Buddhist Iconography: The Buddhist follow different forms or deities in their practice and here you will find the information of some of the Buddhist deities or figures or images which are practiced by the Buddhism in different parts of the world.
Red Tara is the manifestation of Tara expression of awareness of all phenomena. In Vajrayana Buddhism the practice of Red Tara is based on the ritual called the Mandala of wish-fulfilling essence that focuses on turning material desires into compassion and love. The ritual includes yoga, healing practices and teachings on the nature of mind. The Red Tara empowerment ritual was originated by Amitabha Buddha and passed to Avalokiteshvara, then to an emanation of Tara and the famous Indian master Nagarjuna that transmitted this teaching to Padmasambhava.
Red Tara – The Wish Fulfilling Tara
Guru Rinpoche left this knowledge to his consort Yeshe Tsogyal, and asked her to hide it as a treasure to be discovered at a later time, which it would produce the most benefit. The teaching was discovered by lama Apong Terton, who lived in last century. Before his death the lama transmitted the ritual to a monk that promised to reveal it to the reincarnation of Apong Terton, Sakya Trizin.
Gestures and Attributes
Red Tara is depicted in her peaceful manifestation. She is seated with the right leg slightly extended like the most common representation of Green Tara. The right hand is extended outward across the knee facing upward and holding a long-life vase (Kalasha) and the left hand is positioned in front of the heart holding the stem of a utpala flower with bow and arrow of skillful meaning wisdom on top of it.
Yam Dharmaraj Buddhist Protector the Lord of Death, King of the Law; is the protector of the Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka) cycle of tantras.
Yam Dharmaraj Buddhist Protector
Gestures and Attributes
Yam Dharmaraj Buddhist Protector is depicted with one face and two hands in dark blue color and the head is that of a buffalo, three eyes, sharp horns entwined with flame, fierce and angry. Held upraised in the right hand is a bone stick composted of a fused spine and skull. In the left hand is a coiled lasso. Adorned with a crown of skulls and bone ornaments, he wears a necklace of fifty freshly served heads. Appearing extremely animate he stands with his right leg bent and the left extended on the back of a buffalo which is above a human body, sun disc and lotus seat. To the right is the consort Chamundi, blue with one face and two hands. A trident is held aloft in the right hand and a (Kapala) skull cup in the left hand. Both are adorned with wrathful attire, bone ornaments and various skins, completely surround by the swirling orange flames of pristine awareness.
Yama Dharmaraja Buddhist Protector the Lord of Death, King of the Law; is the protector of the Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka) cycle of tantras.
Yama Dharmaraja Buddhist Protector
Gestures and Attributes
Yama Dharmaraja Buddhist Protector is depicted with one face and two hands in dark blue color and the head is that of a buffalo, three eyes, sharp horns entwined with flame, fierce and angry. Held upraised in the right hand is a bone stick composted of a fused spine and skull. In the left hand is a coiled lasso. Adorned with a crown of skulls and bone ornaments, he wears a necklace of fifty freshly served heads. Appearing extremely animate he stands with his right leg bent and the left extended on the back of a buffalo which is above a human body, sun disc and lotus seat. To the right is the consort Chamundi, blue with one face and two hands. A trident is held aloft in the right hand and a (Kapala) skull cup in the left hand. Both are adorned with wrathful attire, bone ornaments and various skins, completely surround by the swirling orange flames of pristine awareness.
Yama Dharmaraja is the Inner Lord of Death, King of the Law. Dharmaraja is the special protector for the Vajrabhairava cycle of the Tantric practices and is especially associated with the Rwa Lotsawa Tradition.
Yama Dharmaraja Inner
Gestures and Attributes
Yama Dharmaraja is depicted in blue color with one face and two hands; his right hand holds a Kartika (curved knife) and the left hand holds Kapala (blood filled skull cup) to heart. Fearsome and wrath, having the appearance of Raksha demon, his dark yellow hair flows upward flame like, rising above a black half Vajra and the golden crown marked with five dry skulls. Wearing a green scarf and jewels, gold and bone ornaments, he is adorned with a necklace of severed heads and wears a tiger skin around the waist tied with a green sash. Standing with the left leg bent and the right leg extended above a brown corpse, sun disc and lotus blossom above a black triangle mandala filled with blood he dwells completely surrounded within the red flames of pristine awareness.
