Garuda is an immortal bird god, beloved by Hindus and Buddhists alike. This golden character is so powerful that he is known for exterminating entire oceans full of snakes and defeating entire armies of gods in a single battle. Fortunately, he fights on the side of the righteous, most of the time.
Physical Description
With nicknames like “king of birds” and “the one with beautiful feathers,” Garuda is destined to be a glorious sight. According to Hindu tradition, he has the torso and arms of a strong man with golden skin. Red wings with long, shiny feathers extend from behind his back and spread out to a mile wide. Below the knee, his legs are covered in golden scales that run down to eagle feet with curved, dagger-like claws.
His face is white and can be completely human, human with a beak, or completely eagle. A traditional Hindu crown with several levels of gold sits on top of his head, and he wears snakes he has defeated in battle as jewelry. Overall, he is large enough to block out the sun when he flies alongside it. The “supreme god” Vishnu can often be seen riding on his back.
In Hindu art, Garuda has evolved over the centuries to look more human. In Nepal, he is often depicted as a human with wings. In the rest of Asia, he has retained his bird’s head, beak, and claws. The Indonesian version of Garudas is especially colorful and is depicted with fangs.
In Buddhist art, the god Garuda has been transformed into a race of noble birds called “garudas.” These garudas are the least human of all. Their bodies are covered with feathers, and their wings appear to be attached to their arms, almost like a bat. Only their round bellies and human hands suggest their human lineage.
Personality
In Hindu tradition, Garuda represents heavenly power. On the positive side, he is a symbol of virtue, hope, and rebirth, but he also has a dark side. He is a brilliant warrior, and while it is true that his enemies, the naga snakes, are agents of the underworld, it is also true that he shows no mercy in his attacks.
Therefore, he symbolizes speed, violence, and military prowess as much as virtue, hope, and rebirth. Buddhist tradition lists Garuda as one of the “four dignities”—animals that represent Buddhist virtues. The Four Dignities are the dragon, representing power; the tiger, representing confidence; the snow leopard, representing fearlessness; and Garuda, representing wisdom.
Garuda’s special abilities
Garuda’s dazzling debut in Hindu legend made his potential clear from the start. He sprang from his egg in a fiery inferno so large that it could have burned the entire world, had the gods not fallen to their knees and begged for mercy. The baby listened to their pleas and responded with another display of magical power: he shrank to a safe size.
Over time, Garuda would use his shrinking/growing trick to perform various heroic tasks. He once defeated all the other gods in battle by growing to such a size that the wind from his wings scattered them across the world. He also used his super size to swallow entire rivers and oceans, either to use the water as a weapon or to find snakes hiding in the water. He could cause mountains to collapse or thunderstorms to spread across the land with just a flap of his wings.
And don’t forget that he could also shrink, which meant he could always find a crack to escape through or a hole to hide in. Conveniently, he was also immune to the poison of his arch-enemies, snakes. Talismans bearing his image and prayers with his name could also be used to protect mortals from the effects of any poison.
Cultural Representation
Garuda first appears in the Hindu Vedas, written between 1500 and 400 BC, but the longest story about him appears in the Mahabharata, an epic poem written around 400 BC. His fame spread rapidly throughout Asia; ancient statues and paintings of him can be found in India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Suriname, the Philippines, and Thailand. Eventually, he was absorbed into the Buddhist faith. He first appears in the Maha-samaya Sutta, one of the earliest ritual prayers recited by Buddhists.
Modern appearances
Although Garuda has not had a major impact on Western culture, he remains a beloved character in many nations that practice Hinduism or Buddhism. He can be found in temples, prayers, and ritual dances. He also appears in the secular arena, with countless military aircraft and sports teams bearing his name. Thailand and Indonesia have even declared Garuda their “national symbol.”
