MountIconography
Garuda: FAQ & Sources
गरुड़Garuda is the king of birds and the mount of Vishnu, with the beak and wings of an eagle. Son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata, he won the nectar of immortality to free his mother from slavery, and Vishnu made him his vahana. He is the enemy of serpents and the speaker of the Garuda Purana.
Borne byविVishnu
Frequently asked questions
Who is Garuda?
Garuda is the king of birds and the mount of Vishnu, son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata.
Why are Garuda and snakes enemies?
Garuda's mother was enslaved by Kadru, mother of the serpents, through a trick. He freed her by bringing the nectar of immortality, and the enmity has lasted ever since.
What is the Garuda Purana?
A Purana in the form of a dialogue between Vishnu and Garuda; its section on death and the afterlife is often read during mourning.
Why is there a Garuda statue at Vishnu temples?
Garuda faces the shrine as Vishnu's devoted servant, ready to carry him, just as Nandi faces Shiva.
Sources
- Mahabharata, Adi Parva (Astika Parva, chs. 16-34)
- Garuda Purana
- Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda (Garuda frees Rama and Lakshmana)
- Bhagavata Purana 8.3 (Gajendra Moksha)
- Heliodorus Pillar inscription, Besnagar (c. 110 BCE)
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