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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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30) Garuda Skandha-vaasine Sri Venkatesaaya Nama:
 
Salutations to the Lord of Venkatam hills, who resides on the sholuders of Garudan !

We have seen in the explanations to the previous tirunaamaas that the Lord made Himself visible to Shankha Raja, Agastya, the residents of Svetadveepam, Brahmaa and Rudra, all of whom performed penance on the banks of the Swami Pushkarini. When these worthies saw the Lord, it was on His glorious seat, viz., the broad and strong shoulders of Pakshiraaja (Garuda).
 
As already indicated, Vainateya is the embodiment of all Vedas. The Lord using him as a vehicle is to announce that He is indeed the Para Tattvam, the ultimate, supreme Brahman, for it is the Vedas which point out to us the identity and characteristics of the Paramaatmaa. Thus Garuda, with the Lord ensconced on his shoulders and carrying His holy tiruvadi in his two palms, appears to display proudly to the world the priceless treasure that he is carrying.
 
Garudan is the Vaahanam ( vehicle for transport ) for Lord VenkatEsan . He is also the victory banner (Vijaya dhvajam ) for
the Lord . Because of His loftiness among the BhakthAs of the Lord , Garudan is known as "Periya Thiruvadi" or the first among devotees .Our Lord rushes for protecting His devotees in distress like the king of elephants (GajEndhran) on the shoulders of Garudan .
 
This naama refers to the Garuda Vaahana sEvai on the fifth day of BrahmOthsavam , when the Lord of seven hills sits beautifully
on the shoulders of Garudan and travels around the four veedhis of His temple town .The Lord wears for that one day , the MahA Kanta Sahasra naama necklace and looks resplendent . At that time , we salute both Garudan and His Lord riding on the shoulders of Garudan this way:
 
SrI GarudAya Namas-Thubhyam sarva sarpEndhra ChathravE
VaahanAya MahA VishNu TaarkshyAya amitha tEjasE
 
(Meaning): Oh MahA VishNu's Vaahanam! Oh TaarkshyA ! Our salutations to You , the enemy of all of the Snake kings and possessor of unlimited valour .
 
Garudan is SankarshaNa amsam and serves His Lord in many ways. He is the victory-yielding banner( Jayanthee Vaijayanthee) for the Lord , who destroys the asurAs  in battle . He is like the victory-producing chariot ( Vijaya RaTa:) in the battles of the Lord.
He is an indispensable help and the Lord does not need anyone else for helping Him in the battles ( NissahAya: SahAya: ).
 
Garudan's unique status in carrying the Lord on His shoulders as the first among Vaahanams ( Vaahana Indhra: ) is revealed by
the choice words of Swamy Desikan to salute Garudan :  " ThridhAmna: Vaahana Indhra: ". SrI VenkatEsan is the resident of three places: Milky Ocean , Soorya Mandalam and the heart lotuses of the Yogis . For that Lord with three places of residence, Garudan is the Vaahana Indhran.  
 



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