Karura

The Karura (迦楼羅) is an enormous, fire-breathing creature from Japanese Hindu-Buddhist myth. It has the body of a human and the face or beak of an eagle. It is based on the original Hindu mythical divinity Garuda,. [ Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan By Saroj Kumar Chaudhuri p.151] transmitted to Japan via Buddhism. In fact, it is the Japanese transliteration of the latter.

The Karura is said to be the enemy of snakes and dragons, feeding on the latter, as the Garuda is the enemy of the Nagas (sentient serpents). Only a dragon who possesses a Buddhist talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape from the Karura.

The Karura is often mistaken for the Hōō (鳳凰), or Phoenix.

See also

* Avalerion
* Garuda
* Tengu
* Bird-people
* Millennium mamodos
* Utawarerumono

References