One of the great joys of not being religious or even spiritual—the latter is a bogus idea anyway but more about that some other time—in the Indian context is that one can genuinely appreciate the arts emanating from that glorious cultural tradition without the burden of piety. The distance from piety to sacred is not that far. So it also saves one from being sacred. Also, the distance from sacred to sanctimony is quite short. So one is spared being sanctimonious too. But I digress.
Speaking of glorious arts emanating out of India’s splendidly creative religious manifestations, I found this astounding late 16th century painting (1590-95) on Google Arts courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA). What is more is that the MoMA has made it available for free download.
The painting is titled "Krishna Holds Up Mount Govardhan to Shelter the Villagers of Braj". It is a folio from a Harivamsa (The Legend of Hari (Krishna). Its dimensions are H. 11 3/8 in. x W. 7 7/8 in. and it is done in ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper.
Today happens to be celebrated as Janmashtami or Krishn’s birthday across India and in many parts of the world. The painting represents the idea that Krishn is lifting Mount Govardhan much to the astonishment of some around him. There are those who are just going about their business. There are so many brilliant details to this work.
What struck me first is the choice of a resplendent, turmeric yellow pitambar that Krishn is wearing contrasting against his famous cumulonimbus blue complexion.
Those around Krishn watch with a mixture of awe, reverence, befuddlement and even indifference. In one case, a man is blissfully asleep, oblivious to this magical feat. The expressions on people’s faces are a remarkable study by the unnamed painter. There is so much life unfolding around Krishn. There is a half-naked child with a distended belly riding astride a fierce-looking bull. Speaking of the bovine presence, there is, of course, no Krishn without the cow. There are so many lovely ones in this painting, each with very different expressions. There are buffaloes and goats as well.
Mount Govardhan has its own lovely ecology that is so distinct from the plains it towers above. The painter has done an extraordinary job of capturing the flora and fauna. There is even a white leopard lurking in a corner eyeing an antler or two.
In the left-hand middle corner, there are what seem like two tradesmen, one Hindu and the other Muslim, apparently in the midst of a transaction even as Krishn raises Mount Govardhan.
Everything about the painting gives one the sense that it all in a day’s work, for Krishn to raise a mountain, for tradesmen to do their deals, for some to sleep, for some—a leopard—to stalk a prey, for antlers to climb the mount and so on.
And the use of colors is awe inspiring. Who knew that watercolors could be so striking!
This is a fantastic painting. I am so glad I chanced upon it.