Garuda facts for kids

Garuda, the special vehicle of Lord Vishnu

The Garuda is a giant, legendary bird or a creature that looks like a bird. You can find stories about Garuda in both Hinduism and Buddhism. In Sanskrit, the word Garuda means eagle.

What Does Garuda Look Like?

Garuda is often shown with the head and wings of a mighty eagle. The rest of his body can sometimes look like a strong man. People call Garuda the king of birds. He is also famous for being the special carrier, or Vahana, for the important Hindu god, Lord Vishnu.

The Story of Garuda

Garuda has another name, Vainateya. He is known as the son of Vinata and a wise sage named Kashyapa. People sometimes worship Garuda on a special day called Garuda Panchami. This day happens on the fifth day of a lunar month. Garuda also has a brother named Anura, also known as Arun. Arun is the driver of the chariot for the Sun god, Suryanarayana.

Images for kids

• 

  Relief depicting a portable Garuda pillar, one of the oldest images of Garuda, Bharhut, 100 BCE.

• 

  Garuda is found in Vishnu temples; Above: in Belur, India.

• 

  Balinese wooden statue of Vishnu riding Garuda, Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum, Jakarta, Indonesia.

• 

  Garuda vanquishing the Naga clan, a Gandhara artwork, second century CE.

• 

  Garuda (Khmer: គ្រុឌ, Krŭd) in Koh Ker style. Made of sandstone, this statue is from the first half of tenth century, (Angkor period). On display at the National Museum of Cambodia.

• 

  13th century Cham sculpture depicts Garuda devouring a nāga serpent.

• 

  Garuda guardian sculptures (two on right side), Banteay Srei temple, Cambodia.

• 

  Balinese dancers including a man dressed as Garuda (1935).

• 

  Wingless statue of Garuda or Karura in Kofukuji Temple, Nara, Japan, eighth century.

• 

  Sun Dhoka Golden Gate with the Goddess Taleju Bhawani and Garuda, leading to the Royal Palace, Durbar Square, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bhaktapur, Nepal.

• 

  Garuda as the masthead of Thai royal barge.

• 

  Seal of the Nepal Rastra Bank

• 

  5th-century Gupta-era coin, Garuda with snakes in his claws

• 

  6th century coin with Garuda and Vishnu's chakra and conch on side

• 

  A Cambodian coin during French Protection period 1853.

• 

  Garuda iconography at a Radha Krishna Temple in Kolkata.

• 

  8th century Garuda carrying Vishnu in Aihole, Karnataka, India

• 

  King Airlangga depicted as Vishnu mounting Garuda, 11th century East Java, Indonesia

• 

  12th century Cham sculpture, Viet Nam, in the Thap Mam style depicts Garuda serving as an atlas

• 

  The statues of Krut battling naga serpent, a Thai Buddhist adaptation of Garuda in Wat Phra Kaeo temple, Thailand.

• 

  12th century bas relief at Angkor Wat in Cambodia showing Vishnu in battle mounted on Garuda

• 

  Head of a Garuda during the 14th century Cambodia, Honolulu Museum of Art

• 

  Garuda at Srivilliputur Temple, Tamil Nadu, India

• 

  Garuda pillar, Nepal

• 

  Garuda at Durbar square in Kathmandu, Nepal.

• 

  Garuda at the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2017

• 

  Garuda figure, gilt bronze, Khmer Empire Cambodia, 12th-13th century, John Young Museum, University of Hawaii at Manoa

• 

  Garuda returning with the vase of Amrita

• 

  Balinese Garuda statue at Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali, Indonesia

• 

  Garuda carries Vishnu and Lakshmi

See also

In Spanish: Garuda para niños