An Introduction to Vainatheyan

Now let us know who this Vainatheyan is. Yes it our own Lord Garuda the Devine  Vehicle of Maha Vishnu. Now let us go deep into his birth history.

Sage KASHYAPA had two wife. Their name were KADRU  and VINATAI respectively. One day while they were sitting outside the ashram they happened to see the UCCHAISSRAVAS ( all white horse of Indira)  which came out of the Milky ocean. There was a bet between two ladies taking UCCHAISSRAVAS Tails color. VINATAI told that UCCHAISSRAVAS had white tail and KADRU   told that it was Black in color.  Then the bet was whoever looses they will become the slave of the other. Then who was the mother of Sarpams ( Snakes)  , called all her children and requested them to  cling on to the tail of  UCCHAISSRAVAS and make it black, but the Sarpams would not oblige so she cursed them King Janamejayan in future will perform a Yagam and they will perish in that Yagam. , Then one of the Sarpam named Kargodagan told he will oblige his mother. Then Kargodagan went to Heaven and  clung on to UCCHAISSRAVAS's tail. Then when Indira came out on  UCCHAISSRAVAS Vinatai saw the tail was black in color and she lost the bet and as she had given the word she became the Slave of her sister Kadru. More than 500 years passed Vinatai did not have any issues Then she prayed to Sage Kashyapa, he told she will be blessed with two Powerful sons who will be greater than Kadru's Son's Then Vinatai got two eggs and days rolled on no sight of egg getting hatched. She lost her patience and she broke one of the eggs and out came a child which was was not complete. But he was very bright and the formation was till the hip only but he was latter known as ARUNAN, some people also call him as ANNURU it means person who does not have thighs.

During the Amrutha Mathanam  Surya identified the Asura Rahu when he sat in Devas rows and Rahu got angry at this caught Surya , The Devas did not take  notice of  this , so Surya Got angry and started producing Bright Sun rays, So to stop this They Made ARUNAN as his Charioteer and already Bright ARUNAN was big built so he could stop the Suns bright rays

Then after some years Lord Garuda was born . He was towering personality with good strength and he was very Powerful. Both he and his mother served Kadru. he was fed up and asked his mother how to get rid of this slave hood. So his mother directed him to Kadru, Kadru told Garuda to bring Amrutha from Heaven as the price  for freedom. Before going to Heaven he went and took blessings from his mother Vinatai , She in turn blessed him that let Vayu  Bhagawan guard his Wings, Let Surya and Chandra Protect his Back portion, Let Agni protect his Head, Let vasu's protect body. And Antaryami Maha Vishnu protect you on the whole.  At heaven our Garuda fought a valiant battle. He extinguished the Fire and took the form of Shukshma Shareram and jumped in and  poured the dust in the eyes of two serpent guarding the Amrutha so that they closed their eyes, Then he broke the Vigna yantra and took the pot of Amrutha . Then in return Indira confronted him and threw the Vajra Ayuda but nothing happened to Vainatheyan , but Indira told that since Vajra Ayuda was made of Dadichi Maha Rishi's bone and to show the mark of respect to the great Rishi's and he should at least shed one of his feather, and Garuda did that. Then Indira named him "Suparnan" and became friendly with him. As usual our Indira was worried that if Serpent drank the Nectar they will become Immortal. But Indira knew why Garuda was taking the Nectar.  Then they both drew a plan so that Garuda can keep up his word and also prevent snaked from consuming the Nectar.  the plan was Indira hide himself , and Garuda will place the Amrutha in the Sharp Kusha / Darbha grass . Garuda did as planned and showed the Kadru the Amrutha and got the freedom of for himself and his mother Vinatai. Vainatheyan  suggested that snakes can have a holy bath and then consume the Amrutha , As soon as the snakes went  have bath Indira came out from hiding took away the   Nectar. Snakes after having bath came to find their pot of Amrutha missing and instead only bed of Sharp Kusha / Darbha grass, snakes thought that some drop of nectar must have fallen in the    Kusha / Darbha grass and they started licking it, but end result was they got their tongue spilt in to two since then snakes are also known as Dvijihva-s (double tongued). Thus Garuda paid back Kadru in same coin .

It is said Sriman Narayana was pleased with Vainatheyans valor and also selflessness, Even though he had nectar in his hand and he was never tempted to have it himself. Then Vishnu asked Garuda ask two boons. Garuda told he would like to be granted a place literally above Vishnu as his canopy and second was without even parting Amrutha he should be immortal. Both the boons were granted by Maha Vishnu , Then Garuda in turn asked  Maha Vishnu to ask for boon, Immediately Vishnu asked Garuda to become his Vahana , according to our Hindu tradition and practices the vehicles of deities will become the emblem of the respective Lord. Thus our Vainatheyan become the Dwaja (Banner / Flag)  of Maha Vishnu  and one more thing Vainatheyan never allows except Maha Lakshmi and Maha Vishnu to sit on his back.

Do you know that Lord Garuda has two wife's, they are Rudhra and Sukeerthi. In Bindinganavile temple he is seen with his consort.

Click the picture to see Vainatheyan and his consorts Rudhra & Sukeerthi

For the viewers to understand better about Garuda ,his consorts and his off-springs I am presenting before you a nice article written by my Aunty Dr.(Mrs.) Vanamala Parthasarathy who writes a lot of article connected with Sri Vaishnavism. Please download the article and read it. The article is titled : The consorts and Off-springs of Garuda : An  analyis. It is published by "Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute., Mumbai

I am thankful to the Author and Publishers for allowing me to upload the scanned article in this web site.

Please Click  on Vainatheyan  to download the article.