Sreekrishnaleela - Kerala Mural Archive

Deity: Krishna Location: Mattancherry Palace Theme: Bhagavata Purana Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

This panel is a depiction of Sri Krishna Leela, that is the playful adventures of Sri Krishna as an infant. This panel has three different parts. One is that of Sri Krishna lying atop a banyan leaf, sucking his toes. The second scene consists of Krishna pulling the ural or mortar between two trees, leading them to fall, and causing the Gandharvas cursed to take the tree form to be released from the trees. They are depicted behind Krishna, holding their hands up in Anjali mudra. Beside that is the scene of Krishna taking some cows, some Gopas and Balrama are taking some cows across the forest. At the very end, is Krishna standing atop Kaliya, the serpent, and doing his iconic dance. The gopas and Balarama are depicted as witnessing the scene. A female figure stands between Balarama and Krishna, with arms folded in Anjali mudra.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Kaliyan, Manigriva, Nalakuvera
Iconographic Form: Sreekrishnaleela
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Krishna lying atop a banyan tree leaf. He is sucking the right thumb of his feet. He is wearing different types of ornaments and has shoulder-length hair. He is not wearing any clothes. He is in his baby form. The second scene consists of Krishna on all fours, dragging an ural or mortar in between two trees. Two Gandharva figures appear behind Krishna. Golden-skinned Gandharvas. Their hands are raised above their head in Anjali mudra. The next scene consists of two gopas, one green-skinned and one golden-skinned, looking at Krishna. Along with them, there is white-skinned Balarama. He is also looking at Krishna. Green-skinned Krishna is standing atop Kaliya, the serpent, three of his heads, hoods are visible in this image. The Kalindi river is also depicted as swirls or spirals. There is a female figure between Krishna and Balarama. She is golden-skinned and has her hands folded together in an Anjali mudra. There is a tree in the backdrop as well. The entire panel has a red-colored background with mashapoovu motifs drawn upon it.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Temple: Palace interior
Zone within Temple: Staircase room
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: Not Applicable
Adjacent Panels: Ananthashayanam and Koodalmanikyaswami

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Yashoda, Krishna's mother was fed up with Krishna constantly stealing butter. Inorder to teach him a lesson, she tied infant Krishna to the ural or huge traditional mortar found in ancient Kerala homes. Krishna would drag the ural across twin trees, who are actually two gandharvas forced to take up the tree form. As the trees fall, the gandharvas get freed of their curse and takes up their original form. Both gandharvas display their admiration and gratitude to Krishna by folding their hands in anjali mudra.
Episode: Sreekrishnaleela

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Good
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: ASI permission
Date of Documentation: 01/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: MCP_P017
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.