Garuḍa Tīrtha (Gautamī)

Garuḍa Tīrtha · garuḍa-tīrtha, “the tīrtha of Garuḍa”

Garuḍa Tīrtha is a tīrtha on the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī, where Garuḍa, the divine vāhana of Bhagavān Vishṇu, bathed and regained his body and his great strength. Garuḍa had seized the nāga Maṇināga, whom Bhagavān Śiva had freed from the fear of Garuḍa, and when he refused to give him up and boasted of his own power, Bhagavān Vishṇu placed the little finger of his hand on Garuḍa’s head and crushed him. At Devī Śrī’s plea and on Bhagavān Śiva’s counsel, Garuḍa plunged into the Gautamī and was made whole. The Brahma Purāṇa says Garuḍa Tīrtha destroys all obstacles and gives all desires, and it is dear to Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu. For one pure in mind and body who bathes there, everything becomes everlasting in its fruit. Brahmā tells Nārada the account.

Maṇināga’s vara

Brahmā tells Nārada that Śesha had a mighty son named Maṇināga. Afraid of Garuḍa, he propitiated Śaṅkara with bhakti. Bhagavān Śiva, Maheśvara, Parameshṭhin, was pleased and said: “O nāga, choose a vara.” The nāga said: “Grant me freedom from Garuḍa.” Śambhu said: “So be it. You shall be free from the fear of Garuḍa.”

No longer afraid of Garuḍa, the younger brother of Aruṇa, the nāga went to the cool and pleasant place near the Kshīra-sāgara, the ocean of milk, where Bhagavān Vishṇu rests. Wandering here and there, he came to the place where Garuḍa dwelt. Seeing the nāga moving about without fear, Garuḍa seized him, carried him off to his own abode and bound the mighty nāga with nooses.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

Nandin’s errand

Nandin said to Bhagavān Śiva, ruler of the universe: “Surely the nāga has been swallowed or imprisoned by Garuḍa, O ruler of the devas. That is why he does not come; he may not come out alive.” Bhagavān Śiva, himself knowing all, said: “The nāga is bound and imprisoned in Garuḍa’s abode. Go quickly and tell Vishṇu, ruler of the worlds, and at my word bring back the nāga bound by Garuḍa, the son of Kaśyapa.” Nandin went and told everything to Bhagavān Vishṇu, Śrīpati, the husband of Śrī, the ultimate refuge of the world.

Nārāyaṇa, pleased in his heart, said to Garuḍa: “O son of Vinatā, give the nāga to Nandin at my word.” But Vainateya refused, and before Nandin he spoke in anger to Bhagavān Vishṇu: “Other masters give their servants whatever pleases them most, but you do not; instead you would take away what I have won. The three-eyed one wishes to free the nāga through Nandin, and you wish to give Nandin the nāga I captured. I always carry you on the road, so something should always be given to me by you. It is not right for you to say ‘Give’ about the nāga I won. Good masters give to their servants; you take away what I have brought. O Keśava, it is by my power that you conquer the asuras in battle. In vain do you boast, ‘I am exceedingly powerful.'”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

The little finger of Bhagavān Vishṇu

Hearing Garuḍa, Bhagavān Vishṇu, bearer of the cakra and the gadā, laughed before Nandin while the lokapālas, the guardians of the worlds, looked on. The all-knowing one said: “You have grown lean from carrying me. It is by your power that I conquer the asuras, O excellent bird. Be quick, then: bear the little finger of my hand, here before Nandin.”

Placing the little finger of his hand on Garuḍa’s head, he said again: “It is true that you always carry me. See to your duty, O bird.” At the touch of that finger Garuḍa’s head was pressed into his belly and his belly into his feet, and he was crushed.

Then Garuḍa, distressed and ashamed, joined his palms and prayed: “Save me, save me, O ruler of the universe, your servant. You are the ruler of all the worlds that bow to you. You are the supporter and also the supported. The mighty forgive thousands of offences. All the ṛshis call you merciful, for you have great compassion even for those who have offended.” And he prayed to Devī Śrī: “O Mother dwelling in the lotus, Mother of the universe, save me in my distress. O Kamalā, who love your son, save me, miserable and wretched.”

Then the compassionate Devī Śrī said to Janārdana: “O Janārdana, save your own servant Garuḍa, who has fallen into adversity.” Janārdana said to Nandin, the attendant of Bhagavān Śiva: “Take the nāga to Śiva together with Garuḍa. When Maheśvara glances at him with favour, Garuḍa will regain his own form.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

Garuḍa bathes in the Gautamī

Nandin went to Bhagavān Śiva with the nāga and Garuḍa and told him everything. Bhagavān Śiva, who bears the crescent moon on his forehead, said to Garuḍa: “O long-armed hero, go to the Gaṅgā, the Gautamī, purifier of the worlds. She is calm and grants every cherished desire. By plunging into her you will regain your body and all you desire. O bird, the Gautamī, giver of all that is desired, is the refuge of all beings whose undertakings are ruined by adverse fate and who are tormented by pāpas in hundreds and thousands of ways.”

Garuḍa listened humbly and went to the Gaṅgā. Plunging into her, he bowed to Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu. Then the golden-coloured bird regained his body, hard as the vajra, and his great strength, and he hastened back to Bhagavān Vishṇu. From then on that tīrtha of Garuḍa became the giver of all desires.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

The rite and its phala

  • Garuḍa Tīrtha destroys all obstacles (vighna).
  • It gives all desires.
  • If a man pure in mind and body bathes there, everything he does there becomes akshaya, everlasting in its fruit.
  • The tīrtha is dear to Bhagavān Śiva and Bhagavān Vishṇu.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20