Garuda and the Garuda Constellation - New York City, NY
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Metro2
N 40° 46.720 W 073° 57.767
18T E 587523 N 4514704
This sculpture is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Waymark Code: WMN267
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 12/11/2014
Views: 7
The Museum's website for this piece (
visit link) provides the following information:
"Garuda (Vishnu's Mount) Seated in Royal Ease
Period: Pandya dynasty
Date: second half of the 8th–early 9th century
Culture: India
Medium: Granulite
Dimensions: H. 54 1/4 in. (137.8 cm); W. 41 in. (104.2 cm); D. 24 in. (61 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of Alice and Nasli M. Heeramaneck, 1983
Accession Number: 1983.518
On view in Gallery 239
Garuda is the great solar bird ridden by the Hindu god Vishnu. In this representation, however, his only birdlike characteristics are wings, the tips of which have been broken off. He sits in the relaxed posture of maharajalilasana (royal ease) and projects a noble and serene presence. He probably attended a statue of Vishnu."
Wikipedia (
visit link) also informs us that the Hindus have given the constellation known to us as Aquila the name "Garuda". That information is confirmed in the article for the constellation (
visit link)
"In Hinduism, the constellation Aquila is identified with the half-eagle half-human deity Garuda."