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Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Bhagavata Purana illustration: snake-demon Aghasura & Krishna with Balarama. Gouache & silver. Circa late 18th/early 19th century. 34cm 25cm

The mythology: a Bhagavata Purana illustration of the Aghasura episode in which Agha the asura (powerful beings opposed to the gods) takes the form of a gigantic demon-snake, its mouth gaping like a mountain cave.  When Krishna's gopi friends (cowherders) see this "cave" they are compelled to explore it.  In this version we see only their cows entering - presumably the gopis went before them.  Observing this action is Krishna and Balarama.  Krishna will follow in due course, miraculously rescuing all by expanding to such a size that he fills Aghasura's chasmic throat and chokes him to death, before reviving and removing his friends.

The painting is from the temple town of Nathdwara (Rajasthan), where the important Vaishnava icon Shri Nathji (a form of Krishna) is housed.  Here, Vallabhacharya Hindus differ from the orthodox in that their treatment of the god through iconic form is lavish and opulent, hence Nathdwaran images of Krishna depict him dressed in silks and brocades, festooned with pearls and jewels alongside his flower-garlands, rather than the usual simple dhoti and garland representing his earthly roots as a so-called poor and lowly gopi. 

Conditio: to the image there are areas of light rubbing especially from the lower leaves of the tree to our right and into Balarama's peacock-feathered head-dress; also slight flaking here and there, with one vertical crease running from the left-side lower border, up through the lotus pond and through the end of Aghasura's lower jaw and into Krishna's right leg.  There are three worm-holes in the picture - one is barely visible in the teeth of the demon's upper jaw, a pin-prick sized hole in the lotus pond near to a larger one just to the right below the right 2nd lotus from the left.  There is a light brown stain below the tree to our left. The borders are a little stained (lower), with rubbing and flaking and losses to the left edge and upper right corner.