Garuda Panchami 2021

Garuda Panchami, an auspicious day to celebrate “Garuda,” the vehicle or Vahna of Lord Vishnu. Garuda is also known as Periya Tiruvadi, Pakshiraja, Vainateya, Vinatasuta, Vishnuvahana, Nagantaka, Suparna, Garuthmantha, and Kashyapeya. This day is celebrated on the 5th day of the Waxing Moon phase (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Shravan (July–August). In most parts of South India, this day is celebrated as Naga Chaturthi. It is also known as Garuda Panchami, as on this day Lord Garuda is worshiped along with the Naga (Snakes).

Significance and Benefits of Garuda Panchami

The Story and Significance of Garuda Panchami
As per mythology, Sage Kashyapa had two wives named Kadru and Vinita. Kadru gave birth to a thousand snakes, whereas, Vinita gave birth to Garuda alone. Garuda is described as the one with a white face having an eagle’s beak, a strong personality with the golden body, huge-red wings and wears a crown on his head.

Once both Kadru and Vinita, bets on the color of the tail of Uchaishravas, the flying horse with seven heads, obtained during the churning of the ocean. Kadru, the mother of thousand snakes, claimed the color to be black whereas Vinita, the mother of Garuda, claimed the color to be white. The stake of the bet was whoever fails in the bet should serve the other. Kadru cheated on Vinita by asking her sons, the Nagas, to hang on to the tail of Uchaishravas. Thus, the white tale of the horse turned black. Now, Vinita and Garuda were forced to serve Kadru and her sons. They mistreated them. Upon request, later, the Nagas agreed to free Garuda and his mother if he gets Amrit (Ambrosia) for them, which was owned by the King of the Devas “Indra.”

Garuda stole the pot of Amrit (Ambrosia) from Indra and freed himself and his mother from their control. However, their cheating and worst behaviors made Garuda turn vengeful towards snakes. Observing this, Lord Vishnu got impressed with Garuda as he stole Ambrosia from Indra to save his mother and he did not even take a single drop for himself. So, he asked Garuda to ask a boon. Garuda immediately said that he needed a position higher than Vishnu and became his Vahana.

Garuda Panchami is celebrated to show the never-ending bonding between Garuda and his mother, Vinita. This day is observed by mothers and sons to enhance the love and affection between them. Mothers worship the god Garuda for better health and the future of their children.

As per scriptures, the person who is blessed by the kind glances of Garuda is assured of victory. He is mighty and strong. Garuda is very closely associated with Lord Vishnu and worshiped by all the devotees of Lord Vishnu. He can bless the devotees with eight kinds of Siddhis.

Anima: reducing the size of the body
Mahima: increasing the size of the body
Lagima: ability to become very light just like a feather
Garima: ability to grow heavy
Isitvam: to have divine powers
Vasithvam: the power to attract and have control over others
Prapti: ability to secure anything
Prakamya: ability to become invisible
He also possesses the six auspicious qualities of the Lord Vishnu. They are Jnana, Bala, Aishwarya, Shakti, Tejas, and Vatsalya.

Benefits of Garuda Panchami

Powerful Mantra of Garuda

As per mythology, Garuda is powerful to relieve an individual from all kinds of Naga dosha (snake afflictions). He gets pleased just by the chanting of the mantras.

There are many mantras to please Garuda such as Garuda Gayatri, Garuda Vashikaran, Garuda Dandakam and Garuda Kavacham. These mantras can be chanted 108 times daily to bestow the blessings of Garuda.

Garuda Gayatri

! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
Om Tatpurushaya vidhmahe
Suvarna pakshaya dheemahi
Thanno Garuda prachodayaat

All these Garuda mantras are very powerful mantras in this Kaliyuga. It is believed that if anyone chants this mantra for 1008 times for 108 days, starting from the Panchami Thithi (5th Waxing Moon) day of Shukla Paksha (much auspicious if began on Garuda Panchami day), that person can attain Siddhis and 12 generations can be free from all kinds of Sarpa Dosha (Kala Sarpa Dosha), Naga Dosha, Rahu Dosha and Ketu Dosha, misfortunes, and can be bestowed with good health, abundance of wealth, happy married life and good children.