Sakyamuni Buddha Tomba Copper Statue: Sakyamuni is the Buddha of our time. He is the glorious root teacher of all the diverse lineages that make up Buddhism as we know it. Born Siddhartha Gautama more than 2500 years ago, he was the crown prince of the Shakya kingdom located in the Himalayan foothills of what is now southern Nepal. He left luxurious palace life behind him, however, in pursuit of the truth of the origin of suffering and the cessation of fear. His astounding courage, determination, wisdom and compassion led to his perfect enlightenment despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His teachings have transformed individuals and nations throughout the world and still speak to us today.
Gestures and Attributes
The Buddha is depicted with his right hand extended to the earth in the Bhumisparsha Mudra like shown in this Sakyamuni Buddha Tomba Copper Statue, the gesture of witness. He is “calling the earth to witness” his supreme victory over the temptations and illusions of the material world as symbolized by the demon Mara. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra). In some representations he also holds the begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains three precious nectars indicating that he has conquered the three demons of uncontrolled death, contaminated aggregates, and delusion. Thus, this posture is known as “Buddha Sakyamuni Conquering the Demons” and shows the moment of the Buddha’s full enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
About this Sakyamuni Buddha Tomba Copper Statue
This statue is a charming portrayal of Sakyamuni. Finely sculpted from copper alloy, the statue has been submitted to an oxidation process to yield a rich and sensuous finish. The Buddha sits gracefully in meditation upon a lotus throne, expressing the calm majesty of one who has mastered himself. With his head slightly inclined, he seems to smile with a secret inner joy, prompting feelings of encouragement and happiness in the observer. His robes are exquisitely carved throughout, showing marvelous detailing especially on the back of the sculpture, where a beautiful lotus blossom is surrounded by intricately carved leaves and vines. And over all, the lovely copper finish lends a pleasing sense of warmth, gently inviting one to linger, leaving thoughts of the world behind.
White Tara Dolkar Statue: White Tara’s compassion for living beings and her desire to save them from suffering is said to be even stronger than a mother’s love for her children. As the personification of enlightened maternal compassion, she has infinite sympathy for those facing the challenges of worldly existence. She is the female aspect of the universe and the source of all life; thus, she lovingly engenders, nourishes and smiles at the vitality of creation. Meditation on the goddess grants health, long life, fearlessness, patience and peace; and she is especially cherished for her swiftness in responding to the prayers of those who call upon her. Her color white symbolizes her radiant purity, but white also expresses her fundamental nature, which is ultimate Truth, complete and undifferentiated.
White Tara Dolkar Statue
Gestures and Attributes
White Tara is depicted in a posture of graceful contemplative ease with both legs raised and crossed, displaying a regal elegance and serenity like in this; White Tara Dolkar Statue. Her right hand is extended downward, palm open, with thumb and index finger touching. This hand position is known as Varada Mudra, or the gesture of granting wishes and protection. Her left hand, raised to shoulder height with fingers extended and palm turned outward, is in the gesture of granting refuge and freeing from fears (Abhaya Mudra). Each of her hands also holds the stem of a beautiful lotus flower that floats above her shoulder as a symbol of her radiant purity and power. A distinctive characteristic of White Tara, shown in this representation, is her seven eyes. She has the two usual eyes plus one in the center of her forehead and one in each of her hands and feet. These eyes indicate that she sees all the suffering and cries for help in the universe, and symbolize her divine omniscience.
About this White Tara Dolkar Statue
Expertly cast from copper alloy using Lost Wax Method and gilded with 24 karat gold with hand painted face, this statue is a beautiful portrayal of White Tara / Dolkar. This White Tara Dolkar Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue: Buddhism was first introduced to Tibet in the eighth century when King Trisong Detsen invited the Indian master Santaraksita to teach the sacred Dharma to the Tibetan people. When Santaraksita arrived and he and the king began to build the first monastery, resentful mountain spirits interfered and created many obstacles. Realizing that the help of a realized master with control over physical reality was needed, the king invited Guru Padmasambhava to come and tame the angry spirits of Tibet.
