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: First half of the 16th century
Description: Shiva as Dakshinamurti sits beneath a tree on Mount Kailasa – suggested by a pile of rocks. Either side of him are groups of rishis, recognisable by their long dreadlocks, the staffs and palm-leaf manuscripts that they hold.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from west, centre
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Arjuna reaches a small Shiva temple perched on Indrakila hill and devoutly bows before the linga and resumes his journey. Accompanied by a gana, Bhairava appears before Arjuna who pays homage to him. The next section is almost completely lost. It probably depicted the progress of Arjuna in the Himalayas and the beginning of his penance. The two female figures on the left may well be the apsaras sent by Indra to seduce Arjuna and to test his steadfastness.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, central hall, west bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Aspects of Shiva; Shiva kills the asura Andhaka. Flanked by five rishis on one side and six on the other, Shiva tramples on Andhaka, while transfixing him with the trident. Dakshinamurti (Shiva as supreme teacher); Flanked by eight sages, five on the left, and three on the right, Shiva sits under the trees atop Mount Kailasa, depicted here as a pile of rocks. The face of the Ganga is visible among Shiva’s dreadlocks, while the crescent moon rests on the side of his head.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Colonnaded verandah, north bay
Date: Late 1990s; unfinished; Artist, T. Vinoth
Description: The marriage of Minakshi and Sundareshvara. Vishnu, on the left, gives the bride away. (TP 5)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: Late 1990s incomplete; Artist, T. Vinoth
Description: Tatatakai fights against a gana; She fights against Shiva’s army; Nandi reports to Shiva; Shiva himself enters the battlefield; Tatatakai’s third breast disappears; She is defeated; Shiva tells her to return to Madurai where their wedding will be celebrated.(TP 5)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: Late 1990s; Artist, T. Vinoth
Description: Narrative of the previous birth of Tatatakai (TP 4); Tatatakai sets out to conquer the world and marches up to Kailasa. (TP 5)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: Late 1990s, incomplete; Artist; T. Vinoth
Description: The sacred city of Madurai is built by Kulashekhara Pandya on command of Sundareshvara.(TP 3); Kulashekhara’s son, Malayattuvachan marries the Chola princess Kanchanai; Tatatakai, their daughter is born; She has three breasts; She is trained in the martial arts; She is consecrated queen of Madurai; She performs the last rites for her father. (TP 4)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: Late 1990s; Artist: T. Vinoth
Description: Messengers of Indra discover the Shivalinga near a lake which Indra calls Potramarai and the worship of Sundarar (Shiva) is established (TP 1); Airavata, Indra’s white elephant is freed from Durvasa’s curse by worshipping the linga (TP 2); The sacred city of Madurai is built by Kulashekhara Pandya on command of Sundareshvara. (TP 3)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Potramarai tank, north side
Date: c. 1700
Description: The wedding of Minakshi and Sundareshvara, witnessed by Queen Mangammal, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha (on the right) and the dalavay (minister) Ramappaiya on the left.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Kilikuttu mandapa, ceiling
Date: c. 1700
Description: Minakshi entrusts the sceptre to Queen Mangammal via an intermediary priest at the presence of attendants and courtiers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Kilikuttu mandapa, ceiling
Date: c. 1700
Description: Top: The wedding of Minakshi and Sundareshvara. Bottom: Minakshi gives the sceptre to Queen Mangammal via an intermediary priest at the presence of attendants and courtiers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple;Madurai
Positioning: Kilikuttu mandapa, ceiling
Date: Paintings: 17th century
Description: Top row: Shiva enthroned on Mt Kailasa whose slopes are populated by yogis and celestials. On right, at the foot of the mountain is Narada. Bottom row: Shiva creates the Ganga water tank, Surya bathes in it and worships Shiva – the rays of light fall over the god’s image.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Vaidyanatha Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Mahamandapa, ceiling, west end
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