Who is Vishnu and Garuda?

Vishnu stands as one god within the Hindu trio known as the Trimurti. This trio, consisting of Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva, each bear different responsibilities concerning our world. While Brahma’s job involves creating the universe, Shiva’s duty calls for its destruction. In contrast, Vishnu preserves and safeguards the universe.

Vishnu’s role entails returning to earth during hardships, reestablishing the equilibrium of good and evil. Currently, Hindus believe Vishnu has reincarnated nine times. They also believe a final reincarnation will happen before this world’s end. People who worship Vishnu, known as Vaishnavas, view him as the supreme god. They see the remaining gods as minor or semi-gods. Vaishnavas hold Vishnu in exclusive admiration. This single-minded devotion to Vishnu is coined Vaishnavism.

Garuda, a significant figure in Hindu myths, is a bird, which could be a dragon or eagle. Vishnu, a deity, considers this bird his mountain.
The Rig Veda, an ancient text, compares the sun to a bird soaring in the sky. This eagle bring the celestial ambrosia plant from the sky to earth. In the epic tale of Mahabharata, it’s said that Garuda and Aruna, the sun god Surya’s charioteer, were brothers. Garuda’s mom, Vinata, considered as the birds’ mother, was fooled into being a servant to her sibling and fellow spouse, Kadru, the Nagas (snakes) mother.

The continuing enmity between birds, especially Garuda, and snakes is believed to have resulted from this. The Nagas agreed to release Vinata if Garuda could obtain a draught of the elixir of immortality, either amrita or soma. Garuda accomplished this feat, endowing the snake with the ability to shed its old skin.

On his way back from heaven, he met the god Vishnu and agreed to serve as his vehicle and as his emblem. Garuda. Krishna Garuda. Krishna ascending on Garuda, Satyabhama, opaque watercolor, gold and silver on paper, Bundi, Rajasthan, India, c.1730. At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

One document describes Garuda as emerald green, with a dragon’s beak, round eyes, golden wings and four arms, and a dragon-like chest, knees and legs. He is depicted as an anthropomorphic figure with wings and hawk-like features. His two hands are folded in prayer (anjali mudra) and the other two hold an umbrella and a pot of amrita.
Sometimes Vishnu rides on his shoulders. Images of Garuda are used by Vishnu devotees to show their affiliation. Coins from the Gupta period feature such images. With the spread of Hinduism, Garuda traveled to Nepal and Southeast Asia, where he is often depicted on monuments. He is related to the royal families of several countries in Southeast Asia.

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