Yashoda breastfeeding Krishna - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Krishna Location: Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Yashoda in a green saree is depicted as breastfeeding an infant Krishna. Her face has completely obliterated, but it is possible to make out that she is wearing beautiful neckpieces and jimiki earring. Her hair is tied in a bun behind her back.She is yellow skin and bare-breasted. A green-coloured infant Krishna is drinking Yashoda’s breastmilk. He is clutching her breast with his tiny hand. A white-skinned Balarama appears above Yashoda’s shoulders. There are curtains in the backdrop.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Balarama, Yashoda
Iconographic Form: Krishna (Vishnu’s incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Yellow skinned Yashoda wears a green saree and necklaces; nursing Krishna; wears jimiki earrings; Krishna is a green-skinned infant wearing only a hip chain; Balarama stands over Yashoda’s shoulders; Balarama is white-skinned.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 13
Adjacent Panels: Poothana moksham

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Kamsa the king of Mathura, learns that he will die at the hand of his nephew. In a bid to save the baby, Krishna’s father exchanges his newborn with that of Nandagopan and Yashoda’s child. Yashoda unaware of the truth, raises Krishna as her own. She appears as a doting mother.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 03/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: PVM_P014
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.