There is a proverb in Tamil - 'Garuda Sugamaa?'
Literally it would "Are you well, O Garuda?"
The reader will have to understand one natural law here.
There are certain animals and birds which have natural enemies or are enemies to each other. Examples are cat and mouse, dog and cat, mongoose and snake, snake and garuda(holy kite) or white breasted falcon, etc.
In Hindu pantheon, we see that natural enemies are the vahanas or carriers of the gods. The Lion of AmbaaL is an enemy of the Bull of Siva. Siva's ornamental snake is the enemy of the Garuda of Vishnu. Incidentally the Peacock of Murugan is always seen with snake under its feet of in its beak. And the snake might make a bee-line or rather a wavy line to the rat of Vinayaka. Snakes are said to be in mortal fear of garuda. Even in the puranas, we see how enmity developed between the snakes and Garuda the son of Vinatha.
As is already known, Siva wears snakes on His head, neck, arms, and waist. One one occassion, Vishnu came to see Siva in His abode Kailas. He was born as usual by Garuda. Then he alighted from Garuda at the portals of Siva's chambers and went inside. Garuda was left to wait outside. After Vishnu met Siva, He started to go back. Siva accompanied Vishnu to the portal. The snake encircling over the matted hair locks of Siva, looked down at Garuda who was bowing down very humbly, ready to bear Vishnu. The snake haughtily asked Garuda, "Are you well, O Garuda?" At another time, Garuda would have made a mince-meat of the snake and devoured it with relish. But times were different; the places were different; positions were different; and the statuses were also different. Garuda answered with hidden venom in his words, "As long as each one is in a proper place, a person will be well. It all depends."
This proverb seems to be quite an ancient one.
There is a poem in nanneRi which was composed by Auvaiyar.
meliyOr valiya viravalarai anjcaar
valiyOr-thamaith thaam maruvil - paliyEl
kadavuL avircadai-mEl katsevi anjcaadhE
padar-niRaiyap puL-arasaip- paarththu
The snake which sits over the matted locks of Siva who receives naivedhyam and other offerings, will not fear the wide-winged King of the Birds on seeing it. Just like that, weaklings will not fear their enemies, if they are associated with people who are more powerful than their enemies.
The great poet Kannadasan has written the lyrics of a beautiful song based on this theme.
