Venugopala - Kerala Mural Archive

Alangad, ASG_P015 — Krishna: full panel view

Detail Photos

Alangad, ASG_P015 — Krishna: detail view

Deity: Krishna Location: Alangad Sree Santana Gopala Murthy Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Krishna as Venugopala, wearing a yellow dhoti, playing the flute, has a crown with peacock feathers, and legs are crossed. There are cows behind him and a forest scene.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Krishna
Iconographic Form: Krishna (Vishnu's incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Blue-skinned Krishna with yellow lower garment or dhoti. A greenish cloth is tied around his waist. He is wearing a vanamala or garland of flowers. He is wearing jewelry of different kinds. He has a crown which is topped with peacock feathers. He is holding a flute using both his hands. He is playing the flute. Cows behind him. Forest scene in the background.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 15
Adjacent Panels: Ganapathi and Dattathreyan

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: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple authorities
Date of Documentation: 08/08/2024
Artist: Neelakantan Ilayath
Identifier: ASG_P015
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.