by Fattu. Bhagwat Puran Series
Kangra School,Mid-18th century AD.
Angry about being ignored, Lord Indra had ordered the clouds to pound Vrindavan with torrential rains. The villagers had rushed to Krishna for protection. Krishna had lifted Mt. Goverdhan on his small finger, like an umbrella, providing protection to the people. He sent the Sudershan Chakra, his disk, to absorb the rains. Seeing this miracle, and realising Krishna's divinity, Lord Indra paid salutation to Krishna. On the left He pays homage to Krishna by bowing before him. On right, He and his vehicle, Aravat, the white elephant, attend upon Krishna as He takes his shower.
Since lifting of Mt. Goverdhan is an important episode from the Bhagwat Puran, Fattu would have painted it. Perhaps the miniature is a lost work of his as it is not in the series available at the National Museum in New Delhi.
When a new idea comes, such as worship a mountain instead of Lord Indra, there is bound to be opposition. A conflict ensues. Those who oppose finally succumb. A new path is discovered. Hegal, the famous German philosopher, called it didactics. Where there is thesis and anti-thesis, both come in conflict, then there is synthesis. And the civilization progresses.
There may have been a conflict between the declining Vedic Gods and the emerging cult of Vaishvanism. The society harmonised the two by bringing Lord Indra into the fold of Vaishvanism. He becomes a minor deity. He awaits on Krishna. The Indian mind does not believe in exterminating a contrary view. It believes in assimilation. Hence the plurality in Indian civilization. Plurality of vision is one of our greatest strengths. This miniature depicts that vision of assimilation and harmony
Since lifting of Mt. Goverdhan is an important episode from the Bhagwat Puran, Fattu would have painted it. Perhaps the miniature is a lost work of his as it is not in the series available at the National Museum in New Delhi.
When a new idea comes, such as worship a mountain instead of Lord Indra, there is bound to be opposition. A conflict ensues. Those who oppose finally succumb. A new path is discovered. Hegal, the famous German philosopher, called it didactics. Where there is thesis and anti-thesis, both come in conflict, then there is synthesis. And the civilization progresses.
There may have been a conflict between the declining Vedic Gods and the emerging cult of Vaishvanism. The society harmonised the two by bringing Lord Indra into the fold of Vaishvanism. He becomes a minor deity. He awaits on Krishna. The Indian mind does not believe in exterminating a contrary view. It believes in assimilation. Hence the plurality in Indian civilization. Plurality of vision is one of our greatest strengths. This miniature depicts that vision of assimilation and harmony
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