Coin of Indonesia with Garuda
Date uploaded in London – – 21 FEBRUARY 2024
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan
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Garuda on Thailand National Emblem
Garuda is in the Rig Veda as Garutman.
Garuda is the National Emblem of Thailand
Garuda Airways is the official airlines of Indonesia
America has white headed eagle as its National Emblem
South East Asian countries have issued stamps, coins and currency notes with Garuda.
Many countries have Garuda and Naga/snake on their flags or coins reminiscing Garuda/Naga clash in Puranas.
Garuda Flag of Vishnu is mentioned in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Literature.
Greek Ambassador built a Garuda Pillar in Madhya Pradesh 2200 years ago and called himself Parama Bhagavata (meaning: great disciple of Vasudvea Krishna)
Garuda Purana is read during 13 day Hindu Mourning Period.
Garuda is worshipped by Tamil Hindus even today. When they say it in the sky they worship it and recite mantrar or simple prayer.
Garuda Dandakam by Vedanta Desika, and a popular couplet on Garuda and a Garuda Gayatri are popular.
Army formation Garuda Vyuha is in Mahabharata.
Great Tamil King Karikal Cholza did Yaga by erecting Garuda shaped Yaga Kunda
Seeing Garuda in the sky is considered positive sign and considered most auspicious.
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Thailand Stamp with Garuda
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 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 is the younger brother of Aruna, who is a charioteer of the sun god, Surya.
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Garuda Pillar by Greek Ambassador
It is also called The Heliodorus pillar , since the Garuda head is missing now. It is in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
The stone pillar was erected by Heliodorus, who was an ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas from Taxila, and was sent to the Indian ruler Bhagabhadra. A dedication written in Brahmi script was inscribed on the pillar, venerating Vāsudeva (Krishna), the Deva deva the “God of Gods” and the Supreme Deity. It is near Bhopal.
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Stamp of America with Eagle
Vishnu’ Vehicle/Vahana
Garuḍa (Viṣṇu’s vehicle).—Viṣṇu rides upon a creature half-human & half-eagle known as Garuḍa or Garutman which means “wings-of-speech”.
Garuda in the mythical and colourful Hindu scriptures is the King of the Birds and acts as messenger between Gods and Humans. He is the manifestation of the triple Vedas.
Garuḍa is depicted as the mortal enemy of snakes — he thus represents courage. Snakes represent all those factors that obstruct the spiritual path. His wife’s name is Unnati or “progress” also called “queen-of-knowledge”.
Garuḍa (गरुड) also refers to the White-bellied sea eagle (Haliacetus leucogaster).
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Garuda Stamp
Life Story
Garuḍa (गरुड).—Lord Viṣṇu’s eternal carrier, a great devotee, the son of Aditi and Kaśyapa who takes the form of an eagle and is the bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu. He is often found atop a pole facing the entrance of Viṣṇu temples. The emblem of Garuḍa is always on the chariot of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
1) Name of the king of birds. [He is a son of Kaśyapa by his wife Vinatā. He is the chief of the feathered race, an implacable enemy of serpents, and elder brother of Aruṇa. In a dispute between his mother and Kadrū, her rival, about the colour of उचैःश्रवस् (ucaiḥśravas) Kadrū defeated Vinatā, and, in accordance with the conditions of the wager, made her her slave. Garuḍa brought down the heavenly beverage (Amṛta) to purchase her freedom, not, however, without a hard struggle with Indra for the same. Vinatā was then released; but the Amṛta was taken away by Indra from the serpents. Garuḍa is represented as the vehicle of Visnu, and as having a white face, an aquiline nose, red wings and a golden body.]
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Garuda on Gupta Sculpture, Deogarh
Kalidasa on Garuda
मुक्तशेषविरोधेन कुलिशव्रणलक्ष्मणा।
उपस्थितम् प्राञ्जलिना विनीतेन गरुत्मता॥ १०-१३
muktasheShavirodhena kulishavraNalakShmaNA|
upasthitam prA~njalinA vinItena garutmatA || 10-13 Raguvamsa
Him, who was waited upon with adjoined palms by the humble garuDa, the divine eagle, who had abandoned his enmity towards the serpent Adi-sheSaha and who bore the scars of wounds inflicted by the thunderbolt of Indra; him the gods beheld. [10-13]
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GARUDA PURANA
Garuda Purana is available free in Wisdom Library site. Full Sanskrit Slokas with English translation is available.
