee, thou oviparous one.
And, O thou of great strength, when thou art engaged with the gods in combat, let the Riks, the Yajus, the Samas, the sacred sacrificial butter, all the mysteries of the Upanishads, constitute thy strength.'
4. Garuda taking the elephant & tortoise is named by the Sages on the Tree
Garuda, thus addressed by his father, wended to the side of that lake. He saw that expanse of clear water with birds of various kinds all around.
And remembering the words of his father, that ranger of the skies possessed of great swiftness of motion, seized the elephant and the tortoise, one in each claw. And that bird then soared high into the air.
And he came upon a sacred place called Alamva and saw many divine trees. And struck by the wind raised by his wings, those trees began to shake with fear. And those divine trees having golden boughs feared that they would break. And the ranger of the skies seeing that those trees capable of granting every wish were quaking with fear, went to other trees of incomparable appearance. And those gigantic trees were adorned with fruits of gold and silver and branches of precious gems. And they were washed with the water of the sea. And there was a large banian among them, which had grown into gigantic proportions, that spoke unto that lord of bird coursing towards it with the fleetness of the mind:
'Sit thou on this large branch of mine extending a hundred yojanas and eat the elephant and the tortoise.'
When that best of birds, of great swiftness and of body resembling a mountain, quickly alighted upon a bough of that banian tree, it shook and broke. Casting his eyes around in wonder he saw numerous Valakhilya sages hanging there from the tree, with heads downwards and engaged in ascetic penances. Reflecting that if that bough fell down, the Rishis would be slain, the mighty one held the elephant and the tortoise still more firmly with his claws.
And from fear of slaying the sages and desire of saving them, held that bough in his beaks, and rose on his wings. The great Rishis were struck with wonder at the sight of that act of his which was beyond even the power of the gods, and gave that mighty bird a name.
And the Sage said:
'As this ranger of the skies rises on its wings bearing a heavy burden, let this foremost of birds having snakes for his food be called Garuda, meaning bearer of heavy weight.'
And shaking the mountains by his wings, Garuda leisurely coursed through the skies. And as he soared with the elephant and the tortoise still in his claws, he beheld various regions underneath. Desiring as he did to save the Valakhilya sages, he saw not a spot whereon to sit.
At last he went to that foremost of mountains called Gandhamadana. There Garuda, looking fierce, and like the god of death himself, he saw once again his father Kaśyapa engaged in ascetic devotions. The illustrious Kaśyapa, seeing him approach and knowing also his motive, spoke unto him these words:
"O child, do not commit a rash act, for then thou wouldst have to suffer pain. The Valakhilya sages, supporting themselves by drinking the rays of the sun, might, if angry, blast thee.'
Kaśyapa then propitiated, for the sake of his son, the Valakhilyas of exceeding good fortune and whose sins had been destroyed by ascetic penances, and said to the sages:
'Ye whose wealth is asceticism; the essay of Garuda is for the good of all creatures. The task is great that he is striving to accomplish. It behoveth you to accord him your permission.'
Those ascetics thus addressed by the illustrious Kaśyapa, abandoned that bough, and went to the sacred mountain of Himavat for purposes of ascetic penances.
After those sages had gone away, the son of Vinata, with voice obstructed by the bough in his beak, asked his father Kaśyapa saying:
'O illustrious one, where shall I, O Father, throw this arm of the tree? O illustrious one, indicate to me some region without human beings.
Then Kaśyapa spoke of a mountain without human beings with caves and dales always covered with snow and incapable of approach by ordinary creatures even in thought. And the great bird bearing the branch, the elephant, and the tortoise, proceeded with great speed towards that mountain.
Garuda, the lord of birds, then flew away for hundreds of thousands of yojanas in the shortest time. And going according to the directions of his father, to that mountain almost in a moment, that ranger of the skies let the gigantic bough fall, with a resounding noise.
After Garuda had sought the fighting elephant and tortoise, and borne away with him also the Sages on the banyan tree, which he had thrown onto the mountain peak advised by his father the great Kashyapa, Garuda, perching on the summit of that mountain, ate both the elephant and the tortoise, rose on his wings with great speed from the top of the mountain.
And so, this is how the great Garuda first realised his name through his acts, as the bearer of great weight.
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