Garula, Garuḷa, Garulā: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Garula means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Garuḷa can be transliterated into English as Garula or Garulia, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. One of the palaces occupied by Phussa Buddha in his last lay life (Bu.xix.15). The Commentary (BuA.192) calls it Garulapakkha.
2. A class of mythical birds generally mentioned in company with Nagas (E.g., J.iv.181, 202).
They live in Simbali groves (E.g., J.i.202) and are usually huge in size, sometimes one hundred and fifty leagues from wing to wing (J.iii.397). The flapping of their wings can raise a storm, known as the Garuda wind (J.v.77). This wind can plunge a whole city in darkness and cause houses to fall through its violence (J.iii.188).
A Garula has strength great enough to carry off a whole banyan tree, tearing it up from its roots (J.vi.177). The Garulas are the eternal enemies of the Nagas (J.ii.13; iii.103) and live in places, such as the Seruma Island (J.iii.187), where Nagas are to be found. The greatest happiness of the Nagas is to be free from the attacks of the Garulas (J.iv.463). A Garulas plumage is so thick that a man - e.g., Natakuvera (J.iii.91) - could hide in it, unnoticed by the bird. Sometimes Garulas assume human form; two Garula kings are said to have played dice with kings of Benares and to have fallen in love with their queens, whom they took to the Garula city - one of the queens being Sussondi (J.iii.187) and the other Kakati (J.iii.91). In each case the queen, being found unfaithful to her Garula lover, was returned to her husband. The Garulas know the Alambayana spell, which no Naga can resist (J.vi.178, 184). It is said that in olden days the Garulas did not know how to seize Nagas effectively; they caught them by the bead, and the Nagas who had swallowed big stones were too heavy to be lifted from the ground; consequently the Garulas died of exhaustion in trying to carry them. Later the Garulas learnt this secret through the treachery of the ascetic Karambiya, as related in the Pandara Jataka (J.vi.175f).
Garulas are mentioned as sometimes leading virtuous lives, keeping the fast and observing the precepts. One such was the Garula king mentioned in the Pandara Jataka, and another, the son of Vinata, who visited the park of Dhananjaya Koravya and gave a golden garland as present after hearing Vidhurapandita preach (J.vi.261f).
The Garulas body was evidently considered to be specially formed for quick flight, for the ancient proto type of the aeroplane was based on the Garula (DhA.iii.135). One of the five guards appointed by Sakka to protect Tavatimsa from the Asuras was formed of Garulas (J.i.204).
The Bodhisatta (J.iii.187) and Sariputta (J.iii.400) were both, on different occasions, born as Garula kings. The Simbali is the special tree of the Garula world (Vsm.i.206). The Garula is often represented in art as a winged Man. (See Fergusson: Tree and Serpent Worship, pl.xxvi.1; xxviii.1. etc.; also Grndwedel: Buddhistische Kunst, pp.47-50).
The Garulas are sometimes called Supannas (Suvannas). VvA.9.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismGaruḷa (“mythical bird”)–they are the eternal enemies of the Nagas. Garuḷa is a Pali word. Compare with the Sanskrit Garuḍa.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarygaruḷa : (m.) a mythical bird; a harpy.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryGaruḷa, (Derivation uncertain. Sk. garuḍa, Lat. volucer winged, volo to fly). N. of a mythical bird, a harpy Ps.II, 196=Nd2 235, 3 q.; Vism.206; VvA.9 (=supaṇṇa); DhA.I, 144. (Page 246)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGarula (गरुल).—Garuḍa, the chief of birds.
Derivable forms: garulaḥ (गरुलः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryGarula (गरुल):—[from garuḍa] for ruḍa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Garula (गरुल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Garuḍa.
2) Garula (गरुल) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Garuḍa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Garulan.
Ends with: Nirgarula, Vyangarula.
Full-text: Venateyya, Garuda, Vihaga, Catuposathika Khanda, Kulavaka Sutta, Addhayoga, Supanna, Naga, Phussa, Kulavaka Jataka, Asura.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Garula, Garuḷa, Garulā; (plurals include: Garulas, Garuḷas, Garulās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 154: Uraga-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Jataka 31: Kulāvaka-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Jataka 543: Bhūridatta-jātaka < [Volume 6]
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 3 - Delivery of the Rahulovada Sutta to Rāhula < [Chapter 31 - The Monk Sudinna, the Son of the Kalanda Merchant]
Moggallāna Mahāthera’s Attainment of Parinibbāna < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Power of Truthfulness during The Buddha’s Time < [Chapter 6 - On Pāramitā]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on Biography of the thera Vatthadāyaka < [Chapter 7 - Sakacintaniyavagga (section on Sakacintaniya)]
Commentary on the biography of the thera Mahāmoggallāna < [Chapter 1 - Buddhavagga (Buddha section)]
Commentary on the Biography of the thera Upāli < [Chapter 1 - Buddhavagga (Buddha section)]
The Catu-Bhanavara-Pali (critical study) (by Moumita Dutta Banik)
(2) Mahasamaya Sutta < [Chapter 4 - Subject Matter of the Third Bhanavara]
The Book of Protection (by Piyadassi Thera)
Discourse 18 - The Great Assembly < [Discourses]
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)