Valakhilyas

60,000 sages of the size of a thumb, sons of Kratu and Kriya, daughter of the sage Kardama.

They live in the Rauhina tree.

One day Indra insulted them, did not take them seriously because they were so small. But they were extremely powerful and created an egg from which a being should hatch that is more powerful than Indra. Indra panicked – the Valakhilyas were good-natured, they gave birth to Garuda, the king of birds, from the egg.

The Valakhilyas protect against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.