89
The Infant Krishna journeying from
could overlook the subject of the painting,
Gokula to Vrindavan: folio from a
the infant Krishna, who is seen at right seated
Bhagavata Purana series
on a simple buffalo-drawn carriage. This is
Guler, Himachal Pradesh, ca. 1780
Krishna’s version of the biblical Flight into
Opaque watercolor on paper, 107⁄8 x 14 in.
Egypt; he was sent from his palace to the
(27.6 x 35.6 cm)
countryside to live with foster parents in
National Museum, New Delhi (49.19/239)
order to escape a prediction of infanticide.
Published: Randhawa, Kangra Paintings of
The intensity of the foreground activity con-
the Bhagavata Purana (1960), pl. 5
trasts with the quiet calm of the landscape beyond, which is a forecast of Krishna’s happy
In the classic image of journeying in India, we
childhood years to be spent in the village
are so taken up with the evocative descrip-
of Vrindavan with his foster parents, Yasoda
tion of the everyday toils of traveling that we
and Nanda.
170
first generation after manaku and nainsukh
