Gandaberunda (Sanskrit: गण्डभेरुण्ड, romanized: Gaṇḍabheruṇḍa, lit. 'terrible-necked') or Bherunda (Sanskrit: भेरुण्ड, romanized: Bheruṇḍa, lit. terrible) is a two-headed bird in Hindu mythology, a form assumed by the Hindu deity Vishnu. It is believed to possess immense magical strength.[1] Vaishnava traditions hold it to be a form of Vishnu to fight and subdue Sharabha (In Shaiva traditions, Sharabha is a form of Shiva assumed to pacify Vishnu's Narasimha avatara).
The bird is generally depicted as clutching elephants in its talons and beaks, demonstrating its immense strength. In a coin found in Madurai, it is shown holding a snake in its beak.[2] All 2-dimensional depictions show a symmetrical image similar to the double-headed eagle while other images show the long tail feathers resembling a peafowl. In the Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, Karnataka, Gandaberunda, the two faced bird is carved as a scene of "chain of destruction", which results in the destruction of the universe.[3] The Gandaberunda was later identified as a secondary form taken by Narasimha, the fourth avatara of Vishnu and it is shown killing both Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu at the same time. It is mentioned by several Hindu scriptures.[4]
After Narasimha had slain the asura king Hiranyakashipu, he drank his blood, but his fury did not subside. According to the original iterations of this legend, the asura's son Prahlada was able to pacify the wrath of Narasimha with the recitation of moving prayers, after which the latter returned to Vaikuntha.[5] However, in one of the traditions it is believed that after killing Hiranyakashyapu, Lord Narasimha got so angry that no one was able to calm him down. According to this iteration, the devas and devis, fearing that Narasimha might destroy the cosmos in his fury, approached the deity Shiva for help. In order to protect creation, Shiva took his Virabhadra form to beseech Narasimha to see reason, but Narasimha ignored this appeal. So, he then took the form of Sharabha or Sharabhesvara, a part-lion and part-bird beast. He fought Narasimha in combat, subduing him and restoring peace to the universe. According to Vaishnava tradition, when Sharabha tried to hold Narasimha and carry him high into the sky, Narasimha took the form of a two-headed eagle - Gandaberunda - who was even stronger than Sharabha, and now with renewed rage. After hot pursuit, when Gandaberunda met Sharabha, a fierce 18-day long battle ensued between them. On the eighteenth day, Gandaberunda defeated Sharabha and tore him into shreds. Sharabha then pleaded and appealed to Narasimha to forgive him for his actions, after which the deity regained his sense of calm. As a mark of respect, Sharabha removed the skin of his body and presented it to Gandaberunda. Peace having been restored to the universe, Vishnu and Shiva assumed their true forms and returned to their abodes of Vaikuntha and Kailasha respectively.
The Gandaberunda was the emblem of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysuru under the Wodeyar rulers, and after India attained independence, it was retained by the Mysuru State as its emblem. The aforementioned state was enlarged in 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973, and the Gandabherunda continues to be the official state emblem of Karnataka. It is used as the official emblem of the Karnataka state government. It is believed to represent resilience against the forces of destruction. It appears as an intricately carved sculpture motif in Hindu temples.[6]
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A sculpture depicting a Gandaberunda is found on the roof of the Rameshvara temple in the temple town of Keladi in Shimoga District, the capital of the Keladi Nayakas. The Gandaberunda was also used by the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysuru as the Royal emblem. The Karnataka Government adopted this symbol as the state symbol and can be found on bus terminals and tickets issued by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. Coins (Gold Pagoda or Gadayana) from the rule of Achyuta Deva Raya are thought to be the first to use the Gandaberunda on currency.[7] The crest of the Indian navy ship INS Mysuru (D60) features a Gandaberunda.
Ganda Berunda is a Kannada film directed by S. V. Rajendrasingh Babu and produced by Vajramuni. The playwright of the movie was the celebrated writer, late H V Subba Rao. The film was released in the year 1984. The music was composed by Sathyam. Bollywood actor Amrish Puri played the antagonist in the film.
