Calendar

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes.

calendar art; popular religious art

Flute in hand, parrot, horns as perch, peacock feather in head, are distinctive attributes of one of the major Hindu deities, Krishna. Often depicted as a plump infant crawling on all fours, this image serves as a third element of Krishna, as Balakrishna, and major incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Associated with Krishna are: lotus' to symbolize purity and original creation, the flute as symbolic of the cowherds, the parrot or anything related to birds, and the peacock feather, the vehicle of Kamadeva, god of lust and desire and connected with sensual love, an active preoccupation of Krishna's. Blue background connotes endless oceans and infinite space.

Rectangular calendar print depicting a young Krishna dressed in silk waist cloth sitting on floor with both arms touching it for support. Black hair with top knot has a peacock feather in it. Hand on left holds a golden flute. Head tilted towards parrot perch on a gold stand on the right side. Infant is adorned with gold and stoned jewelry on each wrist, arm and ankle, around his neck and in ears. Middle of forehead has red u-shaped image, dot underneath. Small pink and white lotus flowers are scattered over floor. On left side is a gold pillar with decorated base, purple drape behind. Empty blue space on right side. Upper right corner, 'Poochi Auto Stores' is written with 'Madurai-1' underneath. Calendar's lower portion has signatures, 'C. Kondiah Raju' and 'M. Ramalingam'; '1963' date; and 'phone:3766' with 'The Orient Lithopress, Sivakasi' printed overtop. 'Auto Store' partially visible at calendar's base.