Sri Venugopala - 03

Oleograph of “Sri Venugopala” (Krishna) by the artist CG Ramanujam. The oleograph depicts Krishna, the god of compassion, tenderness, and love; and one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. The Sanskrit word Venu means ‘flute’ and gopala means ‘cow protector’ as well as ‘protector of the world’. On either side of Krishna are Radha and Rukmini in decorated saris, with one of them offering a garland while the other holds a lotus. Krishna holds a flute in his elegant hands, and his hair is tied in the characteristic topknot and decorated with a headpiece. A cow has wrapped himself around Krishna’s legs, and is licking his left foot, and two calves on either side of the frame gaze up at him. Above him is a tree where even the birds seem to be enchanted by Krishna’s music.