Krishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain

Krishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here, dark clouds fill the sky and Krishna shelters several gopis (cow maids), alluding to his lifting of Mount Govardhana to shield the inhabitants of the village of Braj from a devastating storm sent by the god Indra. The gopis’ devotion (bhakti) to Krishna is mimicked by the cows who share in their adoration. Krishna’s pastoral activity, which was mapped for places of pilgrimage, and his erotically charged relationship with the gopis, which speaks of his passionate connection to his devotees, came to be important aspects of religious life. Accordingly, they were the subjects of paintings at many of the Rajput courts.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Krishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the RainKrishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the RainKrishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the RainKrishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the RainKrishna and the Gopis Take Shelter from the Rain

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.