Guru Rinpoche / Padmasambhava(as shown in this Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue), regarded as an emanation of Buddha Amitabha, was born miraculously from a lotus blossom in the land of Oddiyana located in present-day Pakistan. He was known far and wide for his miracle powers, including his ability to subdue spirits. At the request of the king, Guru Padmasambhava journeyed to Tibet and engaged the local nature spirits in magical combat. Conquering these spirits, he bound them by oath to protect the Dharma for all time. Evidence of his victories in these battles can still be seen throughout the valleys and villages of Tibet, where he is affectionately known as “Guru Padmasambhava,” meaning “Precious Master.”
The King, Santaraksita and Guru Padmasambhava then worked together to establish Buddhism in the country. The King founded temples and Santaraksita ordained monks, while Guru Padmasambhava worked at a more mysterious level. Guru Padmasambhava established the secret and powerful practices of Tantric Buddhism and gave profound and extraordinary teachings to his closest disciples, including the king. In addition, foreseeing that a future king would one day try to destroy Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava concealed religious treasures throughout the Himalayan region. These treasures would be revealed centuries later by seers destined to receive them.
Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue
Guru Rinpoche / Padmasambhava did not die but flew away with his consort on the rays of the sun. It is believed by many, especially those within the Nyingma school (which traces its lineage directly to Guru Padmasambhava), that he is still living, and remains full of compassion for sentient beings. Dwelling at the level of spontaneous presence, the great Guru has the power to bestow blessings instantly and grant wishes immediately. He remains to this day the deeply beloved focus of practice for many Tibetan.
Gestures and Attributes
Here, Guru Rinpoche / Padmasambhava can be seen in his most well-known representation like in this; Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue. His eyes are open in a piercing gaze; his face is wrathful and smiling, blazing magnificently with mysterious power. He cradles a Khatvanga in his left arm, representing his consort Mandarava, who arouses realization of emptiness. His Khatvanga is crowned with three severed heads and a trident, symbolizing Guru Padmasambhava’s liberation from the three kayas of desire, form and formlessness.
He wears a lotus hat ornamented with a sun and moon, representing skillful means and wisdom. His hat also has a Vajra top, symbolizing his unshakable samadhi, and is crowned with a vulture feather, representing his realization of the highest view. In his right hand he holds a Vajra, an implement used in Tantric ritual to symbolize the union of conventional and ultimate truth. His left-hand rests in his lap in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra) and holds a skull cup containing the vase of immortality like shown in this Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue. The vase is filled with the nectar of deathless wisdom and is adorned with leaves of a sacred flowering tree. The vase further serves as a reminder of Guru Padmasambhava’s connection to Buddha Amitabha, as it is the special emblem of Amitayus (an aspect of Amitabha).
About this Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue
This fine quality statue is a beautiful representation of the beloved Guru Rinpoche / Padmasambhava. Expertly sculpted from copper alloy using lost wax method and fully gilded with 24 karat gold, the statue has been finely hand-carved. This Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to centuries – old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
Noble One, you should think of yourself as someone who is sick,
Of the Dharma as the remedy,
Of the Buddha as a skillful doctor,
And of your diligent practice as the way to recovery.
The Medicine Buddha / Menla, or Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha of Healing. Meditating on the Medicine Buddha / Menla is considered to be a powerful method for increasing healing powers, allowing practitioners to alleviate their own sufferings as well as those of others. Through his boundless compassion and generosity, Bhaisajyaguru helps sincere seekers overcome physical illness and infirmity. But even more importantly, the Buddha is the skillful doctor who heals the great disease afflicting all sentient beings. By providing the Dharma as a profound antidote to the poisons of attachment, hatred and ignorance, he lifts the veil of delusion and points the way to freedom.
Medicine Buddha Menla Statue
Gestures and Attributes
The Medicine Buddha / Menla is depicted with his right hand extended downward, palm open, with thumb and index finger touching. This posture is known as Varada Mudra, or the gesture of granting wishes like this; Medicine Buddha Menla Statue. This mudra symbolizes Bhaisajyaguru’s kindness, charity and compassion toward all beings. In the same hand he lightly grasps a sprig of the Myrobalan plant, an important healing herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is believed that this plant has the power not only to heal the body, but also to free one from the inner sicknesses of attachment, hatred and ignorance. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra), representing the eradication of all sickness and suffering through the realization of absolute truth. In the same hand he holds the traditional begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains a sacred medicinal nectar that cures all ills, hindrances and obstacles.
