Garuda Puja, 12 January, 2014

Last Sunday January 12, 2014, I attended a local community puja held at the Vishnu Temple on the side of the Samudram Eri. For many years pujas have been held at this time in celebration of our local nesting Brahminy Kites, a bird which is regarded as Garuda, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu. 

Previously tables were set up in the fields near the nesting area, and the puja conducted there, however nowadays the puja is conducted most graciously in our small Vishnu Temple. 

Arumurgan distributing Temple prasad

Priest inside Shrine

Lord Vishnu

Coconut Grove

Brahminy Kite nesting in tree

Brahminy Kite, Vishnu vahana

Arunachala Darshan from Temple

Meals after Puja

Community Feast

I have written about Garuda Worship at Samudram Eri several times on Arunachala Grace, and those interested in learning more about the mythology of the Garuda and its worship in the form of the Brahminy Kite go to this link here.

To read my narrative about legendary birds in Hinduism including the Chataka (Pied Crested Cuckoo), the Hamsa (the Swan), the Chakor and Garuda go to this link here.

Garuda, Vehicle of Lord Vishnu

To learn more about the Brahminy Kite, the bird that is believed to be none other than the manifestation of Garuda, go to my Arunachala Bird blog at this link here.