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Lot Essay
The present example shows Krishna as Shri Nathji surrounded by the Rasalila. Shri Nathji is the form of Krishna worshipped especially by the cow-herding community, as it relates to the story of when Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan and held it over the town of Vrindavan to protect the people and animals from a furious downpour of rain sent by Indra, the King of the Heavans. As a reminder of this legend, Shri Nathji is shown with his hand held up in the air.
The Rasalila is the dance of love between Krishna and the gopis, in which Krishna uses his heavenly powers to multiply himself so that, though they link arms and dance in a circle, each gopi feels that she alone is the focus of his attention, thus fulfilling the bhakti each maiden feels for Krishna.
Picchvai, meaning "to hang behind," are large paintings on cloth created for rituals celebrating the life of Krishna, and served as backdrops in temples behind statues of the blue-skinned god. The subjects range from worship of Shri Nathji, to festivals such as Gopashtami and Sarat Purnima, to bhakti, the love a devotee feels for Krishna, embodied by Radha as his lover and demonstrated in the games he plays with the gopis, such as the Dana Lila or the Rasamandala. Picchvai are native to Rajasthan, where several sects of Krishna and devotees are located, and as they were replaced several times a year for each temple, they were considered to be somewhat ephemeral. It is rare to find picchvai in as good condition as those offered in this section.
The Rasalila is the dance of love between Krishna and the gopis, in which Krishna uses his heavenly powers to multiply himself so that, though they link arms and dance in a circle, each gopi feels that she alone is the focus of his attention, thus fulfilling the bhakti each maiden feels for Krishna.
Picchvai, meaning "to hang behind," are large paintings on cloth created for rituals celebrating the life of Krishna, and served as backdrops in temples behind statues of the blue-skinned god. The subjects range from worship of Shri Nathji, to festivals such as Gopashtami and Sarat Purnima, to bhakti, the love a devotee feels for Krishna, embodied by Radha as his lover and demonstrated in the games he plays with the gopis, such as the Dana Lila or the Rasamandala. Picchvai are native to Rajasthan, where several sects of Krishna and devotees are located, and as they were replaced several times a year for each temple, they were considered to be somewhat ephemeral. It is rare to find picchvai in as good condition as those offered in this section.