Once there were two sisters- Kadru and Vinata. Both were wives of the great sage Kashyapa. With their devotion to the seer, they were blessed to produce mighty offsprings in future. In time, both became pregnant. Kadru became mother to Nagas, the first serpents. Slithery, slimy, vane and cruel like their mother. Vinata had a son named Arun, who had his body below the waistline not functioning. Mocked and ridiculed for his condition, Arun enraged because of servitude he was often subjected to, cursed his own mother one day. "You will too feel the slavery I am suffering at the hands of my own siblings."- he said.
In time, the curse came true, albeit aided with a deceit. The divine horse Ucchaishrava (the Indian equivalent of Pegasus) was grazing one day in near by fields. White as the fresh Himalayan snow, it was a beauty to behold. Kadru and Vinata both were roaming in the woods that moment. And while returning both described the spellbinding beauty of the horse to their children. While both agreed that the horse was white, Kadru said its tail was black, while Vinata was adamant it was white as the rest of its body. Argument escalated to such a level that both put a wager, whoever loses the bet, will become slave of other for life.
While the tail was indeed white as the rest of its body, Kadru's pride didn't allow her to play fair. She commanded her sons to ensure she didn't lose either way. So the serpents went to the grass fields and covered the tail of the white horse such that it appeared black from a distance. Kadru won by deceit and Vinata became her slave for life, as Arun had cursed her in rage earlier but regretted now. So he went off to do penance for his deeds in forest.
Meanwhile, Vinata became pregnant for a second time. And such was the anger and desperation seething inside her, that her offspring was born a mighty half man half bird. In a short span of time, this child started flying and grew mammoth in size. So much so that the devas (gods of eden) got terrified and asked Lord Brahma what to do. Lord Brahma said-"Garuda the birdman, is my grandson as Kashyapa, one of the seven divine sages, is my own child. So he will be one of the greatest beings on Earth. But you need not worry as Garuda is born to uplift the curse her mother is serving, kill the deceitful Nagas and assist devas in future battles." Brahma appeared to Garuda and asked him to diminish his ferocious size, so as not to terrify other living creatures. When Garuda obliged with his grandfather's request, Brahma became mighty pleased with his manners and blessed him with a boon. Garuda expressed his wish to serve Lord Vishnu and remain forever close to him. And thus Garuda 'the vulture' became Vishnu's vahana (vehicle). In fact, in Treta yuga, King Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, was assisted by Jatayu the vulture, a descendent of Garuda.
While the rest of the gods were happy of this resolution, Surya deva (Sun god) was angry at other gods, as nobody cared about him being devoured by Rahu every solstice, the immortal asura (demon). Other gods showed sympathy at the beginning but went back to their merrymaking ways soon enough. Surya deva was so enraged he decided to burn the whole universe. One evening he descended in west and promised the next day he will rise in the east to destroy every living thing which other gods cherished most. Brahma sensing a threat to his creation, went to Arun who had committed a regrettable action in rage himself. And he understood how catastrophic it would be. Brahma commanded him to become the charioteer for Surya deva and save the whole universe.
And thus, Arun the charioteer, absorbs Surya's anger and heat everyday to preserve the very essence of universe. His brother Garuda, vehicle of Lord Vishnu, serves the weak and powerless against the vile serpents (Nagas), just like his master.
Together they are the two immortal drivers this whole world should be grateful to.
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