1241. Garuda, Are you well???

Deities and their Vahanas (Vehicles) have a reciprocal relationship. Vahana in Sanskrit translates as “that which carries.” It looks like the Vahanas serve the deity but in turn they are saved by those who employ them. Anantha (Serpent) and Garuda (Brahminy Kite) though by nature are bitter enemies they list in Nithya Suri (Eternal Servants) of Sriman Narayana. However the Vahanas sometimes symbolises the evil forces over which the deity dominates. We have heavyweight Ganesha riding a tiny mouse, they say Ganesha sits on the mind which generate useless negative thoughts just like how the mice reproduce in night. His younger brother Skanda rides on peacock known to be very proud of its colourful feathers.

There are also positive aspects of the vahanas which are emblematic like the Bull of Maharudradeva representing strength and machismo. Hamsa (Swan) of Brahma displaying the ability to absorb good from the lot (Hamsa Ksheera Nyaya). Airavata (Elephant) of Indra has majesticity. Seven horses of Sun is the spectrum of Seven colours -VIBGYOR

Most amazing of all is the vahanas of the Maharudradeva family. The Bull of Maharudradeva is fearless of the Lion, the mount of Mahadevi. The mouse carrying Ganesha is not worried about the serpent dangling in the neck of Maharudradeva, nor is the serpent afraid of the peacock that Karthikeya rides on. It all depends on the time, situation and place they are in which make them forget their beastly instinct. When in the vicinity of Divinity there is no place for beastly instinct.     

There is an interesting tale told in Tamil literature. Once Maha Vishnu visited Maharudradeva at Mount Kailasa. Obviously Maha Vishnu was riding on Garuda. As Maha Vishnu went inside Garuda had to wait outside Kailasa gate guarded by Nandi. After the meeting Maha Vishnu came out and Maharudradeva escorted him till the gate. Nagaraja (Serpent) on the neck of Maharudradeva looked down at Garuda who had folded his hands bowing down very humbly, ready to carry Maha Vishnu. Nagaraja haughtily asked Garuda, “Yenna Garuda, Nalamaa???” (What Garuda, Are you well). If not for the presence of Maha Vishnu and Maharudradeva, Garuda would have picked the serpent up torn it and devoured it. But now the situation, place and time were different. Garuda looked up at the serpent and said, “It all depends. As long as we are in an appropriate place, time and situation everyone will be well and safe.”  

The situation, time and place could entice a meek to mock the might under the backing of its guardian. I find the similar situation happening in land of Bengal recently. The bureaucrat working for state government had the audacity to taunt the bureaucrat under central government and stop him from doing his duty. The shield obtained from the ruling party did make him thick skinned to dodge the law. An elected representative is not designated eternally they have a term span of 5 years. So it will be right for the sycophants to be assured that the time, situation and place keep changing every five years. It is better not to wag their tail for too long.