Garuda Dandakam || Swami Vedanta Desikan || Desika Stotram

Swami Vedanta Desikan [1268 - 1369] considered to be the Avatar (incarnation) of the Divine Bell of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumalai was one of the brilliant Acharyas/ Stalwarts of Sri Vaishnava Siddhanta in the post Ramanuja period.

Sri Garuda Dhandakam was composed on a occasion, when a Snake charmer challenged Swami Desikan's title as Sarvatantra Swatantrar and sent some poisonous snakes towards Swami to test his power in handling those poisonous snakes. Swami Desikan recited the Garuda Mantra and the snakes were carried away by Garuda Bhagavaan. The snake charmer thus, lost his snakes and his livelihood. He fell at the feet of Swami and asked for forgiveness. Swami forgave him and requested Sri Garuda Bhagavaan to return the snakes and composed the Garuda Dhandakam to thank Sri Garuda Bhagavaan for his intervention. This Stotra was composed at Kanchipuram.

In this Stotram, Swami Desikan covers the below mentioned topics to illustrate the glory, power and status of Garudan as one of the foremost Nitya Sooris serving Sriman Naarayanan in Sri Vaikuntam:

1. Vedas praising Garuda Bhagavaan.
2. Garuda's service to Sriman NaarayaNa as His Vehicle and Flag.
3. His matrimonial status with his two wives (Rudrai and Sukeerthi).
4. His adornment of great serpents as his jewelry on his limbs.
5. His heroic deed in bringing nectar from Indra Lokam.
6. His other heroic deeds in battles on behalf of his Lord Narayaana.
7. His splendor as the Amsa (aspect) of Para Vasudeva (i-e) his Sankarshana Swaroopam.
8. His manifestation in five individual forms.
9. His conferral of Vedhanta Vidya to his aspiring devotees (i-e) his status as an Acharya.
10. The worship of Lord Garudan by learned scholars and saints.
11. His power as the Garuda Mantra Moorthy.
12. His power to bless one with the 4 Purusharthas (goals) of Life.
13. His incarnation as Garudan as a result of the prayers of the Vaalakilya sages.
14. His power to bless one with the true knowledge or Brahma Vidya.

Please find the English lyrics of the Stotram below:

Nama: pannaganaddhaaya vaikunta vasavardhineh I Sruti-sindhu Sudhothpaada-mandaraaya Garutmathe II

Garudamakhila Veda NeeDadhirooDam Dhvishath Peedanothkantithaakunta vaikuntapeetikrta skandhameedhe SvaneeDaa gatipreetha Rudraa Sukeerthi sthanaabhoga-gaaDopakuDa sphuratkantakavraata veda vyataavepamaana dhvijihavaadhikalpa vishppaaryamaaNa sphataavatikaa ratna rochischataa raajineerajitham kaanti kallolinee raajitam I

Jaya Garuda Suparna Darveekaraahaara Devaadhipaahaarahaarin diwowkaspati Kshipta Dambholi Dhaaraa kinaakalpa Kalpaantha Vatoola Kalpodhayaanalpa Veerayithoodhyacchamatkaara Dhaityaari Jaitra Dhwajaarohanirdhaaritothkarsha Sankarshanaatman Garutman Marutpanchakaadheesa Sathyaathimurthe na Kascchit samas te namaste punaste nama: II

Nama Idhamajahath-saparyaaya Paryaaya-niryaata- pakshaanilaasppalanodhvela PaToti Veechi- chapetaahataagaadha paatala Bhankara sankruttha nagendra peetaasrunee bhaava bhasvannakhasreNayE chandatundaaya nrtyat bhujanga bhruve vajrine dhamshtrayaa thubhyam Adhyaatmavidyaa vidheyaa vidheyaa bhavath dhasyamaapaadhayeta dhayaTaasccha meh I

Manuranugata Pakshi-vaktra sphurattharakas taavakaschitrabhanupriyaa sekharastthrayathaam nasthrivargaapavarga prasuthi: paravyoma dhaaman valadhveshidharpajjvalath Vaalakilya PratigynaavatheerNa sTiraam tatvabuddhim paraam bhaktidhenum jaganmoolakandhe Mukundhe mahaanandadhogdhreem dhatiTaa mudhaakaamaheenamaheenaanthaka II

Here, it is presented in musical form, in the following ragams:

1) Mohanam
2) Panthuvarali
3) Kamas
4) Sindu Bhairavi
5) Durga

The benefits of chanting the Garuda Dandakam are innumerable. The following are some of the major benefits of chanting Garuda Dandakam:
1) Destruction of the enemies and evil rivals of the devotees.
2) Before commencing a long distance journey, it is believed that Lord Garuda will serve as his/her travel guardian and shall protect the devotee.
3) Healing of wounds and injuries as well as preventing mishaps.
4) Increase of one's self-confidence and courage.
5) Grants the ability to think rationally, knowledge to survive and to overcome problems in life.
6) Removes fears of snakes and other reptiles.
7) Helps to acquire name, fame and wealth.
8) All our Dharmic wishes will be gradually fulfilled.
9) It also helps very much in thwarting of evil eyes, removing Black magic and other negative energies. It also helps in removing Sarpa doshas [ Kala Sarpa dosha, Naga Dosha, Rahu dosha, Ketu dosha ]


May Lord Garudan's blessings be bestowed on all of us.

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