Krishna Defeats Trinavarta, the Demon Whirlwind, from a Bhagavata Purana (Book of the Lord)

The painting depicts the attack of the demon Trinavarta in the form of a tornado on Yasoda’s baby (Krishna), whom he carried into the air. The demon was then strangled by Krishna and falls down dead. Krishna appears twice, once within the whirlwind and again standing unharmed before his mother and the adoring gopis.

Historical period(s)
ca. 1520
School
Pre-Mughal School
Medium
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 18.4 x 23.9 cm (7 1/4 x 9 7/16 in)
Geography
North India, Delhi-Agra
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1987.4
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Painting

Keywords
Bhagavata Purana, child, demon, Gopi, India, Krishna, Sanskrit
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

The painting depicts the attack of the demon Trinavarta in the form of a tornado on Yasoda's baby (Krishna), whom he carried into the air. The demon was then strangled by Krishna and falls down dead. Krishna appears twice, once within the whirlwind and again standing unharmed before his mother and the adoring gopis.

Inscription(s)

Recto: "Sa Mitharam" in Davanagari, identity unknown, but possibly the patron.
Text: Bhagavata Purana.
Verso: 14 lines of Sanskrit.

Label

The classic Hindu scripture Bhagavata Purana (Book of the Lord), extols the god Vishnu as the supreme lord of the universe.  Composed in the Sanskrit language around 900, the text describes the many incarnations of Vishnu; including Krishna. This particular manuscript relates tales of Krishna's childhood. The blue-skinned Krishna appears twice: first swept up in the whirlwind, which is actually the demon Trinavarta, and then, after wrestling free, standing unharmed before his mother and the adoring cowherd girls.

Published References
  • John Seyller. Workshop and Patron in Mughal India: The Freer Ramayana and Other Illustrated Manuscripts of 'Abd al-Rahim. Supplementum 42, Zürich and Washington. p. 18, fig. 1.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court. Exh. cat. Washington, 1981. pp. 46-49.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court., 2nd ed. Washington and Ahmedabad, India, 2012. cat. 4B, p. 49.
  • John Seyller. The Adventures of Hamza: Painting and Storytelling in Mughal India. Washington. cat. 1, p. 55.
  • B.N. Goswamy. The Spirit of Indian Painting: Close Encounters with 101 Great Works, 1100-1900. Gurgaon, Haryana, India. p. 144.
Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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