GALÚRÂ

Karura (迦楼羅天) sculpture by Takeya Takayuki (竹谷隆之).

Ápûng Galúrâ, also known as Garula (गरुड) in Pali, Garuda (गरुड) in Sanskrit and Karura (迦楼羅天) in Japanese is a giant eagle who lives at the peak of Bunduk Aláya (Mount Arayat). He is the alíli (representative) of the sun, Ápûng Sínukuan, and the úkum (judge) of all souls in the afterlife. Every year, Ápûng Sínukuan sends him to purify the land by bringing in strong winds from Tímug Láut (Eastern Ocean). Kapampangans believed that the strong typhoon winds known as bagiu are spawned from the bagius (wings) of Ápûng Galúrâ. He is also the patron deity of  drowning sailors who called upon him to rescue them during shipwrecks.

Mantálâ (मन्त्र):

ó bápûng galúrâ
ॐ गरुडय  स्वाहा
オン・ガルダヤ・ソワカ

Ápûng Galúrâ is often portrayed in Hindu and Buddhist iconography slaying Naga, the serpent, like in the brass statue below of unknown provenance. In this particular statue, Garuda (गरुड) slays Nagaraja (नागराज), the king of the serpents.

Among Kapampangan folk Catholics, the image of Ápûng Galúrâ slaying Nága Lakandanum has also been absorbed into the pantheon of Catholic saints as San Miguel Arcángel (Saint Michael the Archangel) slaying the primordial serpent Lucifer.

Cabal San Miguel. Saint Michael the Archangel slaying Lucifer is portrayed in this folk Catholic bronze amulet locally known as ‘cabal’.

© Copyright 2012 Siuálâ Ding Meángûbié

Go back to Diuátâ