Unveiling the Majesty of Garuda: The Legendary Protector in Buddhism

迦楼罗（梵语：गरुड，转写：Garuḍa；巴利语：Garuḷa），又音译作揭路荼，汉译大鹏金翅鸟或金翅鸟，印度神话中的一种巨鸟，是主神毗湿奴的坐骑。

佛教吸收此鸟为天龙八部之一，其形象随佛教传入东亚，在中亚和南西伯利亚受到藏传佛教影响的地区也存在此鸟的神话，还被画上泰国国徽。

The origin of Garuḍa is narrated in the Hindu epic “Mahabharata” and the Puranas. He was born as the son of sage Kashyapa and Vinata, the mother of birds. Garuḍa’s siblings include Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun god Surya, and the serpents Nagas.

佛教认为，迦楼罗是护持佛的天龙八部之一，有种种庄严宝象，金身，头生如意珠，鸣声悲苦，每天吞食一条龙王和五百条毒龙。随着体内毒气聚集，迦楼罗最后无法进食，上下翻飞七次后，飞往金刚轮山，毒气发作，全身自焚，只剩一个纯青琉璃心。天下有无数迦楼罗，由威德、大身、大满、如意四大迦楼罗王统领。同时，迦楼罗也是观世音的护法之一，观世音形象万千，也可以化身为迦楼罗。在密宗的体系中，迦楼罗（藏语：khyung）是五方佛中北方羯摩不空成就佛的坐骑，人面鸟身，寓意法王摄引一切，无不归者。

Buddhism believes that Garuḍa is one of the Eight Great Nagas that protect the Buddha. It has various majestic features, a golden body, and a head adorned with a wish-fulfilling jewel. Its cry sounds sorrowful, and every day, it devours one Naga king and five hundred poisonous snakes. As toxic gases accumulate within its body, Garuḍa eventually becomes unable to eat. After flying up and down seven times, it flies to Mount Vajra, where the poisonous gases ignite, and its entire body self-immolates, leaving behind only a pure blue crystal heart.

There are countless Garuḍa beings in the world, and they are governed by four great Garuḍa kings known as Veṇateya, Mahākāya, Mahāmāna, and Cintāmaṇi.

Additionally, Garuḍa is one of the protective deities of Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin). The manifestation of Avalokiteśvara is manifold, and it can also appear in the form of Garuḍa. In the system of Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism), Garuḍa (Tibetan: khyung) serves as the mount of the Buddha Akshobhya in the northern direction. Garuḍa has a human face and a bird’s body, symbolizing the king of Dharma who attracts all beings, leading them to ultimate realization.

In Jainism, Garuḍa is known as “Garuda Yaksha” and is considered one of the powerful yaksha deities. He is also depicted as a bird-like creature with human characteristics.

在艺术表现中，迦楼罗通常以半人半鸟或全鸟形象出现。 半人半鸟的情况下，鸟身肚脐以下是鹰的形象，肚脐以上则借用天王的外形，只有嘴如鹰喙。 面呈忿怒状，露牙齿，头戴尖顶宝冠，双发披肩，身披璎珞天衣，手戴环钏，通身金色。身后两翅红色，向外展开，其尾下垂，散开。泰国国徽、蒙古国首都乌兰巴托市徽上的迦楼罗就是此形象。而在中国中原地区的佛教寺庙中，迦楼罗常常以观世音化身之一的身份出现在供奉观音的圆通宝殿中，全身白袍，人形，唯面部尖喙，仍是鹰形。 全鸟形则通身如鸟。在中国西南地区，迦楼罗往往以金鸡形象出现，立于塔顶，另外，印度尼西亚国徽上的迦楼罗也是全鸟形象。