About this Medicine Buddha Menla Statue
This sculpture is a beautiful depiction of Medicine Buddha / Menla. Expertly cast from copper alloy using lost wax method and gilded with 24 karat gold, the figure sits regally upon a lotus throne, expressing a graceful and dignified presence. He sits majestically upon a double lotus throne, his head slightly bowed, smiling softly in sublime meditation. His monastic robes drape beautifully across his shoulder and arm and are exquisitely detailed throughout the statue. The Buddha’s features are also beautifully carved, imbuing the statue with warmth and character. And over all, the stunning gold gilding gives the sculpture a luminous quality, evoking the enlightened spiritual presence of the Buddha. This Medicine Buddha Menla Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
Amitabha Buddha / Opame – The Buddha of Infinite Light
Amitabha Buddha Opame Statue: According to the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life, the magnificence of Amitabha Buddha / Opame surpasses that of all other great beings, thus he is known as the Buddha of all the Buddhas. Buddha Shakyamuni once said of Amitabha, “The majestic glory of his light could not be exhaustively described if I praised it continuously, day and night, for the period of one kapala.”
Amitabha Buddha / Opame dwells in a pure celestial realm, created via the power of his infinite merit accumulated over countless lifetimes as a Bodhisattva. His light shines brilliantly from this celestial realm, pervading the entire universe. According to the Sutra, if sentient beings encounter his light, their defilements are removed; if they see his light, they are relieved and freed from affliction. At the en`d of their lives, beings who have faith in Amitabha reach emancipation, as he gives them rebirth in his Pure Land. And as Shakyamuni explains, “Sentient beings who are born in that Buddha-land all reside among those assured of nirvana.”
Amitabha Buddha Opame Statue
Gestures and Attributes
Amitabha Buddha / Opame is depicted in Dhyana Mudra, the gesture of meditation, with both palms face up and lying in his lap. His right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of enlightenment, while his left hand, resting below like this; Amitabha Buddha Opame Statue, represents the world of appearance. Thus, Amitabha’s posture expresses his mastery over the world of appearance through enlightenment and signifies the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one. In some representations, he holds the traditional begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl is filled with amrita, the elixir of awakening and immortality, and symbolizes Amitabha’s infinite openness and receptivity toward all sentient beings.
About this Amitabha Buddha Opame Statue
This sculpture is a beautiful depiction of Amitabha Buddha / Opame. Expertly cast from copper alloy using lost wax method and gilded with 24 karat gold, the figure sits regally upon a lotus throne, expressing a graceful and dignified presence. Amitabha’s monastic robes, elegantly detailed around the edges, drape softly over his shoulder with delicate folding in the cloth. The Buddha’s features are also beautifully carved, imbuing the statue with warmth and character. And over all, the stunning gold gilding gives the sculpture a luminous quality, evoking the enlightened spiritual presence of the Buddha. This Amitabha Buddha Opame Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue: Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba is the Buddha of our time. He is the glorious root teacher of all the diverse lineages that make up Buddhism as we know it. Born Siddhartha Gautama more than 2500 years ago, he was the crown prince of the Shakya kingdom located in the Himalayan foothills of what is now southern Nepal. He left luxurious palace life behind him, however, in pursuit of the truth of the origin of suffering and the cessation of fear. His astounding courage, determination, wisdom and compassion led to his perfect enlightenment despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His teachings have transformed individuals and nations throughout the world and still speak to us today.
Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue
Gestures and Attributes
Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba is depicted with his right hand extended to the earth in the Bhumisparsha Mudra, the gesture of witness like this; Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue. He is “calling the earth to witness” his supreme victory over the temptations and illusions of the material world as symbolized by the demon Mara. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra). In some representations he also holds the begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains three precious nectars indicating that he has conquered the three demons of uncontrolled death, contaminated aggregates, and delusion. Thus, this posture is known as “Buddha Shakyamuni Conquering the Demons” and shows the moment of the Buddha’s full enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
About this Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue
Expertly cast from copper alloy using Lost Wax Method and gilded with 24 karat gold, this sculpture is a profoundly moving representation of Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue. He sits majestically upon a single lotus throne, his head slightly bowed, smiling softly in sublime meditation. His monastic robes drape beautifully across his shoulder and arm and are exquisitely detailed throughout the statue. Shakyamuni Buddha Tomba Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
Cheppu is one among the three brothers Garuda, Cheppu and Hiti Manga. It is told that once the mother of these brothers, requested her husband to give birth of such a son who would be the bravest, most truthful and entitled with all superior marks. Her husband told her to wait for a certain period. She being impatience to wait for a long period, looked the nest whether he was born or not. She found Cheppu in a prematured condition only with formation of head.
Cheppu Ghau Pendant Prayer Box
Cheppu is depicted in his wrathful appearance devouring showing only half of Cheppu’s body and devouring Naga(snake).
It is also told that Cheppu disappeared from the world as he did not want to see the kaliyuga, the great yuga, when the evil would completely triumphant over the good and the world would be destroyed by Vishnu in his incarnation as kalki, the destroyer. Knowing his bravery, truthfulness and entitled with all the superior marks Manjushree wanted to see him and requested him to show his full form. He appeared slowly amidst the cloud. Manjushree, as a veteran artist, immediately drew his form by his foot secretly without the knowledge of Cheppu. When Manjushree could finish to draw his head only he came to know Manjushree’s deception and immediately disappeared. Due to his bravery, truthfulness and all superior marks, he was given the place at the top of the main entrance of the shrines for the protection from all the dangers. Nagas(serpents) are the food of Cheppu.
Along the stories of Manjushree, comes an interesting and fascinating story attached to Cheppu – The Mythical Creature:
Long time ago, the Kathmandu Valley was only a huge lake inhabited by the countless number of aquatic animals. The majority of them were the Nagas (serpents). So, this valley was also known as Naga Daha, meaning the “Home of the Serpents’.
One day Manjushree Bodhisattva (a Buddhist god from China) came to visit this valley. He liked the valley. He liked the valley so much that he wanted to make a beautiful town out of it . With this intention he immediately cut through the southern hill of the valley with one stroke of this his legendary sword (Chandrahara) and drained off the water. This compelled all the inhabitants of the lake to leave, as they could not do anything against the almighty Manjushree. But a creature called Cheppu stayed put. When by his yogic power Manjushree sensed that there was someone still hidden somewhere under the remnant of the lake, he commanded the latter to leave the water instantly. He was terrified when he saw that he could not go against the power of Manjushree. So, he said he would leave the lake if Manjushree would promise not to look at his horrible feature when he moved out of the lake. According to the promise, Manjushree closed his eyes and Cheppu prepared to come out of the water. As the fear-stricken creature pushed half of his ugly body above the surface, Manjushree could not help but open eyes stealthily, out of curiosity. When Cheppu saw Manjushree open his eyes, he got so upset that he quickly dived back deep under the water to hide himself again. Manjushree, ashamed of breaking his promise, soon negotiated with Cheppu assuring him that he would never bother again to seen by anyone). He also promised that he would allow him to occupy a very significant place in the holy temples of Nepal (he was going to build up soon in the valley) and remain there half-hidden forever.
This story seems to explain a lot about our architectural tradition of showing only half of Cheppu’s body above the tympanums of the temple doorways. Whether this mythical story contains any grain of truth or not matters the least. What counts in the cultural value it reflects and the artistic fascination it leaves for one and all to understand and appreciate.
The Garuda is a large bird or bird like mythical creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. He is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and the Brahminy kite and Phoenix are considered to be the contemporary representations of Garuda. Indonesia adopts a more stylistic approach to the Garuda’s depiction as its national symbol, where it depicts a Javanese eagle.
Garuda is the king of birds. Its name derives from the root Gri, to swallow: he devours the snakes. He is represented with a human upper body, big eyes, beak, short blue horns, yellow hair standing on ed, bird’s claws and wings. However, sometimes, mainly in Hindu iconography, he is represented in human form with wings. He is very big bird and comes out of the egg fully grown. Garuda symbolizes the space element and the power of the sun, which can dry up the waters. Therefore, he is the natural enemy of snakes and he devours or controls them. He represents the spiritual energy of which devours the delusions of jealousy and hatred, which are represented by the snake. He is also the openness: he can stretch out his wings and soar into space. He represents the great freedom of the mind which can open and is not uptied by confliction emotions the wise mind which reaches everywhere, like the rays of the sun, and brings about the growth of life and wisdom. Specifically, in Buddhism Garuda is related of the perfection of gibing Dana parmita, just as the rays of the sun give life to the earth.
