Northern India. Ink, watercolors, gouache, and gold on paper, laid down on paper. Depicting a group of Brijwasi (residents of Vrindavan) as well as Nanda, Yashoda, and Balarama along with a group of white bulls on the banks of the Yamuna River as a youthful Krishna wrestles the Serpent King Kaliya spewing flames out of his mouths. The multi-headed snake coiled around the blue-skinned deity's body, who looks on with a calm demeanor. Within the confines of an ornate structure rests Vishnu, the god of snakes, surrounded by female attendants with serpentine lower bodies.

Inscriptions: To the top in Devanagari script, describing the present scene from the Bhagavata Purana.

Provenance: Swiss trade. Acquired from an old private collection.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, creasing, small losses, few minor touchups.

The Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) is traditionally ascribed to the legendary poet-sage Vyasa in the 8th-10th century. It stresses the path of devotion (bhakti) to Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God of Preservation. To fulfill his role as the guardian of the world, Vishnu manifests as a succession of heroic animals and semi-mortal saviors, called avatars.

This folio is from a dispersed Bhagavata Purana and the illustration depicts Krishna quelling the Serpent King Kaliya, who was terrorizing villagers living by the Yamuna River in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. In his previous life, Kaliya had been the sage Vedshira, but because of his hostility and envy he had been cursed by the sage Ashvashira to be reborn as a thousand-headed poisonous snake. According to the legend, Kaliya's poison had contaminated the water of the Yamuna. When Krishna dove into the river, Kaliya entrapped him in his coils to kill him. But Krishna expanded his body to force Kaliya to release him. Then Krishna danced on his serpent hoods until Kaliya vomited blood. When Kaliya's wives (nagapatnis) beseeched Krishna to spare their husband, Krishna forgave Kaliya after he promised to leave the Yamuna and never harm anyone again (Bhagavata Purana 10:16).

Literature comparison:
Compare a related Rajasthani school Indian miniature painting of Krishna sheltering Radha from a storm, in the collection of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalayae, accession number 2009.291.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams New York, 12-19 March 2021, lot 346
Price: USD 10,837 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An illustration from a Bhagavata Purana series: Krishna and Balarama playing with gopas in the forest, Mewar, circa 1700
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting with similar depiction of Krishna and rendition of lotuses in water, foliage, and text enclosed within a band of yellow and a red border. Note the size (24.4 x 36.8 cm).