Krishna's Victory Over Aghasura

This dramatic painting illustrates the tale of the demon Aghasura, who takes the form of a giant snake in order to kill Krishna and his fellow villagers. Aghasura lies next to a mountain, disguised as a cave with his mouth open. When the herdsmen and their cattle enter, he swallows them. Krishna comes to their rescue, entering Aghasura’s mouth and expanding his body until he bursts through the snake’s head, thus slaying the demon and freeing the men and their cows. The artist focuses the viewer’s attention on the main action with a minimal starry sky as the cosmic backdrop.