NORTH INDIA, RAJASTHAN, NATHDWARA OR JODHPUR, LATE 19TH CENTURY

The festival of Sharat Purnima, depicted here, is a widely celebrated in Rajasthan to symbolize the onset of autumn. Krishna dances with his consort Radha, surrounded by gopis in a celebration of rasalila. A series of interconnected stories are depicted, anticlockwise, from top: six gopis with matkas or pots approach Shri Nathji in the forest with celestial creatures at the top; Krishna multiplies himself to gather devotees and cowherds; Krishna celebrates his victory over the naga or snake, Kaliya; and Krishna dances with gopis to celebrate rasalila. Twenty-six scenes of Shri Nathji’s devotion surround the rectangular borders of the intricately rendered picchvai. Shri Nathji stands in mountain-lifting posture to depict his victory over god Indra, by protecting his people and cattle as Govardhan Nathji.