Thread by @swamin400

Concept of Garuda Lenkas is so unique to Karnataka & India, Only tradition close to this is Bushido Cult of Samurai

Still many of us dont know about this unique tradition of Service, Bravery, Valour & Sacrifice #IncredibleIndia

Esp Agrahara Bachahalli ,the epicentre of this 1/4

The Tradition of Garuda Lenkas , Actually two different entities. Garudas who were literally shadow of the king and Lenkas being the shadow of Garudas

the concept was " If object does not exist, then shadow does not exist". Garudas were literally shadow of Hoysala Kings 2/4

The Tradition Meant that if the master dies of any reason, so does the shadow of the master. The pledge of Garuda Lenkas.

Mugila Family of Agrahara Bachahalli followed this pledge for almost 11 Generations is that rose from Mercantile to Royalty

12-13 CE Hoysala

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Agrahara Bachahalli Temples records this in inscription and art with its beautiful and Grand Herostones

Showstopper being 3 Garuda Pillars signifying the self sacrifice of 3 Royal Garudas of same family for different Hoysala Kings

Please do visit once to experience

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The Family line of the Famous Garudas

Source : Epigraphia Carnatica #IncredibleIndia

The Concept of Shadow was followed on Battlefield also . As seen in herostone of Agrahara Bachahalli where King seems to be praising the sacrifice of Garudas dressed in same attire like king. Might be used as a technique to misguide the enemy forces from hurting real king

Garuda Lenkas find mention in the famous Hoysala court , Jaina poet Janna’s work Ananthnatha Purana written in 13 CE

Few More Beautiful Facets from Agrahara Bachahalli

Inscriptions reported by me in 2016 and published by ASI Epigraphy. Excerpts from Epigraphist Nagaraj Sir Article in "Studies in Indian Epigraphy Vol XLIII".