Garuda Panchami Continued

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Dear Bhaktas,

 

In this post we shall focus on the benefits of Garuda Drushti and Garuda

Dvani. A person blessed by the benevolent glances

of Garuda is assured of victory. Examples of the benefits from Garuda

Drushti can be seen from a couple of instances in the

Ramayana. In Perumal's battle with the Asura Malyavan, the moment

Garuda's gaze fell upon the Asura he was effortlessly vanquished by

Lord Rama. Valmiki uses the simile that Garuda's gaze resulted in

the Asura being blown away like a piece of cotton by wind. Later on

in the war against Ravana, both Rama and Lakshmana were rendered

unconscious by the bonds of the Naga Pasham used by Indrajit.

Again Garuda Drushti was responsible for their release. Garuda then

lovingly massaged the wounds on their body. Valmiki says that this

act invigorated them and made them even more powerful than before.

This benefit of Gruda's glances can also seen from Swami Desikan's

Garuda Dandakam salutation "Shadgrim ShadgaNa CharaNou....."

 

Garuda's glaces have an inherent beauty. This is also called Sukshma

Drushti. Garuda possesses microscopic vision. As a result, he is

known as Darkshyan. The five types of "Garuda Parvai" are Keram, Sparam,

Triyak, Artham and Arthaha. Keram is the type of glance which

will bless the beneficiary. In this mode, Garuda looks at one from the

corner of his eyes. Sparan is one where the eyes are wide open.

Triyak is one where the eyes have a diagonal look. Garuda's eyes are

half open eyes in Artha Parvai. Arthaha is the mode adopted by Garuda

when he serves as the vehicle of Lord Narayana. Keram confers

auspiciousness. Sparam bodes evil. Triyak will save the place or

land from any attack. Artham destroys all evils and diseases. Arthaha

confers enlightenment. When the Lord is seated on Garuda's shoulders,

his eyes are turned in a way that he sees the Lord's feet with half

the eyes and with the other half he is engaged in Dhyanam. This is

an excellent illustration of the VishNu Sooktam salutation

"Tad VishNO Paramam Padagam SadA Pashyanti SUraya:".

 

Garuda bestows a person with the eight kinds of Sampath (Ashta

Aishwaryam). These are Anima, Mahima, Lakima, Karima Esitvam, Vasithvam,

Prapti and Prakamyam. Garuda also possesses the six

auspicious qualities of the Lord (JnAna, Bala, Aishwarya, Shakti,

Tejas and Vatsalya). This is the reason for Garuda being so closely

associated with the Lord.

 

Garuda Dvani is even more auspicious than Garuda Parvai. This is

because Garuda is the embodiment of the seven swarams (Nishatam,

Rushabam, Gandharam, Shedjam, Madhyamam, Daivatam, and Panchamam).

One of the Ragams of Carnatic music is Garuda Dvani. Garuda Dvani

denotes Sama Ganam. The auspiciousness conferred by playing all Mangala

Vadyams can be obtained as a result of a single Garuda Dvani.

This is the reason for using the emblem of Garuda at the top of the

bell used in performance of Tiruvaradhanam for Perumal. Use of the

Sudarshana emblem too has the same effect. During Samprokshanam at

Temples, the noise made by the bells are Garuda Dvani. During

the tying of the sacred Mangala Sutra in weddings, Garuda Dvani is

played.

 

Everything correctly stated is entirely due to the grace of

my Acharyan, H.H. Srimad Andavan Swamigal of Srimad Paundarikapuram

Ashramam and my mentor, H.H. Sri Rangapriya Mahadesikan Swami.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

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