This finely executed sculpture depicts Garuda, the mythical bird and the vahana or sacred vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
In the present form, he is seated on a lotus throne. He has two hands which are making the gesture of adoration (anjalimudra). He has the staring eyes, wings and nose of a hawk.
There is a Vaishnavite mark on his fore-head between the eyebrows. His hair is partly upswept and partly loose hanging down on the back. He has webbed feet and is wearing a loincloth richly incised with decorative designs.
He is traditionally inimical to the nagas (serpents) who are but his step-brothers. In fact, Garuda eats up serpents and that is why he is also known as Pannagabhojana (eater of serpent). It is said that besides being the mount of Vishnu, Garuda is also regarded as a divine being and independent entity.
One of the earliest surviving images of Garuda is carved on the inner side of the middle architrave of the eastern gateway of Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh). He has also been richly mentioned in early Indian literature. The Rigveda calls him Garutman and describes him as a bird with 'beautiful wings'. The Mahabharata mentions Garuda as Amritaharanata who had stolen the heavenly nectar or amrita. Indeed, Garuda is widely represented in art, thought and literature.
This description by Dr. Shailendra Kumar Verma, Ph.D. His doctorate thesis is on the "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (from its inception to 8th century A.D)."
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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