Page from a Bhagavata Purana Series: The Birth of Krishna (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
After a heavenly voice prophesized the fate of King Kansa— that he would be killed by a child born to his sister Devaki— the evil king executed each of his nephews and nieces as they were born and imprisoned his sister and her husband, Vasudeva. While confined, Devaki gave birth to the blueskinned Krishna. Depicted here is the miracle surrounding the child’s delivery, when the couple’s chains fell off and, at the same time, their jailors began to snore and the cell doors magically opened. Fully grown, haloed, and bearing his usual attributes, Krishna stands on a cosmic lotus flanked by his adoring parents. Kansa’s guards—a motley group of armed soldiers, snakes, demons, and animals—have fallen into deep slumber. This gaily colored, rather folksy picture was painted in the northwest hill state of Mandi.
Inscribed in ink lower right: "K _ (?)/ 103"
Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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