Navagunjara, a Universal Form of Krishna

Navagunjara, a Universal Form of Krishna

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This colored drawing depicts a rare form of Krishna, Navagunjara, consisting of nine (nava) animal parts. In the Mahabharata, the Navagunjara form of Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) appears to Arjuna after he has thrown down his weapons before the god. The painting is on European laid paper with an 1830 watermark of Waterman and Sons.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Navagunjara, a Universal Form of KrishnaNavagunjara, a Universal Form of KrishnaNavagunjara, a Universal Form of KrishnaNavagunjara, a Universal Form of KrishnaNavagunjara, a Universal Form of Krishna

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.