The Garuda Purana is a Vaishnava Purana and has, according to the tradition, 19,000 shlokas (verses). However, the manuscripts that have survived into the modern era have preserved about 8,000 verses. These are divided into two parts: a Purvakhanda (early section) and an Uttarakhanda (later section, more often known as Pretakhanda or Pretakalpa[14]). The Purvakhanda contains about 229 chapters, but in some versions of the text this section has between 240–243 chapters. The Uttarakhanda varies between 34 and 49 chapters.[7] The Venkatesvara Edition of the Purana has an additional Khanda named Brahmakhanda.
Garuda on Coins
GARUDA IN TAMIL LITERATURE
Sangam Tamil Literature which is 2000 year old mentioned the Pul Kodi (Bird Flag) of Vishnu in many verses.
Garuda Flag of Vishnu is in
Purananuru 56 by Nakkirar
Tirumurukatruppadai Line 151
Paripatal 8-2
Post Sangam epic Silappadikaram
And in many more places in later works.
GARUDA VAHANAS
All Vishnu temples in South India use Garuda Vahana during festival time. Stone Garuda Vahana (KAL GARUDAN) is very famous in Nachiar Koil near Kumbakonam. In some temples Seven Garudas are carried with Vishnu on it. Gupta sculptures of Deogarsh has Garuda Vhana in Gajendra Moksha episode.
Of the Vishnu temple vahanas Garuda Vahana is the most important one. No Vishnu Bhakta will miss it.
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Garuda in Tamil Temples
Garuḍa (गरुड):—The Sanskrit name for a classification of a ‘temple’, according to the 2nd century Matsyapurāṇa and the Viśvakarmaprakāśa, both featuring a list of 20 temple types. In the Viśvakarmaprakāśa, the name for this temple category is Suparṇa. This list represents the classification of temples in South-India.
1) Garuḍa (गरुड) is the name of animal (Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus) representing one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading
2) of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The animals and birds found as vehicles for the deities or held as attributes or weapons in the hands of the deities are, for example, Garuḍa.
3) Garuḍa (गरुड) is the name of a deity depicted at the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram (Kāñcīpuram), representing a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—Garuḍa is found in samabhaṅga posture with hands in añjali-hasta.
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Garuḍa is also depicted at the Andal Temple in Srivilliputtur (Villiputtur or Thiruvilliputtur), representing a sacred place for the worship of The Goddess (Devī).—Garuḍa, the vehicle of Viṣṇu, is found to the left of Raṅgamannar. Garuḍa is represented in standing posture in samabhaṅga. His two hands are in añjali, as if paying salutation to the divine couple Raṅgamannar and Āṇṭāl. In front of the mūla-bera, the utsava-mūrti of Raṅgamannar, Āṇṭāl and Garuḍa is found. To the right of the main sanctum Āndāl and Raṅgamannar are seen in the same postures as described in the case of the mūla bera earlier.
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Garuda Dandakam
Garuda Dandakam is a great prayer composed by Srimad Vedanta Desika, extols Garuda, one of the foremost devotees of Lord Vishnu . This poem is written in the Dandaka meter. When one chants Garuda Dandakam before embarking on long distance journey it is believed Lord Garuda will guard and protect the devotee
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Garuda Vahana in Balaji Temple, Tirupati
Popular Sloka to recite
वैनतेय महासत्व सर्वपक्षिपते विभो ।
प्रगृह्यतां बलिर्देव मन्त्रपूतो मयोद्यतः ॥
vainateya mahāsatva sarvapakṣipate vibho |
pragṛhyatāṃ balirdeva mantrapūto mayodyataḥ ||
Meaning – O the son of Vinatā, the high-souled one, the lord, the king of all the birds, accept this my best offering.
–subham—
Tags- Garuda, Vishnu, Vahana, Flag, in Tamil Literature, Garutman, Rig Veda, Kashyapa, Vinata, Amrita, Holy bird
Tamil and Vedas 
