Sri Garuda Dandakam

Sri Garuda Dandakam

Garuda Panchami, a special day to remember this Nithyasuri, Peria Thiruvadi, Pakshiraja namely Garudazhwar. 

Adiyen was listening to discourse on Peria Thiruvadi by Sri Velukkudi Krishnan today incidentally. Sri Velukkudi Krishnan mentions that Garudazhwar the chosen Vahana of Sriman Narayana. Garudazhwar is the symbolic of veda and hence serves as a mirror for Lord Sriman Narayana for the Lord to see his mahima and beauty  as described in Veda. In Archavatar, Garudan Sannathi is set opposite to Moolavar sannathi in most temples for this reason. 

Garuda vahanam Sevai is very special during Brammothsavams at Parthasarathi Temple, Triplicane, Kanchi Vardar Temple, Thirumalai Thiruppathi Temple and Srirangam Ranganathar Temple. 

Esal Garduda Sevai is a treat to watch at Triplicane and Kanchi.

During Gajendra Moksham, Lord Sriman Narayana wanted to respond to Gajendra's  call "Athi Moolame" fast and but Garuda's speed of  carrying Lord Sriman Narayana was not commensurate with expected speed of The Lord and so it said that Lord Sriman Narayana carried Garuda and reached the spot quicky. Why did Lord Sriman Narayana carry Garuda? Garuda was Lord Srimanan Narayana's passport as Garuda is symbolic of Veda and it is he who can certify and identify Lord Sriman Narayana himself has arrived  to save Gajendra.

Kal Garudan at Naachiaar kovil is very special and this Garudan has the power of  exapnding and contracting his weight with the result during Garudothsavam 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64  devotees are needed while going out from Sannathi and in the reverse order (64, 32. 16. 8, and 4) while returning to Sannathi.

Garudazhwar also blessed Sri Vedantha Desikan with Hayagriva Manthram after Sri Desikan composed and chanted Garuda Dandakam.

Here is an attempt to offer the Gadua Dandakam on Garuda Panchami Day.