Bala Krishna - 04

This is a colourful Thanjavur reverse glass painting of Bala (baby) Krishna, from the 1950s/60s. Krishna has the characteristic peacock feather in his hair and is adorned with numerous gold jewellery pieces including bracelets, anklets and necklaces. He is shown trying to suck his toe, a typical child’s movement, to demonstrate his young age. Bala Krishna is sitting on the coils of the king of serpents, Shesha, whose hood flares above Krishna’s head to protect him. Krishna’s parents Yashoda and Nanda stand on either side of him with a peacock and parakeet respectively. At the top right is also a gandharva raining down blossoms as blessings on the divine child. Krishna is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love, and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities.