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Asian/Middle Eastern History/Baby Krishna

Expert: Aupmanyav - 10/21/2010

Question

Dear Sir ...I have this small heavy bronze figure that I think is a Baby Krishna...Could you tell me if this is so..There are no manufacture marks on it...

Answer
Dear Joe,

You are right, it is baby Krishna, in Thanjavvur Tamil style (the town of the largest temple in India, a Shiva temple with the heaviest cupola, 80 tons at a height of 216 feet) which also created the bronze 'nataraja' Shiva (the dancing Shiva). Locally, they would call it 'Balakrishnan' (Bala is child) or 'Unnikrishnan' (little Krishna). And Balakrishna is the darling of masses all over India because of his supposed beautiful looks and mischiefs.

But let me add that baby Rama (Balaraman or Unniraman) would hardly be different from baby Krishna, the two differentiated only by the peacock feather in Krishna's hair bun. Baby Rama also is an object of love and a religious song 'Thumak Chalat Ramachandra, Bajat Paijaniya' (Lord Rama Walks totteringly, the anklets in his feet jingle - http://ww.smashits.com/tsearch/music/song/thumak-chalat-ramchandra.html) is very famous all over India. Children are lovingly made to wear anklets and bracelet chains of silver and gold (in case of Royals), which jingle when they move. With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Aupmanyav