Lord Krishna is on Mumbai-s mind as two events pay tribute: a book launch and an art exhibition
An 18th century Kota miniature is part of the Bhagvat Goshti exhibition at Krishna Gallery at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. The painting depicts the scene when Krishna, in his playfulness, steals the clothes of bathing gopis (milkmaids)
Bhagvata Goshti will celebrate the deity in a special exhibition that features artworks based on the 10th book of Srimad Bhagavatam
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From miniature paintings to bronze and woodworks, Krishna has always entranced artists across generations with his leelas or tales.
An 18th century Kota miniature is part of the Bhagvat Goshti exhibition at Krishna Gallery at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. The painting depicts the scene when Krishna, in his playfulness, steals the clothes of bathing gopis milkmaids of Vrindavan
"Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagvata Purana is a 9th century Vaishnava followers of Vishnu text that brought the Vaishnava theology and aesthetic into a text form. The tenth chapter, called the Dashama Skanda is the story of the life of Krishna, from his birth to when he leaves Vrindavan. The text is characterised by the leelas with the gopis milkmaids of Vrindavan. It includes his childish pranks such as stealing butter, romantic interludes with dancing with the gopis and being the destroyer of various demons. The central issue of the 10th book is Shringar Bhakti. For the first time, a religious text presented ecstatic adoration of god through amorous playing and gives justification for it," says Dr Harsha Dehejia, the curator of the exhibition, Bhagvat Goshti.
17th century bronze Venugopal
Dehejia adds that the book talks about Krishna worship not through dry, arid rituals but through song and dance. "Krishna says don’t waste time on religious rites and rituals but show devotion through mellifluous, honey-like love and companionship. The book showcases how throughout his stay at Vrindavan, the gopis see him in his human form, as a handsome, young person who plays the flute and has a playful attitude. "It ends with raas leela or the circular dance on the day of Sharad Poonam when he shows his divinity and is present in multiple forms with each gopi, and then he disappears," says the Krishna scholar. Through this, he adds, Krishna indicated that he is available to everyone and one has to find him in their heart and the serenity of the mind. It is this essence and his leelas in Vrindavan that have been brought out in various art forms of India. The exhibition will feature paintings, bronzes, wood and stone works, fabrics and scrolls, all highlighting Krishna’s life from Dashma Skanda.
A miniature from Rajasthan depicting raas leela where Krishna shows his divine self
Dehejia says that Krishna first appeared in art in 16th century in Gujarat. The use then spread to Malwa, Rajasthan, the Pahari school of art, Bengal, Odisha and even in Assam because of saint Sankardev. In south, Krishna is seen through bronze sculptures. Krishna is not just a muse in fine arts but performing arts, too, as Krishna leelas are presented in various dance forms such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam. "All of this is because the devotion was not supposed to be inward, secret contemplative but a public celebration," says Dehejia. The opening of the exhibition will see an Odissi performance to live music by Prachi Mehta Jariwala, titled, Rasas of Krishna. "In the sattras or monasteries of Assam, there are no images of Krishna, but the book is richly celebrated and worshipped like the Sikhs do," says Dehejia.
Exhibition opens to public on January 21, 10.15 am to 6 pm Dance performance
On: Today, 6.30 pm
At: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Fort.
Call: 22844484
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