Tribhang Murari Chaturbhujadhari Krishna, With The Towering Kirtimukha Crown

The most relatable of the Vishnu-avataras, the most widely loved deity of the Hindu pantheon. There is no way the heart of the spiritually inclined would not turn to Lord Krishna. Here He is in the iconic silhouette of the tribhang murari, which is Sanskrit for 'flute-player (murari) with the body jutting out (bhang) in three (tri) places'. In addition to the shoulder, the hip, and the ankle, the cascading sashes of the dhoti and the extended rays of His halo add harmony to the brass composition. His roopa is the very epitome of youth - tall stature, long limbs, luscious musculature. No wonder He was the blue-eyed boy of Vrindavan, especially with the young gopis whose hearts uncontrollably went out to Him.

This work speaks volumes about the personal devotion of the artisan. The Lord is shown to be wearing a gorgeous silk dhoti and sashes. The rest of Him is bedecked with a world of shringar, which gather against His skin in lifelike angles. One of the unusual aspects of this tribhang murari depiction of Lord Krishna is the fact that He is chaturbhujadhari (four-armed). His smoothly carved feet rest on the typical dual-lotus arrangement found at the feet of Indian deities (two lotuses with their pistils brought together), which in turn is placed on a multi-tiered quadrilateral pedestal. The same is engraved with rangoli-esque motifs, the lateral trappings set off by leonine figurines that are miniscule but majestic. The twoering kirtimukha crown of the Lord completes the composition.