South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s5.17

c8.s5.17

Another well-known sport of Krishna during his boyhood was the lifting up of the hill called Gōvardhana. He is said to have held the hill aloft so as to give shelter to the cow-herds of Brindāvana from a continuous down-pour of rain sent down by Indra in anger in order to flood their small village. A beautiful old representation of this scene comes from the Seven Pagodas (fig. 29) where, in the so-called Krishna-mandapa, Krishna stands in the centre with his left hand raised straight up to support the hill, while his right hand is held in the posture of offering boons (*varada*).² All round the god are seen cows and cow-herds, men and women, the latter carrying pots of milk, butter, curds or other cooked offerings to the god, and leading their young ones by the hand or accompanying their husbands. The ornaments of Krishna in this picture are very sparing. They are the usual large earrings peculiar to the sculpture of the Pallava period, bracelets, armlets and the waist-band. The high crown on the head is also a noticeable feature. This representation differs, however, from the description given in the *Silpasāra* where the god is described as having one hand with flute resting on his waist and the other supporting the hill.