The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry: W.G. Archer

Krishna - the supreme trickster, the theophany of Lord Vishnu and arguably Hinduism's most popular deity - is not only the philosopher of the "Bhagavad Gita," but also the archetypal lover. Krishna's relationship with the cow-herding maidens represents, just like the erotic stance in Solomon's "The Song of Songs" in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the love between God and his creation. This metaphoric relationship is a a central motif of Indian art and poetry, and W. G. Archer's "The Loves of Krishna" provides a reliable guide to fully understanding and appreciating Krishna's prominent role in Indian sacred literature and iconography.