GARUDA

[Hindu] The Garuda is a golden-bodied bird recorded by the Buddhist culture. Garuda has an eagle's beak and wings, and a human body. His face is white, his wings are scarlet, and his body is golden. Garuda is possibly the oldest of the great birds. It is so large that it can blot out the sun, darkening the sky. The beneficent Garuda, also called the "Bird of Life", is the mount of Vishnu. Garuda used to be fond of daily killing and eating a snake, until a Buddhist prince taught him the value of abstinence. The penitent Garuda then brought back to life the bones of the many generations of serpents he had fed upon. Garuda is the enemy of the Nagas and the Kirata. According to the Mahabharata, the parents of the Garuda gave it permission to devour bad men, but not Brahmans.