Venugopala - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P015 — Krishna: full panel view

Detail Photos

Deity: Krishna Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Krishna as Venugopala, green-skinned Krishna is depicted as playing a flute. He has peacock feathers on the top of his head. His legs are crossed. He is wearing a yellow dhoti and standing over a lotus-shaped pedestal.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Iconographic Form: krishna (Vishnu's incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Krishna as Venugopala, green-skinned Krishna with two arms playing the flute, wearing a yellow dhoti with green and red bands at the top, is wearing anklets, armlets, bangles, rings, necklaces, earrings, and an ornate crown. There is a jut of hair above the crown, which is decorated with peacock feathers. His legs are crossed. He's standing above a lotus pedestal. In the background is a tree with a parrot perched on top.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 15
Adjacent Panels: Mahalakshmi and Celestial Beings

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Krishna as Venugopala, or the one who plays the flute, is one of the most common depictions of Sri Krishna. In most depictions, he wears a yellow dhoti and holds a flute to his lips using both his hands. In this sketch also, he is holding the flute to his lips using both his hands, and as if he is playing the flute. He wears an ornate crown with feathers on it. Krishna's music is supposed to be attractive to the nature around him as well as the gopas, gopikas and the cows that he is in charge of.
Episode: Non-narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Poor
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 10/05/2025
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P015
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.