South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s7.12

c8.s7.12

The *Silpasāra* mentions an image called Garuda-Nārāyaṇa wherein Vishnu is seen riding on Garuda, holding a bow and arrow, conch and discus. An illustration from Chidambaram (fig. 35), which is mutilated, is apparently one of Garuda-Nārāyaṇa. On a pillar in the Rāmasvāmin temple at Kumbakōnam is a fine representation of this form of Vishnu in the attitude of blessing the elephant (*gajēndra*) after rescuing it from the attack of a crocodile. The scene is generally known as Gajēndra-mōksha (fig. 36).