USC Pacific Asia Docent Training

1. Allan Roman Reyes
Object Fact Sheet
Southeast Asia Gallery
Object Description:
Garuda
The figure of the Hindu deity Vishnu is seen here, resting on the shoulders of Garuda,
hisvāhana or vehicle. Vishnu wears extensive jewelry, including a necklace, armlets, bracelets,
earrings and hair ornaments. His four hands carry attributes that aid in his identification: his
raised left hand carries the conch shell, while the upper right holds the chakra, a wheel-like
weapon. The lower left features a lotus bud and something more difficult to see is the mace
which his lower right hand holds alongside his right leg. Garuda, a deity who has features of
both a bird and a man, is shown here with a beak and wings, but also human arms and legs.
Despite the worn condition of the stone, through exposure to the elements and/or soil, details
are still visible which communicate the initial power of the object. Vishnu’s feet are delicately
supported by Garuda’s hands, as if he could spring into action at any moment. Both figures’
expressions convey a solemnity befitting their heroic roles. The features and attributes
indicate that the work is from the central Java area of Indonesia, which has a rich history of
Hindu and Buddhist art, in contrast to its current predominance of Islam in the country.
I want to introduce the concept of cyclical time and guardian deities.
Script: Hi, my name is Allan and I am a docent here at the USC Pacific Asia museum. A
docent here at this particular museum helps re-interpret facts and beliefs from
different cultures and environments so you can better understand it.
Today you are in the land of India where one of the major beliefs is Hinduism. The
family is very special to this belief and some of its members are Brahma, the lord of all
creation, who usually pictured beside Vishnu or Shiva. Brahma is also known as the
Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Transformer (transformer as one who
initiates change and not an Autobot). Have you heard of these same three figures
before? (mention the Fates in Greek mythology)
Now Vishnu who was known as the Preserver was said to have many arms to show his
divine powers. Do you remember what belief had another figure with many arms?
(Avalokiteshvara)Vishnu also had a conch shell (voc.) that represented the sound “OM”
–which is said to be the sound of the Universe.

2. How do you feel when you hear that sound? He also held a mace (voc.), which can
be held ceremonially or as a weapon, a symbol of protection or the power of Nature.
Vishnu stands for balance; once an imbalance has been reached, it is Shiva’s job to step
in and initiate Change. When you hear the word Balance, what do you think of?
Vishnu needs help maintaining this Balance so he asks the help of his friend Garuda,
King of the Birds. It is said when Garuda was born, he appeared as a raging inferno
equal to the end of the world so the other gods begged him to have mercy. Garuda
heard their plea and reduced himself in size and energy. Garuda is shown hunting
snakes or Nagas, which primarily represents rebirth, death and mortality, due to the
‘casting off’ its skin and being symbolically "reborn". When you hear the name
‘King of the Birds’, what imaginary figure comes to your mind? What are they
wearing and what do they carry?
How Garuda became King of the Birds ~ Garuda’s natural enemy is the snake (you can
see him battling them in many of his pictures). Somehow, Garuda and his mother were
under the spell of his stepmother who ruled all the snakes. To release them Garuda had
to rescue a magic potion from Indra, Lord of Thunderstorms. Garuda went through
many traps before he was able to rescue the magic potion: HUGE flames surrounded
the palace containing the potion so Garuda had to swallow lots of water to put out the
flames. As Garuda entered the castle, he saw a giant wheel with sharp blades instead of
spokes in front of the final room. Garuda had to shrink himself to fly through the blade-
spokes and finally entered the final room where the magic potion lay. Suddenly he saw
two ferocious animals guarding the vessel! They had big round ears, enormous
whiskers, and SQUEAKED this horrible loud shriek! Garuda thought fast and flapped
his wings and blew dust into the eyes of the mice –I mean ferocious animals, and
blinded them. Finally he reached the potion and took it home to his mother to try and
free her and himself from his stepmother’s spell..
Now Garuda had to give up the potion to the snakes so he could free himself and his
mother. But he also need to return the potion to Indra or risk the wrath of the lord of
thunderstorms.. what should he do? Garuda decided to trick the snakes. He brought
the snakes the potion and they at once freed his mother and Garuda from the spell. But
right before the snakes were to drink the potion, Garuda tells to them to wash their
hands before a meal. The snakes go off to do so before realizing that ‘Hey! We don’t
have hands!’ By this time Garuda is flying fast and away with the potion, but not before
he drops some which the snakes lick and that is why they have a forked tongue today.
Bibliography: USC Docent Handbook;
http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/how_gar
uda_became_vishnus_mount.htm