The Many-Splendoured Krishna
Dr. Jai Maharaj
published by the American Gita Society is now in printing!
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THE MANY-SPLENDOURED KRISHNA
The Hindu
[ Date: 12-07-1998 :: Pg: 35 :: Col: a
[ http://www.hinduonline.com/hindu/today/09/0912126i.htm
AMONG the numerous programmes commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of
India's freedom, is a touring exhibition on Lord Krishna, currently on view
in Britain. The show is organised by the Hayward Gallery for the Arts
Council of England.
My recent visit to Britain in the last week of May coincided with the
inauguration of the exhibition entitled `Krishna, the Divine Lover', at
London's Whitechapel Art Gallery. The display has now moved to the City
Museum and Mappin Art Gallery in Sheffield. The final venue of the
exhibition will be the Royal Pavilion Art Gallery and Museums in Brighton
where the show is slated to concluded on the eve of our next Republic Day in
January, 1998.
The exhibition is unique in many ways. It is the first major touring
exhibition in Europe exclusively devoted to a single Hindu deity. The
primary objective of the show is, according to the organisers, ``to
celebrate Krishna's enduring legend and the relevance of his message in an
age so besotted with materialism.'' The exhibition has virtually demystified
Krishna by providing the viewer a visually exciting introduction to a world
of profound philosophy and epic literature. Also, popular beliefs and
rituals have been accorded greater prominence than abstract philosophy. The
exhibits are drawn from various museums and private collections spread
throughout Britain.
The exhibition is arranged as a narrative, depicting the major events in
Krishna's life right from his birth to the fulfillment of his mission on
earth. The display mainly comprises of a series of miniature paintings of
different schools and periods. Wall texts describing varied Krishna-related
episodes facilitate in a better understanding of the precise meaning and
significance of each miniature.
The life-story of Krishna, as gleaned from the Mahabharata and the Srimad
Bhagavata, is a fascinating one. Born in a dark prison-cell, as the eighth
child of Devaki and Vasudeva, Krishna is regarded as the eighth incarnation
of Mahavishnu. He is a unique combination of the human and the divine and
thus, is identified both as the Supreme Reality as well as an ordinary human
being frequently indulging in playful pranks. During different periods of
history, various myths and legends have been woven around him. In different
parts of India, he is worshipped in varied forms. In Rajasthan, for
instance, he is revered as Srinathaji, the Lifter of Mountains or the Lord
of the Govardhana Hill. In Orissa, he is regarded as Jagannatha, i.e. the
Lord of the World.
As the best loved and most popular form of Vishnu, Krishna's influence on
Indian philosophy, religion, art and literature is profound. Of the varied
facets of Krishna's eventful life, his childhood and adolescent years spent
in the picturesque semi- urban centres of Gokul and Brindavan have been the
most favoured themes among artists and poets of all ages.
In the realm of painting, no other God has been featured in such myriad
forms and hues as Krishna. The Muslim rulers of the medieval times
discouraged sculptural art and hence, miniature painting became the chief
medium of artistic expression in Northern India. The period also saw the
spread of the bakthi movement. Saint-singers like Chaitanya, Vallabha and
Mirabai travelled through remote towns and villages preaching, in simple
language, the gospel of Krishna.
The medieval painters were largely inspired by the early literary works
dealing with the life of Krishna. Such works included the Bhagavata and the
Gita-Govinda. Not surprisingly, the earliest extant Krishna paintings are
illustrations for these books. Again, it is not a mere coincidence that such
illustrated manuscripts were first produced in Western India, near Dwaraka,
which was the main centre of Krishna's activities after he left Mathura.
The earliest painting on display here is also from Western India. This
pre-Mughal miniature portrays the marriage of Krishna. A good number of
exhibits are by artists of the imperial Mughal court. The Mughals were
staunch warriors and hence, were attracted by Krishna's heroic exploits.
The exhibition also includes the works of six contemporary artists -- M. F.
Husain, Sutapa Biswas, Permindar Kaur, Dhruva Mistry, Amrit Kaur Singh and
Rabindra Kaur Singh. Some of their works are not paintings but unusual wall
installations made of materials such as polar fleece figures, photographs
and wires. Dhruva Mistry's work is a small bronze sculpture of the crawling
baby Krishna. Amrit Kaur Singh's painting `God the Beloved' includes a real
peacock feather adorning the head of the blue God.
A video film and a catalogue of Krishna paintings were released at the
exhibition.
S. SURESH
End of Forwarded article from "S.L." <an...@erols.com>
Jai Maharaj
Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer
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