Garuda mount

Title

Garuda mount

Year/Period

18th century

Region

Tamil Nadu, South India

Object Type

figurines, religious symbols and sculptures

Material

bronze (metal)

Technique

casting (process), engraving (action), metalworking

Dimension

Object size: L 5.9 x W 5.8 x H 6.7

Accession No.

1998-00769

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

Credit Line

Gift of Maharukh Desai

This small, bronze sculpture of Garudarudha Vishnu, depicts Vishnu riding Garuda (a mythical divine bird). There is a platform behind this bronze on which the deity image would be placed. This shows it was a real vahana (vehicle) used for a small icon’s ritual worship at home and for miniature utsavar (mobile image) of Vishnu. The Tirupati style painting of Garudarudha Vishnu (Vishnu riding on Garuda) is closely associated with this image, illustrating the Vaishnava belief that Vishnu goes to the aid of his devotee as swiftly as possible riding on Garuda.