Garuda

Garuda - King of the birds

Title	Garuda - (Eagle) - All stories
Other names	Bomanarakasura Wilmuka
Size	75 cm
Personal data	Garuda is the king of birds.
Appearance	War vehicle of Wisnu.
Collection	Private collection

Garuda - (Eagle) - All stories

This doll is also used to represent the vulture Jatayu, who tries to save Sinta from Rahwana (Ramayana).
In India and the rest of Southeast Asia the eagle symbolism is represented by Garuda, a large bird with eagle-like features that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist epic as the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu (Wisnu).

Commending Garuda for his extraordinary act, Vishnu offered him a boon. Garuda sought surrender at His feet as well as the honour of being the emblem of the Lord's flag. Granting this wish, Vishnu conferred immortality on him and in addition requested him to be his vahana to which Garuda willingly agreed.

According to Hindu and Buddhist stories, the giant, birdlike Garuda spends eternity killing snake like Nagas. The feud started when both Garuda's mother and the Nagas' mother married the same husband. The husband then gave each wife one wish. The Nagas' mother asked for a thousand children.
Garuda represents birth and heaven, and is the enemy of all snakes. In Indian art, Garuda gradually acquired more human form over the centuries and so maintained only his wings. In Cambodia, however, he retains even today the great talons and vicious-looking beak of a bird of prey.

He is hairy and can speak like a human. While fighting, he can attack and peck his enemy. This bird has a beard with an eagle on its back. Long eyes. This war vehicle can also help its master fight enemies.
In the story, Pabu's Garuda bird is called Bomanarakasura Wilmuka, which means bird with a gigantic face. The woodpecker has teeth and its feet are barbed.