Phra Narai Vishnu GARUDA
MAGNIFICENT AMULET FROM THAILAND
Garuda
The White Eagle of Vishnu
The vehicle (mount) of Vishnu is the eagle Garuda. Just as Nandi, Shiva's vâhana (mount) is most often placed facing the god's sanctuary, outside the temple, similarly Garuda is not always at Vishnu's side, but just in front of the central sanctuary. However, in many depictions, such as the Gajendramoksha scene, Vishnu rides his eagle which leads him through the heavens.
Generally, Garuda has a human face and eagle wings. Sometimes, only its body is human, with a raptor's face and wings. Both of his hands are brought in front of his chest and joined in a gesture of prayer. In metal images of Garuda, he is often seen with his left knee on the ground. A snake decorates his head (Garuda is a big fan of snake eating). In some cases, Garuda shows, with both hands, the abhaya and the varada mudra. Rarely, we see him carrying a pot of nectar in his right hand. Indeed, in his youth, Garuda had to transport the pot of nectar far from India, to fulfill a promise he had made to Kadru, the Mother of serpents.
Son of Kashyapa and Vinatâ (one of the daughters of Daksha), he would have stolen Amrita, the Nectar of Immortality of the Gods, in order to save the life of his mother, prisoner of the Nâga to whom, subsequently, he had a mortal hatred. Indra tried to fight her to regain possession of the sacred brew but could only achieve this through persuasion, because Garuda's formidable power and indomitable courage dissuaded any brutal action.
Garuda is the brother of Aruna, the charioteer of Sûrya. He had six sons from his union with Unnati.
Garuda symbolically represents the magical Word that flies, and the hermetic teachings of the Vedas.
Other names of Garuda are Vajrâjit, "Stronger than lightning", Suparna, "He who has great wings", Garutmân, "The Chief of the Birds", Sitâtana, "He who has a white head", Gaganeshvara , "The Lord of the Sky", Rasayana, "He who is as fast as Mercury", Nagantaka, "The Destroyer of Naga Serpents", etc., so many names and epithets which underline his qualities.
Approximate dimensions: approximately 42 x 26 mm
ref: 061217- I 39 - 1176