Raas Mandal (10th Century) Kera

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The 10th-century sculpture from Kera, Gujarat, tells a well-known tale from Indian folklore about one of Vishnu's avatars, Krishna. Vaishnavs remember this reincarnation vividly. These tales are passed down through generations, with grandmothers reciting them to their grandchildren, who then re-narrate them to theirs. A fragment of this story is captured in the statuette from Kera, describing a symphony of joy and liberation near Yamuna's banks. Every evening, milkmaids and cowherd wives eagerly await the sound of Krishna's flute, which hypnotizes them, causing them to drop everything and escape their mundane duties. In that moment of redemption, they are one with the universe. As time passes, the dynamic 'mandal' forms, with everyone dancing in circles, representing the endless universe and channeling cosmic energy through gestures. The women may become planets, asteroids, rivers, flowers, or atoms while in this trance-like state. However, when the music stops, they snap back to reality, aware of their children, husbands, burning kettles, and boiling water left behind. They rush home, waiting for Krishna's call again the next day. Scanned by Ishita Jain, with Vishwa Undaviya bringing this narrative to life.