Garuda, in Hindu mythology, is the bird (a kite or an eagle) and the vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu. Ie Rigveda the sun is compared to a bird in its flight across the sky, and an eagle carries the ambrosial soma plant from heaven to earth. Garuda (Skt. garuḍa; Tib. ཁྱུང་, khyung, Wyl. khyung) – is a mythical bird-like creature that features in both Buddhist and Hindu lore. They also symbolize various elements of the Buddhist path.