Garuda is a divine, mythical bird that has been greatly venerated in India through the ages. His father, Sage Kashyap was the progenitor of the devas and asuras, and his mother Vinata was the daughter of Daksha.

Many indologists hold that this deity is of Dravidian origin. A stone flag-post, often covered with a metal plate with an image of Garuda on top, is invariably erected in front of the image of the presiding deity, Lord Vishnu, in all Vaishnavaite tempes, as Garuda is considered to be one of the greatest devotees of Vishnu. During the Gupta age, which is referred to as the golden era of Indian history, the Imperial standard had an image of Garuda cast upon it. Garuda is represented as a large white-necked eagle, but his image in temples depicts him with a human trunk.

Serpents are the natural food of the eagle. The reason for this enmity is traced in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata to the jealousy between Kadru and Vinata, the mother of the serpents and of Garuda respectively, and the two rival wives of Sage Kashyap. Only Vishnu could have these two born enemies – Garuda, the mighty eagle, and Shesha, the great serpent – wait upon him together. He uses Shesha as his couch and Garuda as his mount.