Garuda and Coins

 

Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology and is described as the "king of birds". In Hindu myth, Garuda is a lesser divinity, usually the vehicle (or vahana) of Vishnu, the supreme preserver deity. In ancient Hindu religious texts, Garuda has an independent Upnishad, (the Garudopanidad), and a Purana (the Garuda Purana), devoted to him. In Buddhism, the Garudas are an entire race of enormous predatory winged birds of great intelligence that exist in rivalry with the Nagas, serpentine sea creatures. Garuda is described as Celestial deva with wings, a personification of courage, one who is fast, who can shapeshift into any form and enter anyplace. An extremely powerful creature in the epics. 

                               

Garuda

             

                     

                                                      

Vishnu riding Garuda, Cham culture, Vietnam, 8-9th century CE.  

   

                                                

13th century Cham sculpture depicting Garuda devouring a serpent

The Rigveda provides the earliest reference to Garuda. Later in Mahabharata and Bhagwat Puranas too, elaborate accounts exist. Garuda has been depicted in a variety of ways, although most often he has the upper body and wings of an eagle with the lower body of a human. Though Garuda is an essential part of Vaishnavism mythology, he features in Shaivism mythology too. 

                                               

            Garuda at the national museum, New Delhi

                                             

                   Garuda in Vishnu temple, Belur, India

                                                 
                                               

Relief depicting a portable Garuda pillar, Bharhut, 100 BC, probably the oldest images of Garuda

 

                                              

The Sanskrit word Garuda has been modified by languages of several Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia. In Burmese, Garudas are called ga-lon, in Japanese Karura, in Thai, Krut.

In Thailand and Indonesia Garuda is their national symbol. One form of Garuda, used in Thailand as a sign of Royal family, is called Krut Pha, meaning "Garuda acting as the vehicle of God". 

The Indonesian national airline is called "Garuda Indonesia" and their peacekeeping force is called Garuda Contingent.

 Mongolia refers him as Khangard, a servant of Yama, God of death. 

In Cambodia, he retains even today the great talons and vicious-looking beak of a bird of prey. In Nepalese art Garuda has a youthful face and often wears his wings like a cloak. 

                                               

           Garuda as the national symbol of Indonesia

                                               

               Garuda as national symbol of Thailand

                                                

Garuda (Khangardi) as the symbol of Ulan Bator, Mongolia

                                                

Garuda in Koh Ker style, Angkor period, Cambodia, 10th century 

                                                

Garudasana Vishnu, bronze, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, 12th century, in Brooklyn Museum, New York

                            

Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue, Bali, Indonesia, represents Vishnu, riding on the back of Garuda.

It is the tallest statue of a Hindu God in the world. Its height is 397 feet (75 meters), took 28 years to build, completed in 2018, weighs more than 3000 tons and has a wingspan of 210 feet (64 meters). On top of Vishnu's head sits a 3.5 tons crown covered with gold plated mosaics

India primarily uses Garuda as a martial motif. Brigade of Guards of the Indian Army uses Garuda as their symbol, Garuda Commando Force is a Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. The elite bodyguards of Hoysala kings were called Garudas   

Garuda on coins.

                                           

Samudragupta, gold dinar, 344-378 AD, weight 7.7gm

Obverse: King standing sacrificing over altar, holding scepter, with Garuda standard to the left

Reverse: Lakshmi facing, enthroned, Brahmi parakramah to left.

                    

                     

Chalukyas, Somesvara, 1181- 1189 AD, pagoda, weight 3.3 gm

Obverse: Garuda running right

Reverse: Kannada legend

                                            

Chandragupta II, 375-415 AD, silver drachm, weight 2.6 gm

Obverse: king facing right

Reverse: Garuda emblem in center, dotted sun to right, Brahmi legend...gavata Maharajadhiraja Shri Chandra

                                           

Chandragupta II, (375-415 AD), silver drachm, weight 2.2gm

Obverse: king facing right

Reverse: Garuda emblem in center, Brahmi legend around.... Shri Gupta kula...Shri Chandragupta Vikramankasya around 

   

                                          

Vijayanagar Empire, Krishna Devaraya, jital,1336-1564 AD, weight 3.6 gm

Obverse: Winged Garuda kneeling in Namaskar mudra, sun in front

Reverse: Nagari legend, Sri Pra/ tapa krishna /raya 

                           

                                            

Vijayananagar, Venkatapiraya III, 4 jital, bronze, weight 13.5 gm

Obverse: Garuda running left, both hands joined in devotion

Reverse: Ramaraja Tirumalaraja Venkat in Kannada 

                                            

                        Indonesia 200 Rupiah, 1970

                                          

Thailand, Rama IX, 5-baht, weight 12 gm, Garuda on reverse 

                                            

Cambodia, (1880), 2 pe, weight 1.2 gm with Garuda

Garuda

Garuda on coins, coin archives.

Garuda

Garuda coins