Garuda as national symbol of Indonesia

Garuda as national symbol of Thailand

Garuda (Sanskrit: Garuḍa), the eagle, is a lesser Hindu and Buddhist god, the mount (vahanam) of Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism. Garuda is depicted as having a golden body, white face, red wings, and an eagle's beak and wings but a man's body. He is ancient and huge, and can block out the sun.

Garuda is the Malay form of the Phoenix. The Japanese also know the Garuda, which they call the Karura. In Thailand it is known as Krut or Pha Krut. These three forms are local pronunciations of this Sanskrit name.

Thailand and Indonesia have the Garuda as their national symbols; the Indonesian national airline is Garuda Indonesia. The Garuda is also known in Thailand as Pha Krut.

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