Sreekrishnaleela - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

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

The panel is depicted on a pancharam (false door motif) and thus has two halves, which is further divided into two halves: The first panel shows white-skinned Balarama standing with two other cowheard boys: a yellow-skinned cowherd boy and a green-skin cowherd boy. They are accompanied by a set of four cows, with one having spots on its back. There is a tree in the background. The second panel (at the top right corner) shows a green-skinned Krishna atop a tree, holding on to its branches. Krishna and the cowherd boys have peacock feathers atop their crowns. The third panel shows Kaliyan the snake coiling itself around Krishna’s body. The final panel on the bottom left corner shows the full Kaliyamardhanam scene, with Krishna dancing atop Kaliyan, holding the latter’s tail.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Secondary Figures: Balarama, Kaliyan; two cowherd boys
Iconographic Form: Krishna (Vishnu’s incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Krishna with yellow lower garment, jewellery, long hair decorated with peacock feathers and flowers, left hand raoised in vyakhyana mudra, right hand holding Kaliyan’s tail in one depiction and a tree branch in another depiction; Balarama is white-skinned and has hair set up in a manner similar to Krishna; four cows of different colours: red, white with spots, yellow and white without spots; two cowherd boys are yellow-skinned and green-skinned with hair raised in a bun decorated with flowers and peacock feathers; Kaliyan the serpent has three hoods; there are trees in the backdrop.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 5
Adjacent Panels: Mohini, Dakshinamoorthy

Narrative

Textual Source: Bhagavata Purana
Mythological Tale: Kamsa tries to kill Krishna because of a prophecy that said Krishna would be the reason for Kamsa’s death. Kaliyan the serpent was one of the rakshasas sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna. Kaliyan tries to devour Krishna, but in vain. Krishna dances atop Kalian’s hoods and slays him. This is among one of the most popular tales of Sreekrishna, or Sreekrishnaleela.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 12/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: CMT_P005
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.