Krishna with cows Kalamkari art by K Siva Reddy

Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu is often referred to as Gokul’s Gwala, or the cowherd of Gokul. This painting depicts Shri Krishna in a Tribhanga posture, sitting on a stylised rock while playing his flute, mesmerising animals and humans alike. He wears a highly stylised crown and jewels in a typical Kalamkari style and wears a traditional dhoti. The trees behind them suggest the lush green forest where cowherds generally took their animals to graze.