Image title: Figure 17. Venugopala

This sculpture is that of Lord Krsna or Venugopala, Venu meaning flute and Gopala a cowherd holding the flute or Venu. Lord Krsna is considered as one of the ten incarnations of Lord Visnu. Here we can see his right foot crossed in a Svastika behind the left foot and it is in Agratala. He is two handed here and is playing the flute. The rest of his posture is not so clear due to the Dhoti covering his lower body. We can see a Rsi on his right side as a small figure.

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.