Garuda

Another exquisite piece of sculpture from these artistes of stone. Garuda! The divine vehicle of the Lord of the Universe--Sri Maha Vishnu. However, it is Garuda that takes the focus in this piece. Carved out of a single block of rock. Look at the leaves sheltering the image of Garuda. Doesn't it look like they are just hanging there? Look at the way the sculptor has followed his art from the right hand of Garuda to the divinity sitting on his left shoulders via the boughs at the top.On the left shoulders are the Lord and his wife, Sri Mahalakshmi. To adjust within the space and the mass of rock available, the sculptor has made Garuda kneel with grace and respect in a  posture that goes along with the flow of the sculptor's art.