Mischievous Gopala

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Hinduism suggests that all gods are but various representation of the one true god. Since Hinduism evolved as a gradually developed thinking process, it has a large number of gods. Krishna is the avatar of avatar of lord Vishnu. He was born of this earth, reared in the soil of Braj, yielding to the temptations of this world, indulgent, inimitable, lovable in his pranks, ever guilty yet redeemed. He who made the world dance to his tune is dancing with abandon. His blue body corresponds perfectly to the iconographic description. His hair is knotted on top of his head, with his favourite peacock feather decorating it. Here, he wears a red dhoti; instead of the yellow, giving way to the artist's own choice. A green sash is tied across his waist and a white length of cloth swirls around his body. He is adorned by a long elegant garland of wild flowers, which the crafts person has used to show movement of Krishna's quick dance steps. He would appear incomplete without his flute, which is tacked safely in the sash. Krishna, when he chooses to dance and to play upon the flute, becomes ethereal and divine, even magical. It is that moment of magic and ecstasy that the artist invokes in the image of Sri Krishna.

The vivacious subject has been coupled with an equally vibrant art form. Even today, batik is made as it has been made for hundreds of years: by applying a succession of designs in wax, each application resisting a different color dye. The scraggy lines, so characteristic of batik show so well on the pale color outside the niche Krishna is placed in. it is difficult to divide whether this work is special because of the iconographic representation or the craft is par excellence!

This description by Renu Rana.