Villagetalkies: minor expanded details per sources further and corrected details

2025-11-02T09:51:27Z

minor expanded details per sources further and corrected details

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 2 November 2025
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	{{For\|the subregion in Eritrea\|Karura ~~Subregion~~}}		{{Short description\|Japanese mythological creature}}
			{{For\|the subregion in Eritrea\|Karura subregion}}
	[[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg\|thumb\|A statue depicting a wingless Karura from [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara\|Nara]], 8th century.]]		[[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg\|thumb\|A statue depicting a wingless Karura from [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara\|Nara]], 8th century.]]
			[[File:観音と迦楼羅 Avalokitasvara and Garuda.jpg\|thumb\|An illustration from an 1866 Japanese book. Karura, who is an incarnation of [[Guanyin\|Bodhisattva Kannon]] in this scene, gives a sermon to folks.]]

	The {{nihongo\|'''Karura'''\|迦楼羅}} is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head<ref name=shincho>{{cite book\|author=Shinchosha\|script-title=ja:新潮世界美術事典\|trans-title=Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art\|year=1985\|publisher=Shinchosha\|isbn=4-10-730206-7}}</ref> in [[Japanese mythology]].		The {{nihongo\|'''Karura'''\|迦楼羅}} is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head<ref name=shincho>{{cite book\|author=Shinchosha\|script-title=ja:新潮世界美術事典\|trans-title=Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art\|year=1985\|publisher=Shinchosha\|isbn=4-10-730206-7}}</ref> in [[Japanese mythology]].

	The name is a [[transliteration]]<ref name=shincho/> of [[garuda]],<ref name=shincho/> a race of enormously gigantic birds in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan \|first=Saroj Kumar \|last=Chaudhuri \|page=151}}</ref> ~~the~~ Japanese Buddhist version is based upon Hindu Mythology. The same creature may go by the name of {{Nihongo3\|lit. "gold-winged bird"\|金翅鳥\|konjichō\|Skr. ''{{lang\|sa\|suparṇa}}''}}.<ref name=shincho/>		The name is a [[transliteration]]<ref name=shincho/> of [[garuda]],<ref name=shincho/> a race of enormously gigantic birds in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite book \|title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan \|first=Saroj Kumar \|last=Chaudhuri \|page=151}}</ref> The Japanese Buddhist version is based upon Hindu Mythology. The same creature may go by the name of {{Nihongo3\|lit. "gold-winged bird"\|金翅鳥\|konjichō\|Skr. ''{{lang\|sa\|suparṇa}}''}}.<ref name=shincho/>

	The karura is said to be enormous,<ref name=kojien>{{cite book\|last=Shinmura\|first=Izuru\|script-title=ja:広辞苑\|trans-title=Kōjien\|year=1976\|publisher=Iwanami}}. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition</ref> fire-breathing,<ref name=kojien/> and to feed on dragons/serpents,<ref name=kojien/> just as Garuda is the bane of [[Nāga]]s. Only a dragon who possesses a [[Buddhist]] talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.{{citation needed\|date=April 2012}} Shumisen or [[Mount Meru]] is said to be its habitat.<ref name=kojien/>		The karura is said to be enormous,<ref name=kojien>{{cite book\|last=Shinmura\|first=Izuru\|script-title=ja:広辞苑\|trans-title=Kōjien\|year=1976\|publisher=Iwanami}}. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition</ref> fire-breathing,<ref name=kojien/> and to feed on dragons/serpents,<ref name=kojien/> just as Garuda is the bane of [[Nāga]]s. Only a dragon who possesses a [[Buddhist]] talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.{{citation needed\|date=April 2012}} Shumisen or [[Mount Meru]] is said to be its habitat.<ref name=kojien/>
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	But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall ({{Nihongo\|''Kongō buin''\|金剛部院}}) section of the [[Womb Realm]] mandala ({{Nihongo\|''Taizōkai mandara''\|胎蔵界曼荼羅}}) and other [[iconographic]] books and scrolls.<ref name=shincho/>		But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall ({{Nihongo\|''Kongō buin''\|金剛部院}}) section of the [[Womb Realm]] mandala ({{Nihongo\|''Taizōkai mandara''\|胎蔵界曼荼羅}}) and other [[iconographic]] books and scrolls.<ref name=shincho/>
	~~Karura ward is an electoral area within westlands,Nairobi City County.~~

	==In fine art==		==In fine art==
	[[File:Karura (gigaku mask).jpg\|thumb\|left\|~~karura~~ gikau mask (source:''Shuko Jisshu'', Todaiji Hachimangu (1895))]]		[[File:Karura (gigaku mask).jpg\|thumb\|left\|Karura gikau mask (source: ''Shuko Jisshu'', Todaiji Hachimangu (1895))]]

	The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of [[gigaku]].<ref name=shincho/><ref name=kojien/>		The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of [[gigaku]].<ref name=shincho/><ref name=kojien/>
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	==In popular culture==		==In popular culture==
	The ''[[Pokémon]]'' evolutionary line of [[Magby]], [[List of generation I Pokémon#Magmar\|Magmar]], and [[Magmortar]] ~~are~~ based on the karura.{{~~citation needed~~\|~~date~~=~~March 2022~~}}		The ''[[Pokémon]]'' evolutionary line of [[Magby]], [[List of generation I Pokémon#Magmar\|Magmar]], and [[Magmortar]] may have been based on the karura.

