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Leaf from a Bhagavata-Purana Manuscript
Mewar, India
ca. 1630-1650
6 3/8H x 12 5/8W in. (inside border)
"The Krishna legend symbolizes the eternal fight between good and evil, between God and Satan. Ultimately it is good that triumphs, and not evil; it is Vishnu who wins and not the asuras. Kalanemi, the demon antagonist of Vishnu, in his incarnation as Drumalika rapes Pavanarekha, the beautiful and faithful wife of Ugrasena, the king of Mathura. The child born to Pavanarekha was Kamsa. As soon as he grew up Kamsa deposed his father, and became king of Mathura. He began to oppress all worshippers of Vishnu, and on account of his cruelty even the patient Mother Earth groaned, and in the form of a cow went complaining to the celestial region and sought the help of Vishnu. Vishnu became incarnate in the womb of Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva. Devaki is Kamsa's sister. It was foretold that a son of Devaki would destroy the tyrant Kamsa. To forestall his doom, Kamsa kept Vasudeva and Devaki confined in his palace. The first six children born to Devaki were put to death. When she conceived the seventh child, it was miraculously transferred to the womb of Rohini, a co-wife of Vasudeva in Vrindavana. He was Balarama, later to be Krishna's constant companion and supporter. The eighth child was Krishna. At the time of his birth the palace prison was filled with a radiance. The guards fell into a deep slumber, Vasudeva's fetters fell apart and the prison doors swung open. It was a stormy night and Vasudeva, placing the child in a winnowing basket, proceeded towards Gokula. Protected by Sesha, he crossed the Jamuna. He exchanged the child with the newly born female child of Yasoda, the wife of Nanda, the headman of Gokula. Krishna was reared at Gokula by Nanda and Yasoda as their own son." (Randhawa, 1960)
The painting here depicts the scene when Kamsa learns that another child has been born to Devaki and as he attempts to kill this child it transforms itself into Mother Earth and tells Kamsa that his doom is now near, as the child born to Vasudeva and Devaki is still alive.
Ref: Randhawa, M.S., Kangra Paintings of the Bhagavata Purana, National Museum of India, New Delhi, 1960.
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