Prayer to Garuḍa
Garuḍa Prārthanā · garuḍa-prārthanā, “the prayer to Garuḍa”
The prayer to Garuḍa is said in the Lakshahoma, the homa of a hundred thousand āhutis, by one who desires Lakshmī. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa teaches it to Yudhishṭhira in the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, among the śāntika and paushṭika rites.
The setting
The Lakshahoma is prescribed for the fulfilment of all desires; it is most dear to the pitṛs and gives bhoga and moksha. A square maṇḍapa is built to the north-east of the house or near a Śiva temple, with a kuṇḍa of four hastas by two and a vedī on which the grahas with their adhidevatās are installed facing Sūrya. One who desires Lakshmī should, beyond all the devatās, also worship Garuḍa in this yajña.
The prayer
“Garuḍa, the sound of the Sāma Veda ever comes from your body; you are the divine vāhana of Bhagavān Vishṇu and the constant remover of pāpa, which is poison; so give me śānti.”
After the prayer
The kalaśa is installed, the hundred thousand āhutis are offered, and the Vasordhārā, a stream of ghee, is poured over the fire through a long sruvā of udumbara wood while the Agni, Vishṇu, Rudra and Soma sūktas are recited.
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 141