Garuda

Indian mythology · divine being · speed, devouring of serpents

The king of birds and mount of Vishnu, born of Kashyapa and Vinata. He stormed heaven itself to steal the nectar that freed his mother from slavery, and won Vishnu's friendship by asking nothing for himself.

Stories

Garuda and the Nectar

To free his mother from slavery, Garuda storms heaven itself for the pot of amrita, scattering the gods and dousing the fire that guards it. Vishnu, impressed that the bird takes the nectar without drinking a drop, asks only his friendship; Indra's thunderbolt costs him a single feather, shed out of courtesy.