Garuda the king of birds, is the son of sage Kasyapa and his wife Vinata.He is vermillion colored except at the neck which is white. He is known as Garudazhwar and his icon is installed in all Vaishnavite temples He is Lord Vishnu’s Vahana (vehicle). Of all the birds, Garuda flies loftiest in the sky and the darshan of Garuda is considered very auspicious.