This small, bronze sculpture of Garudarudha Vishnu, depicts Vishnu riding Garuda (a mythical divine bird). There is a platform behind this bronze on which the deity image would be placed. This shows it was a real vahana (vehicle) used for a small icon’s ritual worship at home and for miniature utsavar (mobile image) of Vishnu. The Tirupati style painting of Garudarudha Vishnu (Vishnu riding on Garuda) is closely associated with this image, illustrating the Vaishnava belief that Vishnu goes to the aid of his devotee as swiftly as possible riding on Garuda.
