Venugopala -Sculpture of Krishna playing the flute standing inside the south garbhagriha
Venugopala – Krishna Playing the Flute
The Somanathapura Keshava Temple has three garbhagrihas (inner sanctums), each with a statue of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Standing inside the south garbhagriha is an exquisitely carved life-size statue of Venugopala, a form of Krishna portrayed as a divine flute player. Venu means flute, and Gopala means protector of cows.
Check the Dashavatara painting on the Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals for a list and description of all the ten avatars of Vishnu.
As you can see from the image, Venugopala is standing gracefully with his legs crossed. He has elegantly bent his well-proportioned body to allow him to raise his hands to position the flute (which is partly broken) perfectly at the mouth level.
Venugopala is wearing a beautiful skirt-like dress and stylish jewelry all over his body. He is wearing bracelets and arm rings on his hands, anklets on his legs, a beautiful necklace around his neck, and an udiyana (waist chain) around his waist. There is a looped thread, known as yajnopavita, hanging across the chest from the left shoulder to the waist. It is a symbol indicating the person wearing it has mastered Vedas and undergone the upanayana ceremony and is worn by gods and deities.
Venugopala is standing is on a star-shaped stone platform ornate with carvings. Carved at the center of this platform is a relief depicting Garuda, Vishnu’s vehicle, with his signature kneeling pose. Surrounding him are cows and gopikas (cow herding girls who are associates of Krishna) listening to his music.
Related Images
– Keshava – Idol in the west garbhagriha
– Janardhana – Idol in the north garbhagriha
– Venugopala – Sculptural relief carved on the outer wall of the south garbhagriha
– Venugopala – A bracket figure mounted just below the eaves of the Belur Chennakeshava Temple
Related Pages
Hoysala Temples
– Somanathapura Keshava Temple
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
– Kappe Chennigaraya Shrine
Badami Chalukya Temples
– Badami, Cave – 1, Cave – 2, Cave – 3, Cave – 4
– Durga Temple at Aihole
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