Shri Shri Guranga Avatara

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Krishna stands on a lotus holding a staff, flute arrow, bow and pot in his respective color-coded arms while golden light streams out from behind his head. He is positioned on what almost appears to be a stage with curtains drawn back and a backdrop showing a river and landscape. The title Guranga Avatara tells us that the figure is Vishnu’s avatar Krishna, while his golden body makes direct reference to the literal meaning of the name Guranga. This name appears in puranic literature, Gaudiya Vaishnavism and in this instance, the title likely also refers to the guru Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is considered an incarnation of Krishna.

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