Garuda

Garuda as national symbol of Thailand

Garuda, the eagle, is a lesser Hindu and Buddhist god, the mount of Vishnu. He 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.

He ate snakes until a Buddhist prince taught him the importance of asceticism; Garuda then resurrected all the snakes he had eaten.

Garuda is the Malay form of the Phoenix.

Thailand has the Garuda as its national symbol.

The name of the national airline of Indonesia is Garuda Indonesia.