In Hindu mythology, Garuda is the half-man, half-eagle divine being who serves as Vishnu’s mount.
Garuda is a major figure in Hindu tradition, usually shown with a human body, an eagle’s head or wings, and powerful birdlike features. He is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata, and the younger brother of Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun. His role as Vishnu’s vahana, or divine vehicle, is one of his defining attributes.
Garuda is associated with strength, speed, vigilance, and opposition to the nagas, the serpent beings of Hindu mythology. A famous story tells how he sought the nectar of immortality to free his mother from servitude. The gods eventually recognized his power, and Vishnu made him his mount and standard.
Garuda is not simply an eagle or a generic bird spirit. He also appears in Buddhist and Jain traditions, where related forms are powerful supernatural beings. In Southeast Asian art and political symbolism, Garuda remains a prominent emblem.