The Garuda (गरुड) is a fabulous bird or bird-like creature in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain mythology. He is the Vahan (vehicle) mount (Vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu, a dharma-protector and Astasena in Buddhism, and the Yaksha of the Jain Tirthankara Shantinatha.
Garuda is the king of birds and a divine eagle-like sunbird. He is shown either in the zoomorphic form - a giant bird with partially open wings or an anthropomorphic form - a man with wings and some bird features. Garuda is a protector with the power to quickly move anywhere, always watchful and an enemy of the serpent. He is also known as Tarkshya and Vynateya.
Garuda (गरुड) a bird deity, with the head and wings of an eagle and sometimes with the rest of his body like that of a man and he is also the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. This god-bird is thought to be the remover of obstacles. His image is placed near Vishnu in temples and in pictures he is depicted carrying Vishnu in heaven on its back. The shape of the Shila is like that of a bird Garuda and Maha Vishnu is present in the form of Viraat Vishnu having all 10 incarnations within the Shaligram Shila. The Shila is smooth, well-shaped, lustrous, small sized, cold to touch, has perfect impressions.
Benefits of Garuda Shaligram: