Vasudeva comes to Yasoda's apartment

The theme of this eighteenth century Indian miniature painting is based on an episode narrated in Bhagavata Purana, one of the most widely read of all Indian puranas.

The artist depicts the exchange of babies by Vasudeva, father of Krishna. Krishna was born on a dark night to Devaki and Vasudeva who were imprisoned by his wicked uncle King Kamsa who had killed every child born to them as it had been foretold that the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva would be his slayer. Vasudeva with divine help takes his new born eighth child Krishna to Gokula and leaves him beside a sleeping Yasoda, wife of the cowherd chief Nanda and carries back her newly born female child who was really Vishnu’s illusive energy, Yoga Maya.

This miniature painting from India is one of the great master pieces of Kangra art. It was most probably painted by the brothers Fattu and Kaushala and their cousin Godhu, who were all grandsons of the Guler artist Pandit Seu.