GOVARDHANA GIRI

One common subject in Cheriyal art is the story of Govardhana Giri, a mountain that is believed to have been lifted by the god Krishna in order to protect the people of Vrindavan from a wrathful Indra, the god of rain and thunder. In the story, Krishna lifts the mountain on his little finger and holds it aloft for seven days and nights, allowing the people of Vrindavan to take shelter beneath it. In Cheriyal art, Govardhana Giri is often depicted as a large, ornately decorated mountain, with Krishna shown holding it aloft with one hand. The people of Vrindavan are often shown huddled beneath the mountain, seeking shelter from the rain.