Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, from a Persian translation of the Bhagavata Purana, c. 1625
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1704
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Krishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, from a Persian translation of the Bhagavata Purana, c. 1625 is a 1704 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, depicting Deccan, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a blue-skinned god lifting a mountain with one finger while cows, people, and gods watch from below. A storm rages around him, but the mountain shields everyone like an umbrella. This painting comes from a Persian translation of an Indian story, made in the Deccan region. It blends Hindu and Islamic styles—bright colors, flat space, and tiny details like the god’s four arms and the milkmaid offering him a snack. If you like this mix of cultures, look up more art from southern india, deccan.
Indra, king of the gods and controller of rain and thunder, was furious when Krishna decided to eat his annual offerings. Perched on his white elephant, Indra sent storms to destroy Krishna and his cowherd community, but Krishna effortlessly raised the nearby Mount Govardhan like an umbrella, and everyone rejoiced in his protection. Krishna balances the mountain on one finger while fluting and taking refreshment ( paan ) from a milkmaid. Below the figure of four-armed Krishna, Indra is shown defeated, kneeling in acquiescence to Krishna’s superior power.
This page is from a rare, illustrated Persian translation of a Hindu sacred text.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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