GOPAL[)U].
This small brazen idol, fig. 4 in the plate entitled "Jugunnathu," represents him in his childhood, kneeling on one knee, and holding a pera, sweetmeat, in his right hand, while he petitions his mother, saying, "Mā, mā, mīthā'ī, do;" "Mother, mother, give me sweetmeats." In this form he is worshipped as gāo, a cow, and pal[)u], nourished. These brazen images are particularly in favour, and some, being small and well made, are used as household gods. Sometimes the head of Gopal[)u] is surrounded with a crown of glory, as in the sketch; and in drawings, the head of Krishn[)u] is generally represented encircled by rays.
GOPĪ NAT'H[)U].
This form represents him peculiarly as the god of the gopīs. Gopī, the wife of a cowherd, and Nat'h[)u], a lord; a young man dancing amongst the wives of the cowherds, the 16,000 gopīs, who ever attended him, and were the companions of his sports.
RADHA KRISHN.
Of all his numerous loves and wives, none had power over his affections equal to Radha, a gopī, whom he carried off from her husband. So great was her influence, that in pūja the preference is given to her, and the two images are worshipped together as "Radha Krishn," and not as Krishn Radha.
The figure represents the god playing on his flute; and, at his side, the image of Radha, which has one hand extended, and the other turned downwards. Their affection has passed into a proverb: "Apne Radha ko yad ker[1]." As Krishn[)u] always thought of Radha, so they say, "Attend to your own Radha," either in anger or laughingly. The shrine of Radha Krishn has many worshippers; but it is remarkable that none of the lawful wives of Krishn[)u] are worshipped with him.
- ↑ Oriental Proverbs, No. 49.
