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Garuda Panchami Continued

From the Bhakti List Archives

muralidhar rangaswamy • July 28, 1998 


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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