The mighty vehicle of Bhagwan Vishnu – Garud

The entire power of the Universe sources from Bhagwan Vishnu, the protector of the Universe. For the same, he has undefeatable aides who do their work assigned to them in the mightiest way and fulfil their duty towards Dharma and Bhagwan Vishnu. The great eagle Garud is foremost among them.
Garud was the son of Rishi Kashyap and Vinita. Rishi Kashyap had two wives Vinata and
Kadru. Wishing for children, Kadru asks to bless her with one thousand Nagas and Vinata asks for only two sons, but who would be surpass Kadru’s sons. Rishi Kashyap blesses Kadru with thousand eggs and Vinata with two. After a long wait, Kadru eggs break and thousand Nagas are born. Seeing this, Vinata becomes impatient and breaks her eggs. One egg breaks and an eagle, Arun is born from it. He gets angry at his mother’s impatience, warns her to be careful with the other and immediatley leaves her to join the Sun god as his charioteer.
Repenting her act, Vinata waits patiently for her other son to be born and one day Garud, the eagle was born. Garud comes to know that Kadru and the Nagas had made them their slaves through a trick before he was born. He goes to Kadru and demands their release. Kadru says that she needs Amrit, the nectar of immortality is the price of their release. Garud goes to heaven, defeats the celestials and takes the pot of Amrit. However Indr
requests him that the Amrit could not be used for all in this way. Understanding this, Garud says to Indr to steal it back from the Nagas as soon as his mother was freed from slavery. Garud gives the Amrit to the Nagas and frees his mother, but Indr steals the nectar pot before the Nagas consume it. Warning the Nagas of their cunning ways, Garud then warns the Nagas to be away from him and save their lives. Since that day, the enmity of eagles and snakes came into being.
Bhagwan Vishnu gets very pleased with Garud’s power and asks Garud to be his vehicle,
which Garud takes as a blessing. Since then, Garud plays an important role in aiding Bhagwan Vishnu killing the most ferocious demons and restoring Dharma. Not only directly, but even as a hidden shadow, Garud helps Bhagwan Vishnu work towards his path of Dharma, which one can see in the Ramayan, When Bhagwan Vishnu incarnates as Shri Ram,
Garud stays back at Vaikunth understanding that Shri Ram would lead his life as an ideal human and divine powers cannot be a part of his incarnation and disturb his cause.

But Garud comes to Shri Ram’s aid in the final battle of Lanka when he releases Shri Ram and Lakshman from the bonds of Naagpash in the battle of Lanka. After rising up, Shri Ram thanks Garud for his help and asks him his identity. The humble Garud, understanding that it is not the correct time to reveal his identity simply bows to him, and says that Shri Ram would know about him as soon as he killed Ravan. With the ecstasy of seeing his swami after a long time, Garud flies back to Vaikunth, fulfilling his role in Shri Ram’s life.
It is always a dutiful devotee and aide of a master who understands his true duty which
comes accompanied with humility and Garud aptly fulfils his duty, devotion and Dharma towards Bhagwan Vishnu becoming one of the dearest confidante and vehicle.