Krishna is the choicest subject of Indian artisans. The most deeply loved of the Indian pantheon, it is also His great personal beauty that makes him a favourite with those who produce and patronise devotional-spiritual art. This Krishna murti has been handpicked for its apt portrayal of the highly characteristic deity. He is playing on the murali as He stands with His form jutting out in three places namely the shoulder, the hip, and the ankles. This is why He is called the Tribhanga Murari ('tri' in Sanskrit means 'three'; 'bhang', bent; and 'Murari', one with the flute). He is a very devoted cowherd, and one of His beloved wards is standing right behind Him listening to the divine music that His flute exudes. The whole composition is on a pedestal as grand as they get, what with two layers of blooming lotus petals atop a row of engravings that resemble stacked-up scrolls.
