The dark-skinned youth of Vrindavana, the apple of the eyes of gorgeous Gopikas (milk maidens) Sri Krishna is one Hindu deity whose opulent personality has made him the favorite of sculptors whose primary task is worshiping divine beauty and capturing its essence in their works. Owing to his associations with the themes of romance, passion, and Sringara (emotion of romance), Sri Krishna has taken the place of the Lord of Love Kamadeva, surpassing him in terms of popularity in arts and aesthetics. In this unique Panchaloha Sri Krishna icon, the youthful cowherd has been visualized as the Lord of Romance and auspiciousness, with his divine persona complemented by another popular element from Indian iconographical tradition- Shalabhanjikas (women with trees).
This magnificent Sri Krishna bronze statue is placed on a two-tiered platform, with the lower section decorated with a Gau (cow) motif and the upper pedestal designed in the shape of an upturned lotus. Sri Krishna stands with his flute in his characteristic Tribhanga (triple bent) posture that brings out the grace of his form perfectly. On his head is an imposing Kiritamukuta (a crown worn by Sri Vishnu and other Vaishnava deities) adorned with a Mayura Pankha (peacock feather) motif, on his forehead is Tilaka (auspicious mark) traditionally painted with Kastoori (musk) paste, in his ears are Makaraakrita-Kundala (earrings shaped like the mythical composite animal Makara which is a symbol of royalty and divine beauty), in his neck are necklaces, on his arms are Baajubanda (armbands, with peacock feather motifs), and he wears elegant bracelets and anklets.
Krishna’s legendary Pitambara (yellow colored cloth, usually in his dhoti lower body garment) has been beautifully delineated in this Sri Krishna bronze, with its tassels forming curls on his sides and an elaborate jeweled Kamarabanda (girdle) holding it in its place while beautifying the lithesome waist of Kanha. A long garland made from the petals of lotus frames the thrice-bent beauty of the bronze Sri Krishna icon, appearing to embody the charm of its wearer.
The splendor of this Panchaloha Krishna icon is magnified manifold by the presence of the Shalabhanjikas that flank Krishna, while gracefully holding on to the blooming creepers that form the aureole of Krishna. Shalabhanjikas in Indian art represent the idea of fecundity, beauty, and auspiciousness which is associated with youthful women, whose mere touch is believed to cause things in nature to flower. Linking the imagery of Shalabhanjikas with Sri Krishna in this Panchaloha is evidence of the creative might of the Sthapatis, whose knowledge of Indian culture helped them discover the possibility of the interconnectedness of Sri Krishna and women with the tree, both the motifs representing the godliness of youth and romance.
The figures of the Shalabhanjikas are sculpted with immense attention to detail which can be experienced in the exquisiteness of their bodies, ornaments, and facial features. Concluding the idea of Sri Krishna as the supreme god of love, the Sthapati of this bronze Krishna statue has added a pair of parrots- a bird which is the bird-mount of Kamadeva, on the top of the aureole.
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