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Book Review
Glory of Garuda
NEDUNTHERU S. KANNAN
GARUDADANDAKAM AND GARUDAPANCHASAT: Edited, with notes in Tamil and English, by V. N.Vedanta Desikan; Sri Poundarikapuram Srimad Andavan Asramam, Asramam Road, Srirangam-620006. Rs. 100.
Among Vedanta Desika’s 28 extant stotras, these two form a unique pair in praise of Garuda — an incarnation of the Vedas, one of the Lord’s eternal attendants, and His vehicle and banner as well. The versatility and dexterity of the poet in composition is much in evidence here.
Greatness
The first hymn, composed in Dandaka metre, gives the thrill of a vertical lift-off for a short sublime flight, and the other, in grand Sragdhara metre, gives the feel of a steady surface movement towards the finale. Initiated into Garudamantra by his Acharya, Appullaar, Desika meditated and secured Garuda’s grace in the form of Hayagrivamantra, which enabled him to gain enviable knowledge and poetic skills. Garuda’s status as an aspect of Sankarshana, one of the Vyuha representations of the Lord, is described. In each of the four quarters of Garudadandakam, Desika renders his prayerful obeisance, while in the last he reveals the Garudamantra.
The greatness of Garuda is elaborated in the 50 verses of Garudapanchasat, beginning with details about the different facets of the mantra and ways of reciting and meditating on it. The second section narrates his exploits of wresting the pot of nectar from Indra, while the third deals with the subjugation of the serpents that were holding his mother hostage. The fourth section describes his decorating himself with those very serpents. The fifth delineates his versatile role in the service of the Lord. The unfailing efficacy of meditation on Garuda by invoking the mantra after getting properly initiated into it by a qualified preceptor is tellingly driven home. Garuda is deftly associated with numerals ranging from unity to infinity, with appropriate reference to his various roles. While narrating different episodes, as many as 35 synonyms are employed for Garuda, instead of repeating the same name in every verse. Those reciting these hymns are assured of protection from inimical and poisonous creatures as well as relief from mental disturbances and bodily ailments.
The editor deserves credit for bringing out some invaluable commentaries by scholars of yesteryear and elucidating them faithfully and with devotion.
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