Hindu have a lot of stories and texts, one of the several stories is about Garuda and Dragon or some Asia People known as Naga which already existed more than 3,000 years.
Garuda and dragons can be seen in Balinese paintings (Indonesia), Himalaya bronzes, Japanese and Tibetan rituals, Thailand's wayang, Cambodian architecture, and many other temples in Southeast Asia.
In the Hindustani temples, you might see these two creatures by the paintings, cravings in few relics, and statues.
Hindu Mythology, Mahabharata
According to Hindu mythology titled Mahabharata the giant birdlike Garuda spends all of eternity killing the snake like Dragons. The story began when Kasyapa married Winata and Kadru which is they're sisters.
One day, the husband offers each wife one wish. Kadru requests for a thousand Dragon sons. Meanwhile Winata only ask for 2 children but that each child would be equal to 1,000 children of Kadru.
Not long after that, the two women were given eggs with the quantities they wanted before. Hundred years passed, and a hundred Kadru eggs were hatched as Dragons. But difference at Winata, her two eggs haven't hatched yet.
By the time Winata lost her patience, she decided to forcefully break the eggs one by one. When the first one was hatched, then there's a man called Aruna (which is known today as the sun puller). Because it was hatched by force, Aruna's power hasn't fully yet.
When his mother decided to plan to do the same thing with the other eggs. Knowing that, Aruna. He stops his mother from repeating the previous mistake. Feeling upset, Aruna decides to bring his mother to her sister, Kadru.
Kadru made Winata as her prisoner and also her minion because she lost the deals. Not long after, the second egg was born and known as a Garuda. Knowing his mother was held by Kadru, Garuda decides to free his mother by stealing the nectar of immortality from the gods. But later he swears revenge for his mother’s treatment and has been fighting dragons (Kadru legacy) ever since.
The Portrayed of Garuda
The Garuda is portrayed as a bird-like creature from Hindu mythology which is a mix of both eagle and human. The Garuda embodies hevely and rebirth such as wiseness and hope. But Garuda also a good warrior that consistently fights Dragon.
Garuda can be seen as a statue at Tugu Bali-Indonesia, The Temple of the Emerald Buddha-Thailand, and a few Cambodian temples. Not only that, the symbol of Garuda can be seen as the main icon in the nation emblems of Indonesia and Thailand. But also can be seen in Philippines and Malaysia emblems with meaning strength and power.
Dragon, Underworld Warrior
Different story from Garuda, Asian also call this creatures as Naga, in Hinduism dragon snake is portrayed as an underworld warrior which has no mercy in every fight. Dragon embodies fastness, and is good at fighting.
In Cambodia, Dragons are revered as predecessors of the Cambodian people and protectors of Buddha. Portrayed as local gods, Cambodian believe they're using the power to help people.
Thailand has a myth that in the past, there's a huge Dragon called Muchalinda. There's a story where the dragon uses his head to shield Buddha from a hurricane when he's doing meditation. Nowadays, almost every Buddhist temple has dragon statues at its roof and also at the gates.
Mekong Cruise, Viet Nam Tourism
Like the Garuda, the Dragon tales are not only known as Budhha and Hindu books. In Viet Nam, locals who live near Mekong believe there's a dragon which lives in the river with a few apparitions.
Because of that there's a tourist attraction which is popular as the Mekong Cruise. Many people believe if they ride along in the river during October until January, someone might see a fireball that came from the dragon.
Not everyone believes, some people think the fireball is only fermentation from the bottom river.
Comparison With Europe Dragon
Dragons were already popular in Europe. There are many myth stories about it, the Dragons is often to be adapted in the movies or series such as The Hobbit and Game Of Thrones. European dragons are mostly portrayed like pangolin bodies but with bigger feet and sharper tail with Dinosaur head.
Meanwhile, Asian Dragons mostly like Chinese's dragons which are more like snakes and some of them have small feet. Japan also have same potray for the Dragon. This can be seen in Japanese anime titled One Piece.
