Migration to Vrindavan

by Fattu, From the Bhagwat Puaran Series
Kangra School, Mid- 18th century AD

         Gokul near Mathura proved to be too unsafe. Kansa, the Raja of Mathura and maternal uncle of Krishna, was foretold that the person who would eventually kill him is born. The person lives in Gokul. Hearing this news, Kansa had all the children below two years in Gokul slaughtered.  He had sent other demons who tried to kill Krishna, such as the beautiful Putana. Nanda and others had no option, but to move to Vrindavan, 40 kilometres from Gokul.
          Seated in two bullock carts, surrounded by the poor villagers, carrying their meagre belongings, Nanda and his two wives leave for Vrindavan.  We see the young and the old, women and children,  animals and men walking towards an unknown destination.  Women carry the spinning wheel (the charkha), men carry the heavy loads, the boys tend the cows. In an agricultural society,  the cows are the symbol of wealth. Thus, they are hearded and tended by the community.  Nanda and his wives represent the upper echelon of the community. Hence, they ride in the bullock carts; others walk. While the human beings suffer, nature calmly continues its journey.  Notice the a pair of birds in the upper part of the painting.
        The migration Fattu has captured continues even today. Migration is part of human existence. We are all immigrants--passengers on this path of life.