Although it is called “eagle pose” in English, garudasana is named for a divine creature. In South Asia, a garuda is a huge, mythical bird with the golden ...Yoga|PracticeTheMythologyBehindGarudasana(EaglePose)ZoNewell5min.Althoughitiscalled“eaglepose”inEnglish, garudasana isnamedforadivinecreature.InSouth Asia,a garuda isahuge,mythicalbirdwiththegoldenbodyofaman,awhiteface,redwings, andaneagle'sbeak.Heisthekingofthebirdcommunity,theenemyofsnakes,andthefriendof humans.GarudaisthevehicleofLordVishnu, theaspectofdivinitywhichsustainstheuniverse andtakesbirthasaman.Rama,herooftheRamayana,isoneofVishnu'sdivineincarnations.Garuda'scousinJatayuissometimesdescribedasavulture,butheisnomoreanactualvulture thanGarudaisaneagle.Jatayuisagaruda, andtheheroofthisstory.TheRamayanatellshowRama'swifeSitawaskidnappedbythedemonRavanaandcarriedoffto Lankaina vimana,aflyingmachine.Whentheseeventsoccurred,Jatayuwassitting contemplativelyonatreetop,hiskeeneyesscanningtheworld'shorizon.HeheardSita'sscreams,sawRavanahurtlingthroughthesky,andflewintoaction.Hehitthevimanahead­-on,knockingit totheground.FerociouslyheattackedRavanawithpointedteeth,tearingclaws,andpowerful beatingwings—buthewasnomatchforthedemonking'stenheadsandtwentyarms.Forevery headorlimbthathelost,Ravanagrewanotherbeforethefirsthadfinishedfalling.Jatayufoughtfiercelyandvaliantly,yetincreasinglyhopelessly.Finally,RavanahackedoffbothofJatayu'swings andzoomedsouthtowardLanka,whileSitahuddledinsilentshockonthefloorofthebeautiful luxurycar.Rama,alwayskindbutneversentimental,shotoneswiftarrowthroughJatayu'sbraveheart.AsJatayulaymortallywounded,RamaandhisbrotherLakshmana,whoweretrackingSita,arrivedonfoot. Withfailingbreath,thefallenwarriortoldtheminbrokenphrases:“Sita,Ravana,headed south....Rama,please,killme.ItisablessingtodieattheLord'shandsandinhispresence.” Rama,alwayskindbutneversentimental,shotoneswiftarrowthroughJatayu'sbraveheart. ThenheandLakshmanagatheredwood,builtapyre,andperformedJatayu'sfuneralriteswithasmuch care