Thai mythical creature: GARUDA

There are many creatures in the Thai myths that have captivated the people of Thailand as well as others from the rest of the world. One of them being the gigantic winged creature, the Garuda.

But what is the Garuda?

The Garuda is a  large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

Garuda is also the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and the Brahminy kite and Phoenix are considered to be the contemporary representations of Garuda.

In Hindu religion, Garuda is a Hindu divinity, usually the mount (vahana) of the Lord Vishnu. Garuda is depicted as having the golden body of a strong man with a white face, red wings, and an eagle's beak and with a crown on his head. This ancient deity was said to be massive, large enough to block out the sun.

In Buddhist mythology, the Garuda are enormous predatory birds with intelligence and social organization. Another name for the Garuda is suparṇa, meaning "well-winged, having good wings". Like the nāga, they combine the characteristics of animals and divine beings, and may be considered to be among the lowest devas.

As you can see, the Garuda is a very intriguing mythical creature to Thailand (especially among the communities of Hindus and Buddhists). Studying about this creature or any other could gain us more understanding about how their religions have shaped their societies through the stories of these mythical creatures as well.