Issue 22

Sometimes referred to as the ‘fifth Veda’ the Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavata Purana is a supremely devotional text. “Vyasa, the traditional author of the text, remained unfulfilled, even after compiling all the Vedas as well as the Mahabharata Epic, until the sage Narada informed him that the cause of his despondency was that he had not yet described the highest goal of knowledge. The result was the Bhagavata, the galitam phalam, the ripened fruit of the Vedic tree, the essence of all the Vedas, Puranas and Ithasa Epics.” Edwin Bryant, Introduction to Krishna:The Beautiful Legend of God.
Keshav is a renowned painter from Chennai, South India, who Tweets a Krishna a Day @keshav61 to thousands of followers. He also works as a cartoonist for The Hindu, an English daily newspaper. In his home Keshav has made a wall-sized painting depicting numerous important stories from the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the most important classics of India in which are descriptions of the life and times of Lord Krishna. Keshav blogged as he painted, re-telling the stories in the process. In Issue 22, Namarupa publishes this vibrant painting and its multi-faceted stories. Consider this issue of Namarupa as an easy to read, well illustrated and concise version of the classical scripture. Also included is an interview with Keshav. In the last few years of his life Swami Vishnudevananda would often listen with rapt devotion to the Srimad Bhagavatam during a saptah, an eight hour a day, seven day reading of the text. Watch a short video documentary on Vimeo to gain insight into his brilliance. KESHAV’S KRISHNAS • 10% of the sales of ISSUE 22 will go towards NAMARUPA BHANDAVA to help KASHIKA construct a community center in the Himalayas.

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