The Wings of Grace: Garuda Shakti and the Freeing of Rama and Lakshmana
In the morning satsanga of November 9, 2026, Swami Jyotirmayananda taught that Garuda Shakti is a form of Guru Kripa, the grace of the Guru, which removes the fetters of egoism, and read Rama and Lakshmana as jnana shakti and bhakti shakti.
Yesterday the story left Rama and Lakshmana bound. This morning Swamiji turned to what frees them: satsanga, and the grace of the Guru that comes through it as Garuda Shakti.
After an invocation to Lord Rama, whose complexion is like a blue lotus, with Sita at his left side and bow and arrow in his hands, and the Hare Rama mantra, Swamiji read a short meditation. In deep meditation, the shaky leaf of the ego is tossed into oblivion. The stream of divine love flows, and the soul is enfolded by the divine sweetness of the presence of God. The floodgates of light are flung open, and that light cascades from the heavens, scattering the forces of darkness and filling every heart with boundless love, light and bliss.
The Affliction of Egoism
Continuing the story, Swamiji recalled Meghanada and the affliction of egoism he represents. As long as ignorance dominates the mind, he taught, one lives in the sakamya state of mind, desire-driven, constantly directed toward worldly gain.
History, he said, is the illustration. So many people shouted glory to great kings, glory to Alexander. History is filled with countless stories of great personalities who had tremendous popularity, and yet it all ended in mortality. Action led by that kind of karma leads to the next embodiment, and what one has gained in the previous life continues in the new one. Along with it come experiences of immense frustration.
Ahamkara Must Be Sublimated
To be free of this, Swamiji taught, ahamkara, the ego, has to be sublimated. That is the project of Rama and Lakshmana, bound in the story by the nagapasha.
"How to be free of this?" Swamiji asked. His answer was satsanga. He spoke more than once of the power of satsanga, which opens the way.
Garuda Shakti Is the Guru's Grace
With the power of satsanga, Swamiji said, comes Garuda Shakti. Garuda is a variation of Guru Kripa, the grace of the Guru. Recalling the prayer to the Guru as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, he taught that the Guru's grace brings the grace of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Because of this grace, all the fetters are removed.
Everyone, he taught, has that divine within. "You are not a jiva." "You are Shiva."
Rama as Knowledge, Lakshmana as Devotion
"And Shiva has two aspects." Rama, Swamiji explained, is jnana shakti, the power of knowledge. Lakshmana is bhakti shakti, the power of devotion. Through that grace, Rama and Lakshmana become free.
Terms in This Satsanga
- sakamya — desire-driven; the state of mind directed toward worldly gain.
- ahamkara — the ego; what must be sublimated for freedom.
- Garuda Shakti — the power of Garuda; in Swamiji's reading, a variation of the Guru's grace.
- Guru Kripa — the grace of the Guru, which brings the grace of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
- jnana shakti — the power of knowledge, represented by Rama.
- bhakti shakti — the power of devotion, represented by Lakshmana.
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