Navaneethachoran - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P009 — Krishna: full panel view

Detail Photos

Deity: Krishna Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Bhagavata Purana Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Krishna stealing butter from an uri or pot-like vessel. He is standing on top of a Gopa, who is standing on top of a pedestal. There are two other Gopas looking at Krishna stealing the butter. One of them might be Balarama.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Balarama
Iconographic Form: Navaneethachoran (Krisha as butter thief)
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Krishna with a peacock feather crown, standing on top of a gopa or cowherd boy. He is wearing nothing but ornaments. He is stealing butter from an uri. There are three boys standing near him, helping him steal the butter. The white-skinned boy with yellow dhoti, maybe Balarama.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 9
Adjacent Panels: Narasimham and Ayyappa jananam

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Krishna is standing atop several of gopas, or cowherd boys, in an attempt to steal venna, or butter. He is known to have a fondness for butter, and it is still given as an offering in most of the temples of Krishna.
Episode: Navaneethachoran

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Poor
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 15/07/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P009
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.