Garuda, in the Hindu religion, is an eaglelike being who serves as the vakana (mount) and emblem of the god Vishnu. Garuda is generally represented as having the body, head, wings, talons, and beak of a kite or eagle. Sometimes he is shown with a humanlike body.
As Hinduism spread from ancient India to Nepal and Southeast Asia, Garuda became associated with the cultures of other countries. In Indonesia, for example, Garuda is a prominent character in traditional literature and shadow plays.
A representation of Garuda as a golden eagle is the national emblem of Indonesia. In 1945, the figure was chosen to bear the nation’s coat of arms.
