The Divine Musician

This sculpture was carved from Kadamba wood. Krishna is shown here playing his flute. Especially notable is the manner in which the accomplished artist has depicted the folds of his drape and the 'flurry' of his garland. He sits on a lotus and the twist of his torso, while crossing one leg over another has been beautifully modelled.

When Krishna, sweetness and grace itself, played the flute, its impact was bewitching. Indeed, his flute, with its obvious phallic connotations, is but an extension of his beauty.

The Bhagwata Purana says that when the strains of his flute wafted through Vrindavan, all things became intoxicated with passion. Not even the wives of gods could resist its call. It was as if all of creation for a moment stopped to listen rapt in attention. As he played, clouds bent low to come closer to him, plants and creepers swayed in silent salute, the reeds from which his flute was made wept tears of joy and rivers slowed their pace in involuntary obeisance.

Vallabhacharaya (1479-1531), has categorized the sound of Krishna's flute into five kinds: When the lord plays with his flute to the left, passion awakes in women; when his face is to the right, desire surges in both men and women; when his face points upwards, Kama (physical desire) infuses the gods; and when downwards, animals and birds become its prey; and when he plays straight ahead, even insentient things cannot insulate themselves from its effect.