Another long weekend commences as Janmashtami will be celebrated on Monday, August 26. The birth or 'janma' of Lord Krishna, the eighth child of Devaki is celebrated on the eighth day or 'ashtami' of the month of Bhadrapada (hindu calendar). Hindu mythology celebrates Krishna as the avatar of Vishnu, born to destroy the evil ruler of Mathura, Kansa and ally to the Pandavas.
As an eternally fascinating Lord for his millions of devotees, Krishna has also always been a beloved muse for artists. The tales of Krishna explore every human emotion, be it the innocence of a baby, the mischief of a child, the pure love of a mother and child, the passionate romance of lovers, the loyalty of a friendship and the supreme courage to be righteous. Revered as the God of compassion, love and protection, Krishna has been featured in art and architecture, beautiful panels and murals, stone and metal sculptures and famously, in delicate, intricate miniature paintings.
Historically, Krishna’s art was a part of every Indian household, in some form or another. The earliest paintings known to explore Krishna are the 2nd BCE rock paintings at Tikla near Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A short Brahmi inscription accompanies the painting created using red ochre pigment depicting three human figures.
The first figure, a male, holding a halayudha or a plough-shaped weapon, a representation of Balarama, elder brother of Krishna. The second male figure can be identified as Vasudeva. Krishna is depicted with hea.