"I am the wings of the Lord... the highest in the bright sky, whose heights no human could attain. Shallow, foolish humans, who crawl across the face of the Earth and consume all they touch... How have you come to think that I might deign to speak with you? Grovel at my feet instead, as is only natural."
Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
In Hindu mythology, Garuda is a lesser Hindu divinity, usually the mount of Vishnu. Garuda is depicted as having a golden body, white face, red wings and an eagle's beak, but with a strong man's body. He wears a crown on his head. He is an ancient powerful creature in the epics, whose wing flapping can stop the spinning of heaven, earth and underworld, as well as large enough to block out the sun. The Shatapatha Brahmana mentions Garuda as the personification of courage. In the Mahabharata, Garutman is stated to be same as Garuda, then described as the one who is fast, who can shapeshift into any form and enter anywhere.
In Buddhist mythology, the garudas, also referred to as the garula, are enormous predatory birds with intelligence and social organization. They are described as beings with intelligence and social organization. They are also sometimes known as suparṇa (Sanskrit; Pāli: supaṇṇa), meaning "well-winged, having good wings." Like the nagas, they combine the characteristics of animals and divine beings, and may be considered to be among the lowest devas. In Japan, he is called the Karura, a beast that breathes fire and attacks anyone unless they convert to the teachings of Dainichi Nyorai or unless they are a dragon wearing a Buddhist talisman.
The exact size of the garuda is uncertain, but its wings are said to have a span of many miles. This may be a poetic exaggeration, but it is also said that when a garuda's wings flap, they create hurricane-like winds that darken the sky and blow down houses. A human being is so small compared to a garuda that a man can hide in the plumage of one without being noticed. They are also capable of tearing up entire banyan trees from their roots and carrying them off.
In both Hindu and Buddhist mythologies, the garuda is an enemy of the naga race.
"Origin: India. Vishnu's half-man, half-bird mount. His mother became a slave after losing a bet with the Nagas. To save her, he stole Amrita from the gods to exchange it for her freedom. On his way back, he was intercepted by Vishnu, but Brahma intervened. Garuda became Vishnu's mount in exchange for immortality. Afterwards, he devised a plan to take his mother back and became a scourge of the Nagas. In Buddhism, Garuda is known as one of the 28 attendants of Senju-Kannon."
—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS Dictionary
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]
"A divine bird-man in Hindu mythology. He hunts Nagas as a result of a dispute between their mothers. He fought with the gods once, and was granted inmortality in exchange for becoming Vishnu's carrier."
Garuda appears as support for Vishnu when he acts as a boss. A floor of the Steven instance also references the animosity between Garuda and the Nagas, as a floor of respawning Nagas cannot be passed without having a Garuda summoned. By gathering seven Flame Hearts, players are able to fuse a strengthened variation of Garuda called Golden-Winged Bird God Garuda, which learns the unique rush skill Killing Wind.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
Garuda can teach Nanashi the Zandyne, Amrita, Madness Nails and Floral Gust skills through its Demon Whisper. It benefits from learning Force, Physical and Fire skills.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers[]
"A divine bird-man in Hindu lore. He once fought the gods and received immortality in exchange for becoming Vishnu's carrier."
—Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers 3DS compendium
Soul Hackers 2[]
Garuda is a demon of the Avian race and can be found as a boss in Saizo's Soul Matrix Sector 5F. After being defeated, he can be summouned through fusion at the Cirque du Goumaden once Ringo is level 80. Depending on how Ringo responded to her teammates during the story and their resulting Soul Level, Garuda may not be available until New Game +.
Megami Ibunroku Persona[]
Garuda can only be created by fusing Rakshasa and Yaksa together and using the Karura Totem.
"A divine bird-man in Hindu lore, he once fought the gods and received immortality in exchange for becoming Vishnu's carrier."
