asian antiquity

Shrinathji in his shrine. Shrinathji represents the form of the young Krishna who lifted mount Govardhana and protected the residents of Gokula from the torrential downpour released upon them by Indra, king of the heavens.

The deity has been the central figure of worship in Nathdwara, a settlement close to the fort of Kota in Rajasthan, since 1670.  The cult of Shrinathji prescribes his worship as a living presence.  Each day he is dressed, fed, adorned with garlands and worshipped according to a strict secular code controlled by the temple priests and followed unfailingly by his devotees.

In addition to the adoration of the idol, the Goswamis or priests of the temple also initiated and nurtured the tradition of painting by introducing chitra-seva, the worship of a painted icon, thereby spawning the creation of numerous images of the deity in his various forms, painted on cloth and in miniature format.