Krishna is one of the most complex and colourful figures of Indian mythology. He represents the simple and the profound. The masses worship him for the demons he slays, and love him for his mischief.
Book: Krishna, A Joyous Celebration Of The Divine
Author: Chandrika Vakils
Feffer and
Simons
369 pages
Krishna is one of the most complex and colourful figures of Indian mythology. He represents the simple and the profound. The masses worship him for the demons he slays, and love him for his mischief. On the other hand, philosophers have pondered over his astute understanding of dharma and his lecture on the nature of the world (Bhagavad Gita).
It is these “divergent strands” of Krishna’s life that author Chandrika seeks to bring together in her book Krishna, A Joyous Celebration Of The Divine. While the narrative progresses chronologically, each chapter explores the various facets of Krishna’s personality. In the process, it covers a number of incidents — both obscure and the well-known — in his life.
The initial chapters are about Krishna’s childhood and youth. His meeting with the Pandavas at Draupadi’s swayamvara marks the beginning of the role he is about to play in the Mahabharata. The final chapter titled ‘Krishna, God as Man’ is as poignant as it is tragic.
After exterminating warring members of his clan, Krishna is pondering over his own impending death. “Simultaneously, somewhere deep in the recesses of his being, still unarticulated is the realisation that dharma has always played a pivotal role in his life.
It was in pursuit of it, that all through the Mahabharata battle, he had pushed its boundaries; overstepped its limits, again and again. Now, the time has arrived, when scores have to be settled. How then can he grudge this pain, which he himself had anticipated as recompense?”
The book is full of vivid paintings, traditional and modern, that add colour to the narrative. As the author puts it, Krishna is “an artist’s dream come true, a vibrant visual treat”. Along with these are verses of poetry from poets such as Meera, Surdas, Tukaram and Andal.
The text, paintings and verse together paint a wholesome picture of a mythological figure who was a mischievous boy, playful youth, shrewd politician, a deity, and above all, a compassionate man.
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