I am forever blessed! For I am his own breath, within his flute! And if that breath is used up in one song I shall not mourn. The joy of all the worlds is in his flute, And I his breath! (From a Baul song)
The image of Krishna as Venugopala is a much familiar Hindu image. In this manifestation he stands with his legs crossed at the ankles, kissing out rhythmic melodies from the flute held at his lips. This icon has inspired generations of poets and artists who continue to create a rich plethora of images of extraordinary rhetorical and visual richness.
Some scholars speculate that the idea of a fluting Krishna derives from that of the lonely shepherd (go-pal) who plays his bamboo flute (venu) while tending his flock. While other cowherders of Vrindavana hold a shepherd's staff, Krishna's staff is also his flute. He, however, does not play upon it to indulge the cows, but to charm the gopis (cowherdesses). Metaphorically, he is, of course, the supreme being, the great soul (param-atma), into which the individual soul (jiva-atma) represented by the gopis, will merge, drawn by the enchanting music of his flute. He is thus the great ocean into which all rivers will eventually lose their individual identities.
In this sculpture, cast in the round, the benevolent, smiling Krishna wears a high curving crown, with a solar halo at the back framing his head. Two enormous kundalas (ear-rings) reach nearly down to his shoulders and a sumptuous amount of jewelry adorns the rest of his body. He also wears the sacred diagonal thread of the Brahmins and the clinging, decoratively incised dhoti extends up to the reverse of the statue. His body is slender and lissom, an embodiment of grace and sensuality, exemplified in the slim, almost feminine waist and the shapely, angular limbs.
Of Related Interest:
The Crowd of Charming Girls Seduces Hari
More Sculptures of Krishna
Paintings on Krishna
Krishna in Jewelry
Krishna in Textiles
Books on Krishna
Iconographic Perception of Krishna's Image
Playing with Krishna - God as Child in Art and Mythology
Krishna the Divine Lover in Indian Art
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
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