The myth of the great bird devouring the snake seems to have originated in Mesopotamia. The snake represents the subconscious or hidden aspects of the mind, those feelings and thoughts which crawl underneath the surface. He can perceive any tiny snake and instantly fall upon in. Similarly, by practicing awareness of all our feelings, thoughts and actions we can develop the wisdom which can perceive perfectly the workings of our mind and in that way, we can achieve complete freedom to act utilizing out of mind in the most beneficial way.
In Hindu Iconography he is the vehicle of Vishnu. In Buddhism, he is the vehicle of Amoghasiddhi. The Buddha who embodies the all accomplishing wisdom. He is also the vehicle of a from Lokeshvara Hariharihar vahana. He is also a deity of his own who is supposed to cure snakebite, epilepsy and diseases caused by Nagas. An image of Garuda is found in the toranas, the semicircular tympanum above the temple doors.
The emerald, also called Garuda stone is considered a protection against poison and Garuda images appear in jewelry as a protection against snake bite.
Garuda Ghau Pendant Prayer Box
In Hinduism:
In Hindu religion; he is Hindu divinity, usually the mount(vahana) of the God Vishnu. He is depicted as having the golden body of a strong man with a white face, red wings and an eagle’s beak and with a crown on his head. The ancient deity was said to be massive, large enough to block out the sun.
Garuda is known as the eternal sworn enemy of the Naga serpent race and known for feeding exclusively on snakes, such behavior may have referred to the actual short-toed Eagle of India. The image of Garuda is often used as the charm or amulet to protect the bear from snake attack and its poison, since the king of birds is an implacable enemy and “devourer of serpent”. Garudi Vidya is the Mantra against snake poison to remove all kinds of evil.
His stature in Hindu religion can be gauged by the fact that an independent Upanishad, the Garudopanishad, and a Purana, is devoted to him. Various names have been attributed to Garuda-Chirada, Gaganeshvara, Kamayusha, Kashyapi, Khageshvara, Nagantaka, Sitanana, Sudhahara, Suparna, Tarkshya, Vainateya, Vishnuratha and others. The Vedas provide the earliest reference of Garuda, though by the name of Syena, where this mighty bird is said to have brought nectar to earth from heaven. The Puranas, which came into existence much later, mention him as doing the name thing, which indicates that Syena (Sanskrit for eagle) and Garuda are the same. One of the faces of Sri Panchamukha Hanuman is Mahavira Garuda. This face points towards the west. Worship of Garuda is believed to remove the effects of poisons from one’s body. In Tamil Vaishnavism Garuda and Hanuman are known as “Periya Thiruvadi” and “Siriya Thiruvadi” respectively.
In the Bhagavad-Gita (Ch.10, Verse30), in the middle of the battlefield “Kurukshetra”, Krishna explaining his omnipresence, says – “as son of Vinata, I am in the form of Garuda, the king of the bird community (Garuda)” indicating the importance of Garuda.
He wears the serpent Adisesha on his left wrist and the serpant Gulika on his right wrist. The serpent Vasuki forms his sacred thread. The cobra Takshaka forms his belt on his hip. The snake Karkotaka is worn as his necklace. The snakes Padma and Mahapadma are his ear rings. The snake Shankachuda adorns his divine hair. He is flanked by his tow wives ‘Rudra’ and ‘Sukeerthi’ or Sukirthi. These are all invoked in Vedanta Desika’s Garuda Panchashath and Garuda Dndaka compositions. Garuda flanked with his consorts ‘Rudra’ and ‘Sukirthi’ can be seen worshiped in an ancient Soumya Keshava temple in Bindiganavile (or Mayura puri in Sanskrit) in Karnataka state of India.
