Bronze statue - Bala Krishna

Bronze statue - Bala Krishna

India, 20th century

Size 65mm x 55mm x 40mm.

Krishna is one of the most well-known deities in Hinduism, the eighth incarnation or avatar of Vishnu. The Sanskrit name literally means "black", "dark" or "dark blue", referring to Krishna's skin color. Krishna, whose life is said to have occurred around 3000 BCE, appeared in the city of Mathura in northern India as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki while they were imprisoned in the dungeon of Kamsa, the tyrant of the region. Krishna is said to have first appeared to them in his four-armed Vishnu form, then to have taken on the form of a child, accepting them as his parents. The name Bala Krishna (lit. child Krishna/child god Krishna) or Bala Gopala, refers to Krishna's child form. The worship of Krishna as a divine child was historically one of the earliest forms of worship in Hinduism. Bala Krishna is often depicted as a small child, walking or dancing with a ball of butter in his hand.