VISHNU
ON GARUDA
EARLY JAVANESE STATUE
This is a statue of Sri Vishnu riding the Garuda. This statue is
found in Java. It was sculpted during the time of Airlanga,
who was the king of Java in the early 11th century A.D. He was a contemporary
of Rajendra Chola I. He overthrew the suzerainty of the Emperor of SriVijaya
and proclaimed independance.
In this Javanese version, we see a very different style altogether.
It is more dynamic than most such sculptures found in India. Part of the
statue is missing. Otherwise we would have been able to see the out-spread
wing of Garuda. We still can see the anterior edge of the out-spread
wings extending upwards on either sides of the figure of Vishnu.
Note the feathers on the legs. And the sharp claws-talons
clutching a coiled serpent. The eye of Garuda seem to be fixed intensely
on something while he is emitting his falcon-scream through his open beak,
which you seem to hear, piercing through the cyber-space.
The figure of Vishnu is unique in the sense that Vishnu is found
in the Yogic posture like Dakshinamurthi minus the CinMudra. But
he is seated like the Buddha . Note the discus (Sudarsana Cakra)
and the conch (Pancajanya).
The discus is held in what is known as the Prayoga pose - but in
the horizontal plane.
by
DR.S.JAYABARATHI
Malaysia