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Karura, Karura-Ou (Skt. Garuda, Garudas)
Bird of Life, Celestial Eagle, Half Eagle Half Man
Member of the Tenbu
One of the Eight Legions (Hachi Bushu)
One of the 28 Legions Guarding the 1000-Arm Kannon
Origin India
 
(L) Karura at Sanjusangendo in Kyoto (see full image below)
(R) NOH Mask, photo courtesty of http://www.iijnet.or.jp
BELOW: Karura at Sanjusangendo in Kyoto
Kamakura Era, Wood; photo courtesy of Handbook by Ishii Ayako
 The Karura is a mythical bird-man creature of Hindu lore who was later adopted into the Buddhist pantheon as a protector deity. The gold-colored "Garuda" had a human body but the wings and face/beak of an eagle. In early Hindu literature, Garuda appears as the mount (avatar) of Lord Vishnu, and is thus semi-divine. In Tibetan tradition, Garuda (Khyung) is a mythical bird, similar to an eagle, but of gigantic proportions, able to block the sunlight with its size.
In Japan, Karua is an enormous fire-breathing eagle-man with golden feathers and magic gems crowning its head.
Other Karura Trivia
- Enemy of snakes and dragons (enemy of the Naga, a Hindu grouping that includes serpents and dragons). Karura is the mortal enemy of the dragon, who it feeds on. Only a dragon who possesses a Buddhist talisman (or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching) can escape from the dragon-eating Karura.
- In Southeast Asia the walls of temples are often decorated with Karura, as at Angkor or Java
- Can block the sun with his size (can it be traced to India?)
- Thought to be oldest of the birds
- Flapping of wings sounded like clap of thunder
- Personifies the sun
- Garuda was semi-divine, as he was the mount of Vishnu. Garuda is depicted as having a golden body, white face, red wings, and an eagle's beak and wings but a man's body. He wears a crown on his head like his master, Vishnu. He is ancient and huge, and can block out the sun. <this paragraph quoted from Wikipedia>
- In Japanese art, the Karura is often depicted as an ornate bird with human head treading on serpents (need to find example painting). Karura does not appear often in Japanese Buddhist sculpture, and he is rarely the object of central devotion.
- There is a great deal of confusion about Karura and the mythical Phoenix (Ho-oo). Many web sites refer to the Phoenix as Karura, and vice versa, but I believe this is wrong. The two appear to be completely different mythical creatures, and should not be confused as the same beast.
- A fierce bird of prey, the mount of Vishnu, variously described as an eagle, hawk, or kite. Garuda is the enemy of all snakes.
- Garuda (Jp = Karura) is the national symbol of both Thailand and Indonesia. Moreover, the national airline of Indonesian is named Garuda Indonesia.
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Head of Garuda with body of Lion
The Eight-Legged Lion - Son of Union between Garuda and Lion
One of the Three Symbols of Victory in the Fight against Disharmony
from Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture
by Loden Sherap Dagyab Rinpoche
Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-047-9
Click here to buy book at Amazon
Image made by Ida Made Tlaga in Sanur (Bali) around 1880.
The original is kept at the library of Leiden University.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
BELOW FROM:
web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/kazuho/karura.htm
Karura is the name of a legendary bird
Karura flys in the four heavens over Mt. Shumisen
Eating dragons
Its wings shine with a golden color
Magical gems are at its head
Blazes from its mouth
Over 1,200 km in size
Japanese Text Below
迦楼羅(かるら）は伝説上の鳥の名前。
須弥山（しゅみせん）の四天を翔り（かけり）
龍を獲って食とする
翼は金色（こんじき）
頭に如意珠（にょいじゅ）
常に口から火炎を吐く
その大きさ三百余里
Photo courtesy of www.mediawars.ne.jp
Karura is sometimes associated/confused with Karyoubinga.
See Karyoubinga page for more details about the latter deity.
ABOVE PHOTO
Karyoubinga Engraving on Octogonal Pedestal
Chuusonji Temple 中尊寺, 12th Century
(Length) 193.9 cm (Height) 52.5cm.jpg
Photo courtesy 日本の美をめぐる, No. 35
Karyoubinga (Skt. = Kalavinka) 迦陵頻伽
Celestial beings who play music, dance,
and fly through the air. They appear in many forms,
often with bird's body and angelic head,
and are sometimes associated with Amida Nyorai.
They appear often in Buddhist paintings, ritual robes,
murals, and temple decorations.
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