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Balagopastuti of Bilvamangala

Manuscript Page
late 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Gujarat (made)

This illustrated page is from a manuscript of the Balagopalastuti, a Hindu text in praise of the youthful Krishna, whose charmingly mischievous acts in infancy are a great source of delight. The text is ascribed to Bilvamangala. The verses of this Sanskrit text, given over to the loving adoration (bhakti) of Krishna, inspired some of the most celebratory painting of the period. Both sides of the page are illustrated. The Sanskrit text on the front side describes how the gopis or female cowherds wish to beguile the bold but inexperienced Krishna. The text on the reverse reads (in part): ‘Tightly tied by Yashoda with a cow halter to a mortar… the Butter-thief gently weeps’.

Object details

Categories
ELISE
Manuscripts
Hinduism
Paintings
Religion
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Manuscript page
Titles
  • Balagopastuti of Bilvamangala (popular title)
  • Krishna (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted and written in opaque watercolour and ink on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Ink
Paper
Painted
Brief description
Manuscript page verso, Balagopastuti, Krishna standing on pedestal enticed by gopi, opaque watercolour on paper, Gujarat, late 15th century
Physical description
Page recto from a manuscript of the Balagopalastuti with an image on each side, opaque watercolour and ink on paper. Krishna standing on a pedestal being enticed by a gopi. To her left stand two others, one with a jar and the other holding the infant Krishna in her arms. Sanskrit text to the left of the illustration.
Dimensions
  • Folio height: 10.5cm
  • Folio width: 23cm
Content description
Krishna standing on a pedestal being enticed by a gopi. To her left stand two others, one with a jar and the other holding the infant Krishna in her arms.
Style
Gujarati
Marks and inscriptions
(Text on the recto, translated by W. Norman Brown. It consists of two Sanskrit verses. The text is from the Balagopalastuti. )
Translation
'"Come, Govinda, I will give you milk!" What (gopis) would not thus beguile this youth along the road to their own house, inexperienced as he is, though bold in the states of excitation of the love conflict? (19) He, who as if in play upheld mount Govardhana to protect Gokula, at the sight of Radha's breast, which was like mount Kshmadhara, became enhanced and agitated (20).'
Gallery label
(27/9/2013)
PAGE FROM A BALAGOPALASTUTI MANUSCRIPT
Opaque watercolour, gold, mica and ink on paper. Gujarat, mid to late 15th century
KRISHNA ENTICED BY FEMALE COWHERDS
IS.82-1963
The paintings of this Hindu manuscript are in the
Western Indian style like the much more numerous
surviving Jain paintings. However, a larger space is
given to the illustrations with their lively and
expressive figures.
The manuscript has verses in loving adoration
(bhakti) of the youthful Krishna, an incarnation of the
god Vishnu. The Sanskrit text describes how the
gopis or female cowherds wish to beguile the bold
but inexperienced Krishna.
(06/2008)
THE INFANT KRISHNA TIED TO A MORTAR
Opaque water-colour and ink on paper
Gujarat
Late 15th century

IS 82-1963

From a Balagopalastuti manuscript, a Hindu text in praise of the youthful Krishna. The verses of this text, given over to the loving adoration (bhakti) of Krishna, inspired some of the most celebratory painting of the period. The Sanskrit text reads (in part): 'Tightly tied by Yashoda with a cow halter to a mortar… the Butter-thief gently weeps'.
Subject depicted
Krishna
Literary referenceThe image illustrates an episode from a Balagopalastuti manuscript, a Hindu text in praise of the youthful Krishna. The verses of this text inspired some of the most celebratory painting of the period.
Summary
This illustrated page is from a manuscript of the Balagopalastuti, a Hindu text in praise of the youthful Krishna, whose charmingly mischievous acts in infancy are a great source of delight. The text is ascribed to Bilvamangala. The verses of this Sanskrit text, given over to the loving adoration (bhakti) of Krishna, inspired some of the most celebratory painting of the period. Both sides of the page are illustrated. The Sanskrit text on the front side describes how the gopis or female cowherds wish to beguile the bold but inexperienced Krishna. The text on the reverse reads (in part): ‘Tightly tied by Yashoda with a cow halter to a mortar… the Butter-thief gently weeps’.

Associated object
IS.82:2-1963 (Verso)
Bibliographic references
  • Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224. pp.32/33, no.19.
  • Swallow, Deborah: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, " 25 Years of the Nehru Gallery of Indian Art and the Nehru Trust", p. 92, no. 45.
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p. 91, cat. no. 77
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.82-1963

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Record createdDecember 23, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O18921/balagopastuti-of-bilvamangala-manuscript-page-unknown/
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