Garuda a bird creature
A garuda is a bird creature of Buddhist mythology that combines the features of gods and animals. The Dhyani Buddha Amoghasiddhi sometimes is pictured riding a garuda.
The garuda first appeared in Hinduism, where they were pictured as humans with wings and beaks. In Buddhist iconography the garuda is more birdlike.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the garuda is one of the Four Dignities -- animals that represent characteristics of a bodhisattva. The four animals are the dragon, representing power; the tiger, representing confidence; the snow lion, representing fearlessness; and the garuda, representing wisdom.
Garudas are the enemies of nagas. In the Maha-samaya Sutta of the Pali Canon, the Buddha makes peace between nagas and garudas.
Garuda (Skt. garuḍa; Tib. & Wyl. khyung) – a mythical bird-like creature symbolizing various elements of the Buddhist path.
Overview
The garuda symbol can have the following meanings:
A mythical creature
One of the four dignities associated with the windhorse
A deity of protection
Our primordial nature
A Mythical Creature
On the outer level, the garuda is a mythical semi-divine bird-like creature that is the enemy of the nagas. It is represented in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions (especially in Tibetan, Cham, Khmer and Javan art). In the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, the garuda was associated with the khyung, which are important deities of the Bön pantheon, and practised during healing rituals in order to counter certain illnesses provoked by nagas.
One of the Four Dignities
The garuda is also one of the four dignities associated with the windhorse. In this context, the garuda represents the fire element, and it is said to to symbolize freedom from hopes and fears.
Deity of Protection
Garuda is also an important deity of protection. For example:
It is one of the Three Deities of the Great Master Vajrapani
It is depicted above Vajrakilaya in Vajrakilaya thangkas
The practice of Takhyung Barwa combines the practices of Hayagriva, Guru Drakpo, and Garuda.
Our Primordial Nature
In the Dzogchen teachings, the garuda represents our primordial nature. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying says:
The Dzogchen Tantras, the ancient teachings from which the bardo instructions come, speak of a mythical bird, the garuda, which is born fully grown. This image symbolizes our primordial nature, which is already completely perfect. The garuda chick has all its wing feathers fully developed inside the egg, but it cannot fly before it hatches. Only at the moment when the shell cracks open can it burst out and soar into the sky. Similarly, the masters tell us, the qualities of buddhahood are veiled by the body, and as soon as the body is discarded, they will be radiantly displayed
