100 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Krishna, or Vishnu as Krishna, is one of the most popuLar divinities 

 in India. The scenes of his exploits are the most celebrated centers 

 of his worship. In the daily ritual his image, as a beautiful boy, is 

 bathed, anointed with spices, splendidly attired and sumptuously 

 fed. Many festivals are celebrated in connection with this mani- 

 festation of Vishnu. Among them the Holi, a kind of Hindu satur- 

 nalia or carnival (in February); his birthday {Krishna Fanmaslitani, 

 in July or August), which is the greatest of all Hindu holidays. 

 Especially celebrated is the festival of Fagannatha (Juggernaut, the 

 name of Vishnu or Krishna as "Lord of the World,") at Puri, near 

 Cuttack, in Orissa, one of the four holy Dhamas, or residences of the 

 deities. The special feature of this festival, which takes place in 

 June or July, is the drawing of the great car, v/hich is 45 feet iiigh, 

 35 feet square, and supported on 16 wheels 7 feet in diameter. Bala- 

 rama, the brother, and Subhadra, the sister of Krishna, have separate 

 cars smaller in size. When the images are placed on the car the 

 pilgrimis kneel, bow their foreheads in the dust, and, rushing forward, 

 draw the car toward "Jagannatha's country house." The distance 

 is about a mile, but the journey takes several days. The sight of the 

 image of Jagannath is considered meritorious and efficacious in 

 destroying all sin in the worshipper. Height, 9% inches. India. 

 (Cat. No. 154903, U.S.N.M.) 



29. Gopala {Krishna). — Statuette of marble, j)ainted and gilded. 

 Represented leaning against a cow, with the hand in posture of hold- 

 ing the flute. At his left is a female figure holding a pot. 



Gopala is the name of Krishna as the "cowherd." The pastoral 

 life of Krishna and his loves with the shepherdesses {gopis), especially 

 Vvith Radha, are the objects of many legends and songs among the 

 Hindus, and some sects worship him under these aspects, to which a 

 mystical significance is given. Height, 10% inches. India. (Cat. 

 No. 154885, U.S.N.M.) 



30. Gir Rajah {Krishna). — Statuette of marble, painted and gilded. 

 Gir Rajah is the name of Krishna as the upholder of the mountain. 



It is related in Hindu mythology that Krishna, while living in Vrinda- 

 vana among the cowherds, induced them to worship him as the moun- 

 tain Govardhana, instead of Indra, the god of storm. Indra in his 

 anger sent great floods to wash away the mountain and its people, 

 but Krishna held up the mountain on his little finger to shelter the 

 people, whereupon Indra hunself did him homage. Height, 12j^ 

 inches. India. (Cat. No. 154886, U.S.N.M.) 



31. Krishna playing upon the flute. —Statuette of bronze. Height, 

 7K inches. India. (Cat. No. 317012, U.S.N.M.) Gift of William 

 Lilly. 



32. Krishna playing on the flute. — Statuette of steatite. Height, 

 12^2 inches. India. (Cat. No. 150429, U.S.N.M.) 



