Garuda is a Sanskrit word which can be translated as the Golden Wings Bird or the 'Wondrous Wings Bird'.  In Indian legend, it was a fierce gigantic bird that became the King of birds.  Sometimes people call it the Great Peng Bird. According to the Sutra, when the garuda opened its wings, the small wings would cover an area of a few thousands miles while the great wings would cover an area of a few million miles.  They also have four types of birth.  They are born from transformation, fetus, eggs and dampness.

     Garudas are the enemies of dragons as they mainly feed on dragons.  Besides they eat all kinds of dragons. Luckily both the garudas and dragons are respectful towards the Buddha Dharma. So every time the garuda tried to catch the dragon, they would not catch those dragons who had the monk's sashes on their bodies.  So even though garuda are strong, fierce and brave, they suffer from hunger.  But they suffer the most upon their death.  When they could not get any food, they were blown down by the wheel of wind from the summit of the Vajra Mountain and fell to the foot of Mount Sumeru.  Every time they tried to fly up, they would fall down again.  And they would fly and fall for seven times before they died.  It was really a pitiful state. So from here we can see that living things who love to kill will finally experience great torture.