The Indians call the phoenix Garuda, Garuda has an eagles beak and scarlet
wings with a golden human body , and a white face.Garuda is the avatar of
Vishnu and one of the supreme seers of infinite consciousness. As with all
other gods, he has many names,Amrtaharana, Khagesvara, Nagantaka = destroyer
of snakes, Raktapaksha, Sarparati, Sitanana = white face, Suparna, Suvarnakaya,
Vinayaka = destroyer of obstacles, Tarksya, and Vihangama.
Legend:
Kadru , the mother of all serpents egged on a fight with Garuda's mother ,
whom she locked away. Garuda found the Soma who gave him immortality to free
his mother from Kadru. (This is when Vishnu chooses Garuda as his avatar or
mount . Take your choice.) However Garuda didn't feel that warm fuzzy toward
serpents (the naga family) so he killed one every day for his meal. But a
buddhist prince taught him abstinence and Garuda brought many of the serpents
he killed back to life.