—Persona 5 background
Garuda is the sixth Persona of the Star Arcana and can be found as a Shadow in Shido's Palace and the Sheriruth area of Mementos, with the title "Raging Bird God." He is the second of two Personas to learn the Evade Elec skill and is the first Persona that the protagonist can use in battle to learn Magarudyne. He is also the first Persona to learn Wind Amp. When itemized through Electric Chair execution in the Velvet Room, Garuda yields a Wind Amp Skill Card. Unlike most Personas, a full Arcana Burst from a maxed Rank Star Confidant with Hifumi Togo will not raise Garuda's level high enough to learn all of his skills, so a bit of grinding may become necessary.
Garuda first appears as a Shadow mini-boss in Futaba's Palace. This Shadow is a thief that stole an item of importance that Shadow Futaba tasks the Phantom Thieves with reclaiming. The party must corner the Shadow in the town and face him in order to retrieve it. Defeating him nets the party the Stolen Papyrus key item.
Royal[]
Garuda is no longer weak to Gun skills and cannot learn Heat Wave via level up anymore, with Mind Slice taking its place. When itemized through Electric Chair execution, Garuda will now yield a Garudyne Skill Card. During a fusion alarm, Garuda will yield a Magarudyne Skill Card instead.
In the Path of Da'at, the shadow has an unrecruitable super variation called the "Satiated Bird God" who is accompanied by a Ecstatic Vulture.
DemiKids Light & Dark[]
"This golden king of birds soars the skies and is feared by serpentine demons."
Garuda can perform the combo War Breath with Byako, Gembu and Kyra.
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner[]
Garuda is first encountered as a boss and accompanied by Jatayu. Once the party has reached an elevation of 4,264ft they will come to an external area where the two can be seeing circling in the skies. Once the party has raised the third platform and reaches the end of the final bridge they will attempt to block their path.
Garuda is fought as reinforcements after Jatayu falls and typically likes to use Power Wave and physical attacks. It will also typically respond to -kaja buffs and -nda debuffs as soon as possible with Dekaja and Dekunda.
Devil Survivor 2[]
"The king of birds in Hindu lore. He has a human body with the head, claws, and beak of an eagle. He once attacked the heavens for an elixir of eternal life, needed to save his mother who was seized by the serpents through trickery. His strength in fending off many gods impressed Vishnu, who granted him immortality in return for becoming a personal carrier."
—Devil Survivor 2 compendium
Shin Megami Tensei Liberation Dx2[]
"A gargantuan bird in Indian lore, the greatest enemy of the Naga. To save his captured mother from the Naga, he stole Amrita from the gods in exchange for her freedom. Impressed, Vishnu grants Garuda immortality in exchange for becoming his steed."
When a party member evades a physical attack: Inflicts Force (Magic) damage (Power: 80) on all enemies. Reduces EV/AC of all enemies by 20% if the attack is successful. (2 turns)
Innate
Gale Talon
6 MP
This skill will gain 1 Boost level with each use in the battle. The increased boost level remains when this demon revives by skills or items, or all party members revive when losing the battle. Current Boost level can be confirmed by holding the skill icon in the battle. Level 0: Inflicts Force (Magic) damage (Power: 40) 4 times on random enemies. Level 1: Inflicts Force (Magic) damage (Power: 40) 6 times on random enemies. Level 2: Inflicts Force (Magic) damage (Power: 40) 8 times on random enemies.
Innate
Mazandyne
7 MP
Inflicts Force (Magic) damage with 120 power on All Enemies.
Aragami (Awaken)
Merciless Blow
Auto
+20% damage when attacking the enemy's weak point.
Aragami (Gacha)
Agile Cry
7 MP
Reduces all enemy EV/AC and increases own parties EV/AC by 20%. (3 turns)
Protector (Awaken)
Evade
Auto
+20% Phys evasion rate.
Protector (Gacha)
Butcher
Auto
+20% damage to skills that target all or random enemies.
Psychic (Awaken)
Speedster
Auto
+50% to own affect on Battle Speed.
Psychic (Gacha)
Null Ice
Auto
Adds Ice Null.
Elementalist (Awaken)
Auto-Sukuka
Auto
Casts Sukukaja at the beginning of the 1st turn.
Elementalist (Gacha)
Gallery[]
Garuda as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Garuda as he appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE