This
Chola Bronze statue from the early 1900’s exhibits the grace and litheness and
enchanting physical beauty worthy of the ecstatic bhakti adoration that is associated
with the Vishnu avatar Krishna. The distinctive Chola style emerged during the
reign of Aditya Chola (870-906 AD) and is characterized by a sensuous beauty,
geometrical perfection, powerful presence and an intricacy of design. Originally
statues such as this exquisite bronze were created as ceremonial deities that
were kept inside the inner sanctum of the temple and only brought out for ceremony
and festivals. Here it was said the onlookers would go into waves of ecstasy as
the god before their eyes would come alive. In these moments the divine transference
of darshan was bestowed. The artistry of the Chola statues depicting an epitome
of divine human form surely enhanced the experience of worshippers. This specific
statue, created with the lost wax process retains the integrity of the original
sculpture. The intricate design work created in the symmetrical patterns entices.
Krishna plays his flute. This is a call to the gopis, (to the milk maidens) and
call to the part of us that would become divinely intoxicated with the Divine.
Once the line is crossed can we return: as the individual self merges with the
large Self in ecstasy? This statue beautifully poses the question an exquisite
reminder through the centuries of the divine sweetness of the Krishna Lila (the
play of Krishna). This bronze is in excellent condition. (SD)