Garuda, a bird-like creature resembling a falcon or kite is a legendary bird that is the mount or vehicle of the Hindu Lord Vishnu. In Hinduism, This King of Birds, is the devotee of Vishnu. Vinata and Kashyapa are his parents while Aruna is his sibling. He is depicted in anthropomorphic form (a man with wings and some features of a bird) or in zoomorphic form (a gigantic bird having wings that are partially opened).
Garuda is a fast flying bird, a protector possessing power to fly watchfully and can shape-shift in any form, almost anywhere. Also known as Vynateya and Tarkshya, he is the enemy of the serpent. Garuda may be shown as carrying Lord Vishnu. This eagle-like divine sun bird is described as a winged celestial deva in the Rigveda. He is the personification of courage as embedded in the Yajurveda text of the Shatapatha Brahmana. Heavens, hell and earth can be prevented from spinning when Garuda flaps his wings.
Prominent presence of Garuda is seen in Shaivism mythology and Vaishnavism mythology and Shaiva texts including the Garuda Tantra and Kirana Tantra. In part human form and part bird form, Garuda has big and open eyes, an eagle like beak or nose and legs, golden-yellow wings and emerald colored body. In the Mahabharata mythology, Garuda is presented eating meat of a snake as indicated by the story that on intervention of Lord Indra, he kills and eats the Sumukha Snake. Garuda is invoked as a symbol of impetuous martial prowess, speed and violent force.
