Garuḍa — Viṣṇu's Eagle and the Bargain of the Nectar

Garuḍa (गरुड) is shown as a mighty eagle-like bird, or as a man with wings and a beak, hands joined in devotion. He is Viṣṇu's vāhana and also the emblem on his flag, which is why Viṣṇu is called Garuḍadhvaja, "he whose banner bears Garuḍa". He is also named Vainateya, son of Vinatā. In the Bhagavad Gītā, Kṛṣṇa says: "among birds I am Vainateya" (Gītā 10.30).

The fullest story is in the Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva (the Āstīka section). Two sisters, Vinatā and Kadrū, were wives of the sage Kaśyapa. Kadrū was mother of the serpents. The sisters made a bet about the colour of the tail of the divine horse Uccaiḥśravas; Kadrū cheated, and Vinatā became her slave.

Garuḍa, Vinatā's son, asked the serpents what would set his mother free. They demanded the amṛta, the nectar of immortality, kept by the gods. Garuḍa flew to heaven, beat the guards and seized the nectar, without tasting a drop himself.

On the way back Viṣṇu met him. Pleased that Garuḍa had not been greedy, Viṣṇu offered a boon. Garuḍa asked to sit above Viṣṇu and to be immortal without the nectar. Viṣṇu granted both, and in turn asked Garuḍa to be his mount. Garuḍa agreed, and Viṣṇu placed him on his banner, so that Garuḍa is above him on the flag and below him as his carrier. Indra too made peace with him, and the serpents never got to drink the nectar.

The same story explains Garuḍa's lasting quarrel with the snakes, the sons of Kadrū who enslaved his mother. Indra granted him serpents as his food. This is why Garuḍa images, amulets and mantras are used across India and South-East Asia against snake-bite and poison.

A whole Purāṇa bears his name. The Garuḍa Purāṇa is framed as Viṣṇu teaching Garuḍa. Its best-known part (the Preta-khaṇḍa) deals with death, the journey of the soul and the rites for the departed, which is why it is often read in Hindu homes during the days of mourning.

These readings are common in Vaiṣṇava teaching; they build on the story but are not stated outright in it:

• Service without greed. Garuḍa held the nectar and did not drink it. He is the model of strength used for others.
• The Veda in flight. Some teachers call Garuḍa the embodiment of the Vedic chants, carrying God to the devotee on the wings of the hymns.
• Speed of grace. In the story of Gajendra (Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Book 8), Viṣṇu rushes on Garuḍa to save the elephant; devotees read this as God coming at once to one who calls.

Viṣṇu temples place Garuḍa facing the shrine, often on a tall pillar, the Garuḍa-stambha. The famous Heliodorus pillar at Vidisha (2nd century BCE) is one: a Greek envoy set it up in honour of Vāsudeva, crowned with a Garuḍa. Garuḍa is also the national emblem of Indonesia and Thailand. See Why every god rides something.

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Āstīka sub-parva: Vinatā and Kadrū, the theft of the nectar, the bargain with Viṣṇu and Indra.
• Bhagavad Gītā 10.30: "vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām".
• Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Book 8: the rescue of Gajendra.
• Garuḍa Purāṇa, Preta-khaṇḍa.
• Heliodorus pillar inscription, Besnagar (Vidisha).
• Chapter numbers in the Ādi Parva differ between the Critical Edition and the vulgate, so the episode is named. The readings are interpretive tradition.