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Vishnu
[From Valmiki Ramayan, 1/15]
See also   Vishnu's Aparaadh

Vishnu is a four armed deity. He holds a Divine Lotus suggesting that He is the whole sole Creator - Srishti Kartaa. An ever-cycling disc called Sudarshan Chakra symbolizes His ever-lasting dynamism and that He is the maintainer of that continuous dynamism of already created Universe - Sthiti Kartaa. A mace called Kaumodakee for bludgeoning enemies as he is the eradicator of evil - Sanhaar Kartaa, and a conch-shell called Paanchjanya which produces the sound of Aum, listening to which Mukti (salvation) is achieved by the true devotees. The sound of the same conch shell gives out an unbearable sound in respect of enemies. He is entered here without a lotus in hand. That means there is no need for a creation afresh. The other items in His hands are enough to deal with Raavan. When the Lotus is not in the hand, that hand is taken as a blessing hand - Abhaya Hast. And now he is giving that A + Bhaya (no fear), an assurance, to all gods.

The expression that Vishnu has come on his eagle-vehicle Garud has a cross-reference to the previous chapter's Garud Yagya Vedee (Eagle-shaped Altar of Fire) that is laid by priests of Dasharath. It will be laid so with assumption that Garud, also called Suparn, the Divine Eagle will fly in to transport Dasharath's oblations. The Vaidik ritual is also called Suparn, the golden winged, or great winged vehicle to conduct oblations. And the eagle-vehicle of Vishnu is the quickest carrier of oblations to the deities specified in Vaidik hymn.

Here it shows that this Garud has already carried the oblations offered by King Dasharath to the chanting of Vaidik hymns by Sage Rishyashring to Vishnu. So Vishnu is now coming mounted on the same meritorious carrier, Garud. Secondly, the simile of Sun's coming mounted on a black cloud has some thing to do with Yagya. A silver cloud is of no value in giving rains. The rain has got an inseparable combination with Vaidik ritual. Since the ritual of Dasharath is going to fructify the rainfall is due on earth. Hence, the Sun on collecting all the merits of the rituals of Dasharath, in the form waters is coming riding on a black cloud to shower rains. Hence Vishnu and Sun both are ready now shower their graces. Vishnu will shower His grace by being Dasharath's son and eradicating the evil called Raavan, and the Sun by showering the gratuitous and cooling rains.