Wooden Garuda

This striking large polychrome wooden Garuda is from Maharashtra. It would have probably been part of someone’s altar. The piece is painted with original vegetable colours. Garuda is the vahana of Vishnu, and is usually depicted with with the torso and limbs of a man but the talons, wings and beak of an eagle. He symbolises the wind, the all consuming rays of the sun and the esoteric teachings of the Vedas. Around his neck he wears a snake depicting his aspect as Nagantaka the destroyer of snakes. He also wears a crown around which another snake is wrapped. A teak and metal stand has been especially made to display this piece.
The piece measures 27 x 7.5 x 32 inches without the base and 27 x 9 x 34 inches with the base.