South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s5.14

c8.s5.14

Images of the flute-playing Krishna generally called Vēnu-Gōpāla (Muralīdhara) without, however, the circle of dancers, are largely worshipped in temples. He stands on his left leg with the right bent across and resting on the toe, and plays upon the flute. When the figure is intended for worship in temples the two upper hands will hold the conch and the discus and there will usually also be the images of his two consorts Rukminī and Satyā on either side (fig. 27).¹ In the hundred-pillared *mandapa* of the Varadarājasvāmin temple at Little Conjeeveram is a figure of the flute-playing Krishna with ten arms (fig. 28). The *Pāñcharātrāgama* calls this form of Krishna by the name Madana-Gōpāla. In paintings MADANA-GŌPĀLA is often represented as leaning against a cow, with one foot bent crosswise and resting on the toe. Cows and cow-herds are also often shown gathering round him. The dance with Gōpis, with which the flute-playing Krishna is intimately connected, is found only in drawings. The esoteric sense of this flute-play and the dance is the supreme joy which the devotees experience in moments of overflowing love in the presence of the object of their devotion.