story of garuda

once long ago

there were two sisters

 vinata and kadru

xxxx had a thousand snakes as her sons. 

one day the two sisters were looking st this special white horse  Uchaishreva.   in the sky. (chariot horse? ) vinata said the tail was white. kadru said the tail was black . 

so they had a bet

whoever loses must seven the other forever 

ok (what an extreme bet!) 

that night kadru will tell her sons to attach themselves to the horse so the tail looks black. if not she will throw her sons into a fire! 

scared the sons did so. 

next day the two sisters went to look at the horse. the tails looked black 

oh no. 

now vinata became like Cinderella to kadra.  clean my room vinata. massage my feet. make me my drink. 

vinata did everything sister asked coz she lost the bet. 

then vinata has a son. a beautiful bird. garuda. garuda alsonhad to serve the snakes. mother serves mother. son serves sons. get this you fool. lafra would say get your son to fetch water for my sons. 

garuda didnt mind doing the work. but he was very upset to see his mother bullied by his aunt 

one day he will ask his cousins..what happened

 they will tell him the truth. but the bet was so long ago. cannot break it now. free my mother he asks the snakes. 

okay. but first

...you mist get us some of the nectar of immortality 

it's in the abode of indira. 

so garuda sets off

 he must get this nectar. he doesn't.think oh no if the snakes drink they may live forever.  he just wants to save his mother from this life of servitude. 

garuda has many adventures along the way. he says so.fishermen called the nishada. 

he also swallows a terrible elephant and a terrible tortoise who were fighting all the time and causing great disturbance to everyone 

In the process, he also saved a group of Valakhilya rishis falling upside down from the branches of a huge banyan tree. see picture.

 

During this time, he met his father Kashyapa who was then meditating in the woods and received his blessings 

.

finally he reached the palace of indira.

he fought a huge battle there defeating indira and the gods. 

there was huge column of fire that rose before him. 

garuda put it out

The nectar was guarded by a spinning wheel-like device intended to cut any intruder to pieces. Garuda assumed a miniature form and entered the device. He then came across two fiery snakes, whom he cut into pieces and successfully claimed the pot of elixir.

nowhere could ha e drank it himself. such prized treasure. but he takes it straight to the snakes. seeing thos vishnu is pleased. so selfless and righteous. he apprata before him and asks him what boons he wants. 

1. to be immortal and above him in his flag. ha so no need for the amirtha

then garuda says what boon can I give you. 

you be my vehicle. okay done. 

then garuda continues to fly toward his home. indira strikes him with a thunderbolt. but now garuda is immortal. so nothing happens. he tells indira you cannot hurt me. 

so indira becomes his friend instead an appeals to him dont give the nectar tot he snakes. 

he said I only told then I would bring it to them. you can take it back after that. 

indira says what do you want in return. make the snakes my food. t

he brings it. put it down on the grass. tells the snakes to bathe and come get it. and to free his mom . they free th mom and go to bathe.when they are gone indira takes it away the snakes see it's gone but try to lick what is left off the grass. the snakes cut they tongues in the process. 

then there were two snakes guarding the nectar. 

he ate the two snakes