Garuda (disambiguation) facts for kids
Garuda is a word that means different things to different people! It's like a popular name that many things share. You might hear "Garuda" when talking about ancient stories, a big airline, or even a special military group.
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What is Garuda?
The word "Garuda" is used for many things, from a powerful mythical creature to modern-day companies and places. It's interesting how one word can have so many different meanings around the world.
The Mythical Bird
The most famous meaning of Garuda is a legendary bird in Hinduism and Buddhism. This amazing creature is often shown as a large, eagle-like bird with human features. It's known for its strength and speed.
A Symbol of Power
In ancient stories, Garuda is often the vehicle of the god Vishnu. This means Vishnu rides on Garuda's back. Garuda is a symbol of power, courage, and loyalty. It is sometimes called the "king of birds." You can find images of Garuda in temples and art across Asia, especially in countries like Indonesia and Thailand.
Other Real-World Uses
Beyond myths, the name Garuda is used for many real-world things. These often reflect the power and speed associated with the mythical bird.
Travel and Defense
- Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. It's a big company that flies people all over the world.
- The Garud Commando Force is a very special military unit in the Indian Air Force. These brave soldiers are trained for tough missions.
Places and Products
- The Garuda Valley is a real place. It's a valley found southwest of Mount Kailash, a famous mountain.
- Garuda 1 is the name of a satellite. Satellites are machines that orbit Earth and help with communication or weather forecasting.
Garuda in Stories and Games
Because the mythical Garuda is so cool, the name often appears in books, movies, and video games. Creators use the name for powerful characters or vehicles.
Fictional Characters
- In the Street Fighter EX video games, there is a fighter named Garuda.
- A character named Ike Garuda appears in the comic book The Transmutation of Ike Garuda.
- In the anime series Chouseishin Gransazer, there is a character called Garuda (Chouseishin).
- In the Final Fantasy XI video game, Garuda is a powerful creature you can summon to help you. It's also the name of a game server.
- A masked professional wrestler from Japan uses the name Garuda.
Movies and Shows
- Garuda (film) is a Thai movie from 2004 about a giant monster.
- In the movie Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II, there is a flying robot called Garuda.
- A flying robot in the anime series Zegapain is also named Garuda.
- In the 1978 science fiction film Message from Space, an actor named Vic Morrow plays a character called General Garuda.
- The Emmerian Air Force 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the video game Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation is called Garuda.
