Krishna in the Form of Shri Nathji

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

As the seven-year-old god Shri Nathji, Krishna is shown in the act of lifting up Mount Govardhana to protect his devotees from a tempest invoked by the god Indra. The painting depicts one of the most important images of Krishna that are said to have self-manifested in stone and that served as the primary devotional images in Nathdwara. The form of Shri Nathji is associated with the concepts of wealth and prosperity. His elaborate clothing and jewelry resemble the dress worn by the priest Goswami Vitthalnathji when, on his birthday, he met the Mughal emperor Akbar. This birthday became an important festival in the region, and paintings, such this one, celebrating the event became popular among visiting pilgrims.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art