Garuda

A stone flag-post, often covered with a metal plate, with an image of Garuda on top, is invariably erected in front of the image of the deity in all Vaishnavaite temples. Besides this, another huge idol of Garuda is often installed in most Vaishnavaite temples, as he is considered to be one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu. During the Gupta age, which is referred to as the golden era of Indian history, the Imperial standard had a Garuda image on it.

Garuda is represented as a large white-necked eagle, but his images in the temples show him with a human trunk. Serpents are the natural food of the eagle. The reason for this enmity is traced in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata to the jealousy between Kadru and Vinata, the mother of the serpents and Garuda respectively.

Only Vishnu could have these two born enemies - Garuda, the mighty eagle and Shesha, the great serpent - wait upon him. He uses Shesha as his couch and Garuda as his mount.

Of Related Interest:

Garuda Escorts Lord Vishnu (Brass Statue)

Garuda, the Holy Bird (Brass Statue)

Garuda and Nagaraja (The Eagle and the Serpent) (Brass Statue)

Two-Headed Garuda Yab-Yum (Gilded Copper Sculpture from Nepal)

Garuda (Painting on Silk)

Garuda with Coral (Sterling Silver Pendant)

Garuda (Sterling Silver Finger-Ring)