Garuda Vyuha is worshiped in Tantra for Abhichara and to protect against Abhichara. However, the interesting thing is that he is the Sankarshna form of the lord who during creation primarily possesses the knowledge aspect of the lord (among Vasudeva, Sanskarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha forms). The important point is that he represents the five vayus with us: prana, vyana, Udana, samana, brahmana through his five forms satya, Suparna, Garuda, Tarkshya, Vihageshwara. These five vayus through yoga can be controlled through Pranayama which can lead to Kundalini Awakening leading to higher levels of consciousness. He plays an important role in Krishna Avatar in which Krishna and Satyabhama ride on Garuda to kill Narakasura. On another occasion, lord Hari rides on Garuda to save the devotee elephant. It is also said that Garuda’s wings when flying will chant the Vedas.
In the Mahabharata
Birth and deeds
The story of Garuda’s birth and deeds is told in the first book of the great epic Mahabharata. According to the epic, when he first burst forth from his egg, he appeared as a raging inferno equal to the cosmic conflagration that consumes the world at the end of every age. Frightened, the Gods begged him for mercy. Garuda, hearing their plea, reduced himself in size and energy.
Garuda’s father was the creator-rishi Kasyapa. He had two wives, Vinata and Kadru, who were daughters of Prajapathi Daksha, on the pleadings of his wives, granted them their wishes; Vinata wished for two sons and Kadru wished for thousand snakes as her sons. Both laid eggs, while the thousand eggs of Kadru hatched early (after steaming the eggs to hatch) into snakes, the hatching of two eggs of Vinata did not take place for a long time. Impatient, Vinata broke open one egg, which was half formed with the upper half only as a human and was thus deformed. Her half formed son cursed her that she would be slave for her sister (she was her rival) for a long time by which time her second son would be born who would save her from his curse; her first son who flew away and came to prominence as Aruna, the red spectacle seen as the sun rises in the morning, and as also charioteer of the sun. The second egg hatched after a long time during which period Vinata was the servant of her sister as she had lost a bet with her. When the second egg hatched, a fully grown, shining and of mighty sized bird emerged as Garuda, the king of birds. He was thus born.
One day, Vinata entered into and lost a foolish bet, as a result of which she became enslaved to her sister. Resolving to release his mother from this state of bondage, Garuda approached the serpents and asked them what it would take to purchase her freedom. Their reply was that Garuda would have to bring them the elixir of immortality, also called amrita. It was a tail order. The amrita at that time found itself in the possession of the Gods, who guarded it jealously, since it was source of their immortality. The had ringed the elixir with a massive fire that covered the sky. They had blocked the way to the elixir with a fierce mechanical contraption of sharp rotating blades. And finally, they had stationed two gigantic poisonous snakes next to the elixir as deadly guardians.
Undaunted, Garuda hastened toward the abode of the Gods intent on robbing them of their treasure. Knowing of his design, the Gods met him in full battle-array. He, however, defeated the entire host and scattered them in all directions. Taking the water of many rivers into his mouth, he extinguished the protective fire the Gods had thrown up. Reducing his size, he crept past the rotating blades of their murderous machine. And finally, he mangled the two gigantic serpents they had posted as guards. Taking the elixir into his mouth without swallowing it, he launched again into the air and headed toward the eagerly waiting serpents. On route, he encountered Vinshu, rather than fight, the two exchanged promises. Vishnu promised him the gift of immortality even without drinking from the elixir, and he promised to become Vishnu’s mount (vahan). Flying onward, he met Indra the God of the sky. Another exchange of promises occurred. He promised that once he had delivered the elixir, thus fulfilling the request of the serpents, he would make it possible for the Indra to regain possession of the elixir and to take it back to the Gods. Indra in turn promised him the serpents as food.
At long last, Garuda alighted in front of the waiting serpents. Placing the elixir on the grass, and thereby liberating his mother Vinata from her servitude, he urged the serpents to perform their religious ablutions before consuming it. As they hurried off to do so, Indra swooped in to make off with the elixir. The serpents came back from their ablutions and saw the elixir gone but with small droplets of it on the grass. They tried to lick the droplets and thereby split their tongues in two. From then onward, serpents have split tongues and shed their skin as a kind of immortality.
From that day onward, he was the alloy of the Gods and the trusty mount (vahana) of Vishnu, as well as the implacable enemy of snakes, upon whom he preyed at every opportunity.
