Garuda

Garuda (Sanskrit, m., गरुड, garuḍa ) is in Indian Mythology schlangentötendes a half - human, half- eagle -faceted Mount ( Vahana ) of Vishnu, son of Kashyapa and Vinata. In Asian mythology, Garuda has also the meaning of a divine messenger who brings the news people and instructions of the gods. In many Asian countries (such as Thailand and Indonesia), the Garuda is also used as emblem or official seal of the authorities of the government.

Indian Mythology

In ancient times had the old creator god and father of creatures Kashyapa, the "old tortoise man," even two wives: Vinata, the sky, and Kadru the earth. Kadru gave birth to a large number of eggs, from which hatched the various kinds of Nagas. Vinata but only put three eggs.

Jealous of Kadru and their numerous offspring it broke the first egg. The essence in the egg, however, had not yet assumed a form: it was the flash. The second egg contained a radiant youth. He had no legs also born prematurely. It was Aruna, the morning dawn, the charioteer of the Sun God Surya. Arun was not so enthusiastic about his disability, he cursed his mother and made it so enslaved by her rival, the Snake Mother Kadru.

As the third egg was hatched, the mighty Garuda slipped out. He immediately demanded to let his mother. The Nagas but demanded in return the immortality elixir Amrita, which Garuda then had to steal from the gods.

This explains the eternal enmity between the Nagas and Garuda. The spiritual contrast of bird ( eagle) and snake is also with us in the west of the ancient Sumerians known (see, for example, in Nietzsche's Zarathustra, also coat of arms and flag of Mexico).

" The bird is called as" Snake Slayer "or" Naga - slayer "( nagantaka ) or" Snake devourer "( nagasana ). His real name is Garuda, from the root gri, " gulp ". As a ruthless destroyer of snakes he is exalted with mystical power over the effects of the poison. "

With the spread of Buddhism, the Garuda came to Southeast Asia and to the north of Central Asia, where he is known as the eagle scrubland by the Mongols. After a Central Asian myth is as in Iranian mythology in heaven " milk lake ". A story about a powerful ruler who wanted to give his daughter to wife the one who would bring him the wings of Garuda. A young hero went with some hunters set off to find the mythical bird. On a mountain ( the World Mountain ) arrived, the group saw an increasing white discoloration in the sky above them. The hero asked what it was and was told that this was the milk pool. The dark middle of the lake is a forest where the bird lives. Thus, the milk pool was on the top of a mountain, which reaches into the sky. The forest is nothing but the tree of life, in the treetops generally birds visit and after several legends and the Garuda.

Garuda in Thailand

Garuda ( Thai: ครุฑ, krut ) is the personal emblem of the Thai king, who is generally regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu. Buddhist kings of the present Chakri dynasty named after Rama, a well-known incarnation of Vishnu: the present King, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX is. As the only creature who is allowed to stand head above the king, the Garuda is depicted on royal banners. Only religious or royal buildings, objects or papers have the honor to represent Garuda.

The king gives the royal Garuda insignia also deserving companies and banks, therefore Garuda can also look down facades known banks of the busy people.

When Garuda usually is not a lonely bird. In Buddhist legends appear large birds in swarms, the Garuda are their kings. They live on thorny trees in a forest called Garutmatvan, located on the slopes of Mount Meru.

Quote: In Cambodia architecture not only Vishnu, but his whole temple is carried by Garuda. The bird occurs here in large numbers, ordered to Caryatids series, which hold the load of the building which is intended as an earthly replica Vaikunthas, the God of heavenly dwelling.

Thai artists adopted this symbolism by presenting a ring of Garuda, which raise the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha ( Wat Phra Kaeo see ) in Bangkok in the air. This motif, rows of Garuda with Nagas in the claws, but in Thailand relatively rare.

Impressions from Thailand

Vishnu on Garuda in front of the Holiday Inn, Bangkok

Entrance door ubosot Wat Suthat, Bangkok

Garuda to a branch of the Siam Commercial Bank

Heraldic animal

The Garuda is one of the heraldic animals as common figure in heraldry. In Europe, this animal is not used as a figure in crest.

In the coat of arms of Indonesia Garuda Eagle is a normal golden eagle. In Ulan Bator coat of arms, the capital of Mongolia, a Garuda is depicted.

• Coat of Arms of the Republic of Indonesia
• Arms of the city of Ulan Bator (Mongolia)