The Hindu deity Krishna in the form of Shri Nathji

In this form—a solid upright posture, one arm raised and the other resting at the hip—Krishna is recognizable as Shri Nathji, a special black stone form of the god now enshrined in a temple in the pilgrimage town of Nathadwara, in southern Rajasthan. Shri Nathji is the main  deity of a large and active sect known as Vallabha or Pushtimarg (Path of Grace). Devotees see Shri Nathji as the charming, mischievous sevenyear- old Krishna and consider him a living presence. Because Shri Nathji is imagined as a child, the devotional rituals by the priests include daily awakening, presentation of meals, entertainment, and public presentation (darshan) of the deity dressed in elaborate clothing and jewelry. Paintings like this one were devotional aids and souvenirs that assisted devotees in organizing their own darshan displays.