This piece of art depicts Krishna playing in the pastures or dancing with the young gopis. The divine love of the Gopis for Lord Krishna is legendary. This picture details how the gopis are swaying to the divine music of Lord KrishnaÔÇÖs flute. Govinda or Lord Krishna commenced the Rasa or sportive dance with the devoted and worshipping Gopis who formed a circle with one anotherÔÇÖs arms intertwined. Then having stationed Himself between every two Gopis, Krishna, the Lord of all Yogas, commenced in that circle of Gopis the festive dance known as Rasa Lila with His arms about the neck of the adjacent Gopis. Every Gopi felt that her dearest Lord stood by her side. Kettle-drums were sounded and there was a shower of flowers shown as dots in the entire picture. The great Gandharvas and their wives began to sing Sri KrishnaÔÇÖs glory. Then the circle of Rasa dance was filled with the sounds of bracelets, bangles, anklets and small bells of the damsels enjoying the company of their beloved Lord. In the minds of those damsels, the glorious Lord, son of Vasudeva, shone with great brilliance and beauty like a large emerald at the centre of a garland of golden beads.

The top panel depicts the various stories of Lord Krishna vanquishing his enemies, symbolising, good over evil. Lord KrishnaÔÇÖs uncle, King Kamsa had a prediction that he would meet his end at the hands of his sister, DevakiÔÇÖs child. Despite all his efforts, Lord Krishna was born and King Kamsa came to know about his existence. He then stared killing children all over the place. The various ploys are as described:

Top Left - Lord Krishna and Putana (The Demoness)

By KamsaÔÇÖs orders, the fierce demoness Putana went about killing children in towns, villages and pasture lands. Her only occupation was to kill babies. She had the power to move in air and assume any form she liked. She entered Gokula at will and assumed the form of a beautiful woman. She entered the house of Nanda and saw the divine child in the cradle, the death to the wicked, with latent prowess and splendour, like fire submerged in ash. The cruel Putana took the baby on her lap and suckled it with her breasts containing poison. The Lord squeezed her breasts by his hands and sucked through them, her vital breath. She screamed and  tried to detach the Lord, her eyes bulged out and at last she fell dead like a great mountain. The Gopis with Rohini and Yasoda came rushing to the spot and took up the child, who was playing fearlessly on the body of Putana who was freed from her sins as she suckled the Lord. The smoke that arose out of her burning body was fragrant, like that of sandal wood, as the touch of Sri KrishnaÔÇÖs body purifies even the enemy. Putana became the foster mother of the Lord, although she had the evil intention of killing the child

Top Center - Lord Krishna and Chakatasura (Demon who turned into a Wheel)

Even though Kamsa knew that Lord Krishna was causing some mischief and had killed Puthana (a demoness), Kamsa kept sending more Asuras (demons), hoping that one of the Asuras could overpower this mere kid. The next in line was Chakatasura. Chakatasura came over to Gokula, changed himself into a wheel and hid near KrishnaÔÇÖs cradle. ChakatasuraÔÇÖs plan was to topple over KrishnaÔÇÖs cradle and crush him with his own wheel form. However, all Krishna did was to kick Chakatasura to end him and this is called the Chakatasura vadham (the killing of Chakatasura).

Top Right - Lord Krishna and Trinavarta (Demon who turned into a Tornado)

Trinavarta, the tornado demon was one of Kamsa's allies. His unprecedented power to create a whirlwind for mass destruction made him one of the most fearsome evil force. Sent to destroy Krishna, he created a scary situation by uprooting and destroying everything that came in his path. Full of pride, Trinavarta twisted a vicious dark cloud of terror and gripped Krishna in his clutches. But Krishna ripped through the tornado crashing him down to his death.

Bottom Left - Lord Krishna and Bakasur (Demon who turned into a Crane)

Bakasura (Bak─üsura) is the Crane Demon who was provoked by Kamsa to kill Krishna in return for a lavish life thereafter. His armoured sharp beak, deadly talents and volleys of fire spitting powers had earned him the reputation of an insanely powerful monster. Even the heavenly powers seemed no match for him. Blind in greed, overconfident of his own strength he challenged Krishna and after a deadly fight managed to swallow him up. But he had undermined Krishna's abilities. Krishna managed his way out and after another bout of lethal fight he forcefully stretched out Bakasura's deadly beak and shattered it.

Bottom Center - Lord Krishna and Gajendra Moksham (Salvation of the Elephant)

There was once an elephant named Gajendra who lived in a garden called Rtumat which was created by the Wind God, Varuna. This garden was located on Mount Trikuta, the "Three-Peaked Mountain." Gajendra ruled over all the other elephants in the herd. On a hot day, he proceeded with his herd to a lake to cool off in its fresh waters. Suddenly a crocodile living in the lake attacked Gajendra and caught him by the leg. Gajendra tried for a long time to escape from the crocodile's clutches. All his family, relatives and friends gathered around to help him, but in vain. The crocodile simply would not let go. When they realised that ÔÇÿdeathÔÇÖ had come close to Gajendra, they left him alone. He trumpeted in pain and helplessness until he was hoarse. As the struggle was seemingly endless (it is believed that the crocodile held Gajendra's foot for over a thousand years), and when he had spent his last drop of energy, Gajendra called to Lord Vishnu (Lord Krishna is an avatar of Lord Vishnu) to save him, holding a lotus up in the air as an offering.

Hearing his devotee's call and prayer, Vishnu rushed to the scene. As Gajendra sighted the Lord coming, he lifted a lotus with his trunk. Seeing this, Vishnu was pleased and with his Sudharshan Chakra (or spinning disc like weapon), he decapitated the crocodile. Gajendra prostrated himself before the Lord. Vishnu informed Gajendra that he, in one of his previous births, had been the celebrated King Indrayumna, a devotee of Vishnu, but due to his disrespect to the great Sage Agastya, he had been cursed to be reborn as an elephant.

Bottom Right - Lord Krishna and Aristasura (Demon who turned into a Bull)

Aristasura, the fiery bull demon attacked Vrindavan confident of overpowering Krishna to fulfill his master Kamsa's wish. His demonic appearance and wild fury scared off the common people of Vrindavan. With his violent grunt and giant horns he shattered the dam and flooded everything around. The bull thought Madhu, one of Krishna's cowherd friends, was Krishna cause he held the flute in his hand and charged to attack him. But Krishna took him by his horns and flung him over. The earth trembled as they fought till Krishna swung him violently in the air and shattered his horns bringing an end to the bull demon.

Intricately designed indian motifs adorn the borders of this piece.

Material ÔÇô Paper mache Patachitra, natural dyes and acrylic colours

NOTE: This painting should be cleaned/ dusted with a dry cloth