The Mystery That Shattered Garuda’s Pride Forever
The Mystery That Shattered Garuda’s Pride Forever
Can the creator of the universe himself be bound by any bondage? Is that God who frees the entire universe from the cycle of time? Can one be controlled by a simple snake noose? Such a mysterious chapter of Ramcharitmanas where Lord Vishnu’s supreme vehicle, Mahabal Garuda Dev himself started burning in the fire of such doubt that it shook his entire existence. An illusion that silenced everyone from Devrishi Narada to the creator of the universe, Brahma. After all, why did Mahadev himself not remove this illusion of Garuda? And why did he have to go to an ordinary looking crow to gain knowledge? Let us know that most sacred story of Uttarakanda of Ramcharitmanas which will destroy all the bondages of your mind. There was chaos on the battlefield. Ravana’s son Meghnad had used his most magical power, Nagapash. The true Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram and Lakshman were trapped in that snake net. The lord of the three worlds who can bring about destruction with just a flick of his eyebrows. Today, while performing the play in the form of human, he was seen helpless in the bondage of those poisonous snakes. The entire monkey army was desperate. Then, on the advice of Devarshi Narada, the bird king Garuda, the natural enemy of snakes and the vehicle of the almighty Lord Narayana, sets out towards the battlefield. As soon as Garuda arrived, all the snakes ran away in fear. Lord Rama and Lakshmana were freed from bondage. But at that very moment when Garuda looked towards Lord Rama, instead of devotion, a poisonous seed of doubt sprouted in his mind. Garuda started thinking how is this possible? By merely chanting the name of the Lord the soul becomes free from all the bonds of birth and death in this world. He himself was helplessly bound in the noose of an ordinary demon. If he is the true Lord, why did he need my help? Is this really my beloved Narayan or just an ordinary human being? Troubled by this doubt, Garuda Dev started wandering in search of guidance. He first went to Devarshi Narada and then to Brahma, the creator of the universe. But no one could cure him of this disease of ignorance. Ultimately he took refuge in Mahadev, the God of Gods. O Lord of the Gods, O Mahadev, my mind is burning in the fierce fire of doubt. Rama’s snakes I blew away with the wind of my wings. Is he really God? If He is omnipotent then why is He bound in such a snake-like noose? Please remove this confusion of mine. O King of the Birds, in the doubt you are in, you have made the mistake of weighing God only on the scale of your intellect. When you start considering yourself as the protector and the Lord as the victim, that is where your ego awakens. And ego can never absorb knowledge. O Lord, will you not give me this knowledge? Don’t you have any solution to my doubt? Garuda, you are the king of birds. Even if unknowingly, there is an undeniable pride hidden within you about your caste, your strength and being the vehicle of God. The goddess of knowledge resides only where there is complete renunciation of ego. Therefore I will not give you this knowledge myself. You go to Neel Parvat in the south direction. The most knowledgeable crow Bhusundi lives there. In the form of a crow continuously drinking the nectar of Rama’s name. Go and sit at his feet and gain knowledge. Mahadev knew very well that this disease of Garuda could be cured not only by knowledge but also by extreme humility. Being the king of birds, begging for knowledge from an ordinary crow was the beginning of the destruction of his ego. When Garuda Dev reached Neel Parvat, he saw that the supremely knowledgeable Kagbhasundi ji was singing the story of Ram with great love and respect. Garuda Deva became very humble and sat at his feet and presented his doubts before him. O Kagbhushandi, please remove this ego of ignorance from me. Come Khagraj, you are welcome. You have come here only because of the inspiration of Mahadev. This question of yours is not new. Whenever a living entity tries to see God with his limited eyes, he gets trapped in this very web of ignorance. You ask why Lord Ram was tied in the serpent’s noose? Listen, O King of Birds, you are not the only one who has doubts after seeing the Lord’s play. I myself have fallen prey to this deep fascination. When the Lord was playing in the form of a small child. He reached out his hand for me to hold. A doubt arose in my mind whether this crying and playing child could be the Lord of the universe? I flew in the pride of my speed. I tore through the clouds and ran to heaven and then to Brahmaloka. But that little hand of God was constantly behind me. Just two fingers away from me. Finally, when I came back tired, the Lord smiled and took me into His mouth. In his belly I saw millions of suns, moons and the entire universe revolving. Every creation in every universe. Then I understood that Ram is not a body. He is the Supreme Being. His Maya is so powerful that it can confuse even the most intelligent creature of this universe. His being bound in the battlefield was only his human leela so that he could show the world that sufferings and bondages also come in human life and they have to be accepted with patience. They become bound to their devotees under the influence of love. Otherwise no one in this universe has the power to bind them. O Supremely Wise Your words have dispelled the darkness of my ignorance forever. Now all my doubts have been dispelled. Lord Rama is my only master and I am his humble servant. Through this divine satsang of Kag Bhusundi Ji, Garuda Dev’s ignorance was dispelled and he regained his real consciousness. His pride vanished and he again surrendered at the feet of Lord Narayana with complete devotion.
