Vishnu Transformed as Flute-Playing Krishna

This splendid and highly innovative brass statue – two and half feet tall and one and half feet wide, represents Vishnu transformed as flute-playing Krishna – Venugopal in his full manifestation. In his Venugopal form, Krishna is represented not only as playing on his flute but also as accompanied by cows, and gopis including Radha. In Vaishnava analogy, gopis and 'gaus'– cows, have been considered as one. The root-term 'gau' or 'go'of Gopal stands for both, cow and infatuating senses, which Radha and gopis symbolised. Hence, sometimes Venugopal form has associated with it either the cows or the gopis. This transformation of Vishnu as Krishna is not the same as an incarnation. It is rather the artist's innovation, by which he has transformed Vishnu as Krishna, and Krishna as Vishnu.

Figure's tri-bhang posture, act of flute-playing, emotional bearing on face, cow and gopis including Radha, Kadamba tree and peacocks perching under it, are elements of Krishna's iconography. They represent a pastoral Krishna – wandering in the forest, playing flute for infatuating gopis, and grazing and keeping cows. But, figure's four arms, instead of normal two, highly bejewelled spiral crown, Vaishnava attributes – disc, and conch, lotus base, costume and ornaments, and characteristic tilaka on forehead, are essentially the aspects of Vishnu, the monarch of all three worlds. Krishna represents rhythm and melody, and Vishnu heavenly grandeur and kingly grace. Vishnu carries instruments of destruction and dissolution, and Krishna love, delight and creation. This blend of two iconographic visions is the most unique feature of the image.

Another dimension of the image is still more innovative. It is a full moon night. From the earth to the heaven everything glows in its brilliance. Trees emit myriad of fragrant colourful flowers and birds sing full-throated songs. Krishna, drawn by its magic, comes to Yamuna and under a Kadamba tree begins playing on his flute. Maddened by its melody, gopis, against the wishes of their husbands, rush to the spot and begin dancing to the tunes of the flute. Each of the gopis feels that Krishna is dancing with her. Shrimad Bhagavata Purana has identified the event as Rasa, the cosmic dance of Krishna, in which all are with him and he is with all – the union of yearning selves with the supreme Self. This small statue seems to represent the microbial representation of this Rasa. Krishna under the Kadamba plays on his flute, trees burst with colourful flowers, birds sing, and gopis dance in full ecstasy. Radha, like the Manini Nayika, the proud mistress, though with her mind captured by Krishna's music, feigns to move away, as if expecting Krishna to come and entreat her.

Iconography of all figures and Prabhavali are characteristically South Indian, as one finds in Chalukyan bronzes. Four-armed Krishna carries in two of them a flute, and in other two the disc and conch. The pedestal rises in three parts, the lower comprising floral arabesques, middle a row of elephants, and the uppermost a full bloomed lotus; on it stands Krishna. Four corners have been negotiated with icons of horses. The frontal arm of the pedestal has towards left Radha with a pot, which symbolises her gopi-rupa. Towards the right stands a cow. The centre has a Vaishnava tilaka motif and in between, the motifs of disc and conch. Two gopis in front and one each on right and left are engaged in ecstatic dance. The projected parts that carry Radha and cow are supported on conventional figures of yakshas, a usual element of the ancient temple architecture. Prabhavali is an interesting element. On the upper side it transforms into a Kadamba, but rising on both sides from peacock motifs and with varied foliage it is only Prabhavali.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

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