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Before we proceed further, we prefer to deal with here Narayana's vehicle or vahana Garuda since we find a number of sculptural representations of this demi-god in Japan. Incidentally, such independent representations of Garuda are found in different places of India and the earliest specimen of Garuda in sculpture is perhaps the Garudadhavaja found in the Bharhut railing pillar. Garuda is generally represented with his master in the sculptures. In Buddhism he also found an honourable position along with his master. As he is a mythical bird, many legends are associated with him. He is regarded as the traditional enemy of serpent who are said to be his step-brothers. In the Visnudharmottara Garuda is variously known as Suparna or Traksya. He has a nose in the shape of an owl. He has four hands. He is furnished with two wings and legs. He holds an umbrella in his one hand and a full pitcher in his other hand. He should generally be made slighly pot bellied and adorned with by various ornaments. In Japanese Buddhism also he is generally associated with Naraen-ten or Narayana. The texts Shosetsu-Fudo-ki, Kongo-Koen-Shifuy-Darani-kyo, Karura-o-Oyobi-Shoten Mitsugon-kyo, describe Karura as a parrot like bird. He

155 has a tuft of hair and wings. His beak should be like that of a hawk's beak. In his right hand he holds the snake god who has nine-heads and four legs. The lower limbs of his body is like that of a bird while the upper portion of his body is like of a Deva-king. He is also regarded as the protector of the Buddha and Buddhism in Japan, One representation of Karura in the Kofuku-ji temple, in Nara is noteworthy. Here the deity is standing on a rocky pedestal. He is clad in artistic robe,. His head has the characteristic of a half man and half bird. Here he is regarded as one of the eight protectors of Sakyamuni. His bija-mantra is 'ga' which is sometimes written in Sittan letter. one representation is to be found in the Sanjusangendo of the Renge-o-in. It preserves a very interesting figure of Garuda. The architecture of the temple resembles the architectural style of the Kamakura period. Another In the balcony outside the main temple there are several ancient images. One of these statues is of Karura. Here the deity is playing on a flute. The face of the deity looks like that of a human being but his nose and lips suggest a hybird character of the deity's figure. He holds the flute with his two hands. There are, however, several other figures in that balcony of the temple.