Topography
Historical background
Particularly interesting are the schematic renderings of many temples. The deities are shown in their own shrines along with the typical natural features of the site, enabling thus the viewer to identify them.
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: A conversation between Bharata, Shatrughna and the queens, Kausalya and Sumitra; The two princes pay homage to Vasishtha, who gives them words of advice.
Location: Tamil NaduTemple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, west wall
Date: 18th century
Description: The royal party alight from their chariots and walk towards Mount Chitrakuta.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, west wall
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated and damaged by splashes of whitewash
Description: Top row: Lakshmana perched on top of a tree sees the royal party approaching Mount Chitrakuta and alerts Rama and Sita; The exiles converse with a group of sages; Bottom row: While walking between Rama and Lakshmana Sita is abducted by the rakshasa Viradha; Rama shoots and arrow which severs his head and frees Sita. Note Viradha’s arms falling to the ground.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa. west wall
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated and damaged by splashes of whitewash
Description: Top row: The sage Bharadvaja (?) and the four princes perform the shraddha rituals for king Dasharatha; (On the right): Rama -Sita and Lakshmana seated behind him- talks to Bharata, Shatrughna and a third person. Bottom row: Fragments depicting the wanderings of the exiles in the forest and their meetings with various ascetics.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; west wall
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated and damaged by splashes of whitewash
Description: Top row: Rama talks with one of his brothers (?); Rama and Sita sit on Mount Chitrakuta while Lakshmana stands in attendance; On the right: Bharata receives Rama’s sandals which are transported to Ayodhya on the back of an elephant.
Bottom row: Fragments showing the wanderings of the exiles through the forest and their meetings with ascetics.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; west wall
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row: While Sita is alone in the hut a mendicant appears at the door; She goes out to give him some food and he reveals himself as Ravana; She sits on the ground and Ravana uproots her, as it were, and abducts her in his aerial chariot. Bottom row: Hanuman meets the princes as soon as they arrive in Kishkindha; He then reports to two crowned monkeys; A delegation of monkeys meet Rama and Lakshmana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temples;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: Top row: Ravana abducts Sita in his aerial chariot; the vulture Jatayu tries to intercept the progress of the conveyance and engages in a fierce battle during which he is severely wounded and falls to earth; Ravana’s chariot resumes its flight. Sita drops her jewels tied in a piece of her garment; The monkeys find them; On arrival in Lanka she is held captive in Ravana’s ashoka grove; He tries to persuade her to marry him. Bottom row: Hanuman reports to two crowned monkeys; A delegation comes to meet the visitors; Sugriva prostrates at Rama’s feet; He then points to Rama Dundubhi’s huge carcass hanging on a tree and Rama throws it away; Then Rama pierces the seven trees with a single arrow.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row: Ravana abducts Sita in his aerial chariot; the vulture Jatayu tries to intercept the progress of the conveyance and engages in a fierce battle during which he is severely wounded and falls to earth;
Bottom row: Sugriva prostrates at Rama’s feet; He then points to Rama Dundubhi’s huge carcass hanging on a tree and Rama throws it away; Then Rama pierces the seven trees with a single arrow.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall, east corner
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row 1 (from left): In Kishkindha, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman confer with Sugriva; Sugriva challenges Vali; Sugriva seeks Rama’s advice; Lakshmana and Hanuman are shown behind Rama. Bottom register 2 ctd. (from left): Vali’s cremation; Sugriva and the other monkeys pay homage to Rama and Lakshmana; Sugriva’s consecration; Tara sits at his side.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; east corridor, ceiling, north east corner
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row 1, ctd. (from left): Rama garlands Sugriva; Tara, Vali’s wife, tries to dissuade him from fighting against Sugriva; Sugriva challenges Vali; The two engage in a duel and, concealed behind a tree, Rama aims an arrow at Vali; Bottom row 2 ctd. (from right): Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva gather around the dying Vali, who is comforted by Tara and his son Angada; Rama extracts the arrow from Vali’s chest and the latter dies; Rama and Lakshmana confer with Angada (?); Vali’s cremation.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling, northeast corner
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row 3 (from left): Rama and Lakshmana spend the rainy season on Malyavanta Hill; Sugriva and Tara enthroned; At the end of the rainy season, Rama sends Lakshmana to remind Sugriva of his promise to help organizing the search for Sita; Lakshmana at Sugriva’s and Tara’s presence; Bottom row 4 ctd. (from right): Hanuman on his way to Lanka; He jumps from Mount Mahendra to Mount Mainaka; He encounters the rakshasi Surasa who swallows him, but he escapes from her ear; At the gate of Lanka he defeats Lankini, and enters Ravana’s palace looking for Sita.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row 3 ctd. (from left): Lakshmana at the presence of Sugriva and Tara; Lakshmana, Sugriva, Jambavan and Hanuman meet Rama on Malyavanta Hill; Rama entrusts his signet ring to Hanuman. Bottom row 4 ctd. (from right): Sugriva; Jambavan and a third unidentifiable figure; The allies are trapped in Svayamprabha’s cave; Once freed, they meet the vulture Sampati who reveals to them Sita’s whereabouts; Hanuman whiles on the seashore and, encouraged by Jambavan and Sugriva, climbs on mount Mahendra and jumps across the ocean to Lanka; On his way he rests on mount Mainaka.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
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