Sreekrishnaleela - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

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 has four different parts, which depicts Sri Krishna Leela, or the playful tales of Krishna. First is Krishna drinking the milk of Poothana. She is holding baby Krishna in her hands. Portion containing her head is damaged. In the second scene, there is Krishna standing on the back of several gopas in an attempt to steal butter from the uri or vessel hanging from the ceiling. This part is mostly damaged. In the next panel is Krishna holding up the Govardhana mountain and saving his villagers from flood. At the very end is the depiction of Krishna as being attacked by Kaliyan the snake.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Kaliyan, Poothana
Iconographic Form: Krishna (Vishnu's reincarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Sri Krishna Leela, or the playful tales of Sri Krishna, are being depicted in this panel. To the very left of the panel is Poothana, green-skinned, wearing jewelry, yellow dhoti, with red and green bands, holding an infant green-colored Krishna, who is drinking from one of her breast. He is wearing nothing but a waist band. Portion containing the head of Putana is damaged. Second image shows green-skinned Krishna standing atop the shoulders of one yellow-skinned gopa, who is standing on top of another gopa, who is standing atop a pedestal. There is another green-colored gopa, standing nearby looking at the scene. Krishna has long black hair and is trying to steal butter from the uri, or vessel, hanging from above. Krishna's face and the uri is mostly damaged. There is also a cat-like creature at the feet of the pedestal. The third panel consists of a green-skinned Krishna holding up a Govardhana mountain with one of his palms and playing the flute in another one of his arms. There are a lot of people underneath the mountain. The top portion of the mountain is damaged. The third panel depicts Krishna being attacked by Kaliya, the snake. The snake has five visible hoods and a long tail. Krishna is standing on top of one of Kaliya's hoods, holding his tail in one arm, slaying the rakshasa or demon. There are several figures surrounding him, looking at the scene with admiration, holding their hands up in Anjali Mudra. There is a riverbed depicted below in swirling pattern. Most of this panel is damaged.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Temple: Palace interior
Zone within Temple: Ramayana Chamber
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: Not Applicable
Adjacent Panels: Venugopalan and Ramayanam

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Before his birth, it was prophesized that Krishna would be the cause of Kamsa's death. So in order to prevent that, Kamsa tried to kill Krishna while he was a newborn baby, but it ended up in vain. Krishna was transported to the care of Yashoda and Nandagopa. Learning of the existence of Krishna, he sent different demons or rakshasas, in an attempt to kill him. This panel depicts various instances from the life of an infant Krishna. First is Krishna as a newborn being breastfed by Putana, the demon/asura, sent by Kamsa. She had poison in her breast and fed Krishna the poisoned milk. Krishna drank both the poisoned milk as well as blood of Putana, leading to her death. This episode is known as Putana Moksham. In the next scene, 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. The next scene shows Krishna as Govardhanagiridhara. When Krishna asks his villagers to worship the Govardhana mountain instead of Indra, Indra became angry caused heavy rainfall and flash floods in the region. Krishna, in an attempt to save his villagers, lifted up the Govardhana mountain and stood there still for several days until the rain passed away and Indra admitted defeat. He played the flute in order to soothe the people tormented by the rain. Kaliya is a snake, one of the demons sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna. So while Krishna was bathing in the Kalindi river, the Kaliya emerged and tried attacking him, tried to devour him whole. But Krishna started dancing on top of Kaliya's hood, causing him to die. This is known as the Kaliya Mardhana episode.
Episode: Poothanamoksham, Kaliyamardhanam, Govardhanagiridhara

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: ASI permission
Date of Documentation: 01/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: MCP_P029
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.