Gandabherunda
Double-headed eagle form of Vishnu subduing Sharabha.
In Hindu mythology, Gandabherunda is a manifestation of Vishnu. The legend holds that Vishnu’s avatar Narasimha took this shape—a double-headed eagle—in order to overpower Sharabha, a form of Shiva. Gandabherunda is venerated alongside his consort Narasimhi, a fierce aspect of Lakshmi who is also called Simhamukhi Lakshmi.
**Depiction** The two-headed eagle is shown gripping two elephants in its claws and beaks, a sign of its immense strength. On a coin from Madurai, it holds a snake in its beak. All two-dimensional images present a symmetrical design of a double-headed eagle, while other depictions include long tail feathers like those of a peafowl. At the Chennakeshava Temple in Beluru, Karnataka, Gandabherunda appears as a double-headed eagle carved into a scene of cosmic destruction that leads to the universe’s end. As a form of Narasimha—the fourth incarnation of Vishnu in the Dashavatara—Gandabherunda disemboweled and killed both Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu at the same time. This figure is mentioned in many Hindu scriptures.
**Legend** After Narasimha disemboweled and killed the asura king Hiranyakashipu, he burned and destroyed all other asuras, prevailing over them. In the original account, Hiranyakashipu and Queen Kayudhu’s son Prahlada, along with the devas and devis, prayed to and celebrated Narasimha, after which Narasimha returned to Vaikuntha. But Vaishnava and Shaiva scriptures tell a different story involving Vishnu and Shiva. In this version, the devas and devis feared that Narasimha’s fury during his fight with Hiranyakashipu would destroy the universe, so they sought help from Vishnu and Shiva. To protect creation, Shiva took the form of Virabhadra and ordered Narasimha to leave, but Narasimha drove Virabhadra away. Vishnu then assumed the form of Gandabherunda—a two-headed eagle—as an alternative form of Narasimha, while Shiva took the form of Sharabha, a part-lion, part-eagle creature. Narasimha as Gandabherunda, along with Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu, fought an 18-day battle. On the 18th day, Narasimha as Gandabherunda disemboweled and killed both Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu at the same time. Sharabha then asked Narasimha as Gandabherunda to leave him, and Narasimha as Gandabherunda became calm. As a mark of respect, Sharabha removed his own skin and gave it to Narasimha as Gandabherunda, who wore it as a hide. Narasimha as Gandabheru
- field
- Hindu mythology
- known_for
- Double-headed eagle form of Vishnu, emblem of Karnataka
- associated_deity
- Vishnu (as Narasimha)
- consort
- Narasimhi (Simhamukhi Lakshmi)
Lore & Background
After Narasimha disemboweled and killed the asura king Hiranyakashipu, he burned and killed all other asuras and won over them. In the original story, the asura king Hiranyakashipu and the asura queen Kayudhu's son Prahlada prayed to him along with the devas and devis and celebrated him, after which Narasimha went to Vaikuntha. However Vaishnava and Shaiva scriptures tell a story that includes Vishnu and Shiva. In this story, the devas and devis, thinking that Narasimha would destroy the universe in his fury when fighting with Hiranyakashipu, approached the gods Vishnu and Shiva for help. To protect the universe, Shiva took his Virabhadra form to tell Narasimha to go away, but Narasimha stopped and drove Virabhadra away. Vishnu took the form of Gandabherunda as an alternative form of Narasimha, a two-headed eagle animal, and Shiva took the form of Sharabha, a part-lion and part-eagle animal. Narasimha as Gandabherunda with Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu fought an 18-day battle. On the 18th day, Narasimha as Gandabherunda disemboweled and killed both Sharabha and Hiranyakashipu at the same time. Sharabha then told Narasimha as Gandabherunda to leave him to go away, after which Narasimha as Gandabherunda became calm. As a mark of respect, Sharabha removed the skin of his body and gave it to Narasimha as Gandabherunda, who wore it as a hide and gave the hide to Sharabha, who attached it to his body and grew it as his skin back fully. The universe now being peaceful and intact, Gandabherunda as Narasimha and Sharabha took their true forms of Vishnu and Shiva and went to their respective heavens of Vaikuntha and Kailasha.
Reader's Guide
Gandabherunda is significant as a mythological form of Vishnu that embodies the power to restore cosmic order. In Hindu scriptures, it represents the resolution of conflict between Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions, as Vishnu and Shiva ultimately reconcile. The double-headed eagle is depicted holding two elephants in its claws and beaks, revealing enormous powers, and in a coin from Madurai, it holds a snake. In the Chennakeshava Temple, Beluru, Karnataka, Gandabherunda is carved in a scene of chain of destruction leading to the destruction of the universe. Its legacy extends beyond mythology into state symbolism: Gandabherunda is the official state emblem of Karnataka, used by the Government of Karnataka, and appears on bus terminals and tickets of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. It was the emblem of the Kingdom of Mysore under the Wadiyar rulers and was kept by Mysore State after Indian unification. Gold coins from the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya are the first to use Gandabherunda on coins. The crests of Indian Navy ships named INS Mysore (C60 and D60) depict Gandabherunda, as do the sails of INSV Kaundinya. The design is similar to the double-headed eagle used in Western heraldry by Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Russia, and by several Orthodox Christian churches.
Did You Know?
- Gandabherunda is a double-headed eagle form of Vishnu assumed to subdue Sharabha, a form of Shiva.
- In the Chennakeshava Temple, Beluru, Karnataka, Gandabherunda is carved in a scene of chain of destruction resulting in the destruction of the universe.
- Gold coins from the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya are the first to use Gandabherunda on coins.
- Gandabherunda is the official state emblem of Karnataka, used by the Government of Karnataka.
More in Legendary birds 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record