			In the anime ''[[Blue Exorcist]]'' Karura is a powerful fire demon that can be seen in service of the Myōō Dharani. <ref>{{Cite book \|last=Kazue \|first=Kato \|title=Blue Exorcist Vol. 7 \|publisher=VIZ Media LLC \|year=2012 \|isbn=978-1421542621 \|language=Japanese}}</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==
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	==References==		==References==
	{{~~Reflist~~}}		{{reflist}}

	==External links==		==External links==
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	[[Category:Avian humanoids]]		[[Category:Avian humanoids]]
	[[Category:Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism]]		[[Category:Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism]]
			[[Category:Mythological and legendary Japanese birds]]
			[[Category:Japanese Buddhist deities]]

	{{Japan-myth-stub}}		{{Japan-myth-stub}}

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-09-18T18:00:45Z

Created a new article

New page

{{For|the subregion in Eritrea|Karura Subregion}}
[[File:Karura of Kofukuji.jpg|thumb|A statue depicting a wingless Karura from [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], 8th century.]]
The {{nihongo|'''Karura'''|迦楼羅}} is a divine creature with a human torso and birdlike head<ref name=shincho>{{cite book|author=Shinchosha|script-title=ja:新潮世界美術事典|trans-title=Shincho Encyclopedia of World Art|year=1985|publisher=Shinchosha|isbn=4-10-730206-7}}</ref> in [[Japanese mythology]].

The name is a [[transliteration]]<ref name=shincho/> of [[garuda]],<ref name=shincho/> a race of enormously gigantic birds in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan |first=Saroj Kumar |last=Chaudhuri |page=151}}</ref> the Japanese Buddhist version is based upon Hindu Mythology. The same creature may go by the name of {{Nihongo3|lit. "gold-winged bird"|金翅鳥|konjichō|Skr. ''{{lang|sa|suparṇa}}''}}.<ref name=shincho/>

The karura is said to be enormous,<ref name=kojien>{{cite book|last=Shinmura|first=Izuru|script-title=ja:広辞苑|trans-title=Kōjien|year=1976|publisher=Iwanami}}. Japanese dictionary, 2nd revised edition</ref> fire-breathing,<ref name=kojien/> and to feed on dragons/serpents,<ref name=kojien/> just as Garuda is the bane of [[Nāga]]s. Only a dragon who possesses a [[Buddhist]] talisman, or one who has converted to the Buddhist teaching, can escape unharmed from the Karura.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Shumisen or [[Mount Meru]] is said to be its habitat.<ref name=kojien/>

Karura is one of the [[proselytism|proselytized]] and converted creatures recruited to form a guardian unit called the {{Nihongo|''[[Eight Legions|Hachibushū]]''|八部衆||"Devas of the Eight Classes"}}.<ref name=kofukuji-cat>{{cite book|last=Murano|first=Takao|others=Tetsurô Kôno (trans.)|script-title=ja:興福寺国宝展|trans-title=Kōfukuji kokuhō ten |type=exhibit catalog|year=1997|publisher=Art Research Foundation |at=Item #3-2, p.vii (English caption); 32-33 (photo); p.189 (text by Kaneko Tomoaki({{lang|ja|金子智明}})}}</ref><ref>The multilexic {{Harvnb|Shinchosha|1985}} dictionary does not give an English or any other language equivalent for this entry.</ref>

One famous example is the Karura statue at [[Kōfuku-ji]], [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], amongst the eight deva statues presented at the [[Buddhābhiṣeka]] dated to the year [[Tenpyō]] 6 or 734, pictured top right).<ref name=kofukuji-cat/> This karura is depicted as wearing [[Tang dynasty|Tang Chinese]]-style armor, and thus is seen wingless.

But more conventionally, the Karura is depicted as a winged being with human torso and avian head, as in the Vajra Hall ({{Nihongo|''Kongō buin''|金剛部院}}) section of the [[Womb Realm]] mandala ({{Nihongo|''Taizōkai mandara''|胎蔵界曼荼羅}}) and other [[iconographic]] books and scrolls.<ref name=shincho/>
Karura ward is an electoral area within westlands,Nairobi City County.

==In fine art==
[[File:Karura (gigaku mask).jpg|thumb|left|karura gikau mask (source:''Shuko Jisshu'', Todaiji Hachimangu (1895))]]

The karura (garuda) mask is one of the stock character masks worn by performers of the ancient Japanese courtly dance art of [[gigaku]].<ref name=shincho/><ref name=kojien/>

The flaming nimbus or halo is known by the name "karura flame"<ref name=shincho/> and typically seen adorning behind the statue of the {{Nihongo|[[Fudō-Myō|Fudō-myōō]]|不動明王}}).

The karura is also said to be the prototype of the depictions of the ''[[tengu]]''<ref name=kojien/> or ''[[karasutengu]]''.<ref name=shincho/>

==In popular culture==
The ''[[Pokémon]]'' evolutionary line of [[Magby]], [[List of generation I Pokémon#Magmar|Magmar]], and [[Magmortar]] are based on the karura.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
::::::* [[Avalerion]]
::::::* [[Garuda]]
::::::* [[Kalaviṅka]]
::::::* [[Kinnara]]
::::::* [[List of avian humanoids]]
::::::* [[List of Zatch Bell! characters]]
::::::* [[Tengu]]
::::::* [[Utawarerumono]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Buddhist gods]]
[[Category:Birds in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Japanese legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Mythological birds of prey]]
[[Category:Avian humanoids]]
[[Category:Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism]]

{{Japan-myth-stub}}

Karura - Revision history

Villagetalkies: minor expanded details per sources further and corrected details

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article