Harvard Art Museums > 2009.202.73: Infant Krishna shows Yashoda the Universe in His Mouth Paintings Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Infant Krishna shows Yashoda the Universe in His Mouth , 2009.202.73,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, May 02, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/212624. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2009.202.73 Title Infant Krishna shows Yashoda the Universe in His Mouth Classification Paintings Work Type painting Date 19th century Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Tamil Nadu, Tanjore Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/212624 Physical Descriptions Medium Opaque watercolor and gold on paper Dimensions 28 x 19.6 cm (11 x 7 11/16 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History Stuart Cary Welch (by 1983 - 2008,) by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum. Note: Object was accounted for in 1983 inventory. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Gift of Edith I. Welch in memory of Stuart Cary Welch Accession Year 2009 Object Number 2009.202.73 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description Seated on a bench is Yashoda with the infant Krishna on her lap. Yashoda is the foster mother of Krishna, who is the eighth avatar of Vishnu and venerated as a deity in his own right. Both figures are adorned with gold jewelry and ornaments. Hanging from the canopy above them are garlands of white flowers, the same that adorn Yashoda’s hair. Krishna holds both his hands up towards her as she supports him with one of hers and gestures with the other. The small orbs around Krishna’s mouth represent the universe. Yashoda caught Krishna eating soil and when she confronted him about it, he lied. She demanded that he open his mouth to show her, and when he did, she saw the entire universe, signifying that the young Krishna was a god. This depiction captures the moment when she sees the universe, and right before she faints from bewilderment. Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
