A major deity of the Vaishnavite tradition and the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He is believed to have been born in Mathura and was raised as a cowherd in Gokul and Vrindavan by his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda. Krishna is worshipped in various forms, such as Shrinathji, Bal Gopal, Radha Krishna, Navagunjara and Vitthala, among others. The depictions of Krishna correspond with his life and are derived from legends associated with his life. In addition to his portrayals linked to the Mahabharata, he is also depicted in Pahari paintings as the archetypal lover.