Descendants
According to the Mahabharata, Garuda had six sons from whom were descended the race of birds. The members of this race were of great might and without compassion, subsisting as they did on their relatives the snakes. Vishnu was their protector.
As a symbol
Throughout the Mahabharata, he is invoked as a symbol of impetuous violent force, of speed, and of 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 field marshal Drona uses a military named after Garuda. Krishna even carries the image of Garuda on his banner.
In Buddhism
In Buddhist mythology, the Garuda are enormous predatory birds with intelligence and social organization. Another name for the Garuda is Suparna, meaning “well-winged, having good wings”. Like the Naga, they combine the characteristics of animals and diving beings, and may be considered to be among the lowest Devas.
The exact size of the Garuda is uncertain, but its wings are said to have a span of many miles. This may be a poetic exaggeration, but it is also said that when a Garuda’s wings flap, they create hurricane-like winds that darken the sky and blow down houses. A human being is so small compared to a Garuda that a man can hide in the plumage of one without being noticed. They are also capable of tearing up entire banyan trees from their roots and carrying them off. Garudas are the great golden-winged Peng birds. They also have the ability to grow large or small, and to appear and disappear at will. Their wingspan is 330 yojanas (one yojana being 40 miles long). With one flap of its wings, a Peng bird dries up the waters of the sea so that it can bobble up all the exposed Dragons. With another flap of its wings, it can level the mountains by moving them into the ocean.
There were also the four Garuda-kings: Great-Power-Virtue Garuda-King, Great-Body Garuda-King, Great-Fulfillment Garuda-King and Free-At-Will Garuda-King, each accompanied by hundreds of thousands of attendants.
The Garudas have kings and cities, and at least some of them have the magical power of changing into human form when they have dealings with people. On some occasions Garuda kings have had romances with human women in this form. Their dwellings are in groves of the simbali, or silk-cotton tree.
The Garudas are enemies to the Nagas, a race of intelligent serpent or dragon like beings, whom they hunt. The Garudas at one time caught the Nagas by seizing them by their heads; but the Nagas learned that by swallowing large stones, they could make themselves too heavy to be carried by the Garudas, wearing them out and killing from exhaustion. This secret was divulged to one of the Garudas by the Ascetic Karambiya, who taught him how to seize a Naga by the tail and force him to vomit up the stones inside.
The Garudas were among the beings appointed by Sakra to guard Mount Sumeru and the Traystrimsa Heaven from the attacks of the Asuras.
In the Mahasamyatta Sutta, the Buddha is shown making temporary peace between the Garudas and Nagas.
The Thai rendering of the Krut (Garuda) as Vishnu vehicle and Garuda’s quest for elixir was based on Indian legend of Garuda. It was told that Garuda overcame many heavenly beings in order to gain the ambrosia (amrita) elixir. No one was able to get the better of him, not even Narai (Vishnu). At last, a truce was called and an agreement was made to settle the rancor and smooth all the ruffled feathers. It was agreed that when Narai is in his heavenly palace, Garuda will be positioned in a superior status, atop the pillar above Narai’s residence. However, whenever Narai wants to travel anywhere, Garuda must serve as his transport.
The Sanskrit word Garuda has been borrowed and modified in the languages of several countries. In Burmese, Garudas are called galone. In Burmese Astrology, the vehicle of the Sunday planet is the galone. In the Kapampangan Language of the Philippines, the native word for eagle is Galura. In Japanese a Garuda is called Karura (however, the from Garuda is used in recent Japanese fiction).
For the Mongols, the Garuda is called Khan Garuda or Khangarid. Before and after each round of Mongolian wrestling, wrestlers perform the Garuda Ritual, a stylized imitation of the Khangarid and a hawk.
In the Qing Dynasty fiction, the story of Yue Fei (1684), he sites at the head of the Buddha’s throne. But when a celestial bat (an embodiment of the 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 traitor Prime Minister Qin Hui, and is instrumental in formulating the “Eastern Window” plot that leads to Yue’s eventual political execution. It is interesting to note 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. Literary critic C.T. Hsia explains the reason whey Qian Cai, the book’s author, linked Yue with Garuda is because of the homology in their Chinese names. Yue Fei’s style name is Great Peng, the Golden-Winged Illumination King.
