GARUDA-LENKA

GARUDA-LENKA

‘Garuda’ (garuDa) (ಗರುಡ) and ‘lenka’ (ಲೆಂಕ) are terms that denote persons who practiced unique customs that were prevalent in Karnataka during the medieval period. Similar practices are detected in other states like Kerala also. Certain individuals, who took an oath, expressing a willingness to sacrifice their lives in order to defend their kings, were called ‘garudas’. ‘Lenka’ is a word synonymous to ‘garuda’. The act performed them or such practice was called ‘vELevALi’. ‘vELe’ in Kannada means ‘emergency (need) and ‘vALi’ is derived from the word ‘pALi’ meaning a preparedness to take one’s turn in sacrificing one’s life. The word ‘garuda’ is used to emphasize the fact that the loyalty of this person to his king was as strong as that Garuda to his master Vishnu. This practice is slightly similar to that of the ‘samurai’ in Japan.

Even though this practice was in vogue at various points of time in the history of Karnataka, it was particularly wellknown during the regime of the Hoysala kings. The individuals who had taken a pledge like this were treated with special respect and they were given a band to be worn above their knee by the king. (toDaru) Their duties were twofold. Firstly, they would defend the king at the cost of their life. Secondly, if the king passed away for any reason they would kill themselves to fulfill their oath.

There are many evidences of such acts of supreme sacrifice in Kannada inscriptions. RAsEya and bEbiyamma who were garudas of the Ganga king nItimArga gangarAja sacrificed their lives at the passing away of the king. Both Kuvaralakshma and his wife Suggaladevi had taken a pledge to be ‘garudas of the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana. Their sacrifice is documented in an inscription found at the Hoysaleshvara temple at halEbIDu. Three pillars found at the huNasEshvara temple in a village called agrahAra bAcahaLLi records the sacrifices of three generations of ‘lenkas’.

‘GaruDagamba’s the pillars that now stand in front of many Vishnu temples in Karntaka have different connotations. But during the Hoysala regime ‘garuDagamba’ invariably meant a pillar installed in honor of a ‘garuda’.