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: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: Sri Kallalagar of Alagar Koyil mounted on his horse.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, east wall
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom: Rama and Lakshmana take leave of Sumitra and Kausalya; Rama gives away his wealth to the brahmins; He gifts to cows to Trijata; The exiles take leave of the citizens of Ayodhya.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, central bay, ceiling, southern end
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row, from left: Brahma, accompanied by the dikpalas and various deities, prostrates before Vishnu; King Romapada consults the ascetics; Central row, from right: Romapada sends the courtesans to seduce Rishyashringa; They meet him in the forest; Bottom row, from left: They carry him to Anga; the king welcomes him (disappeared) and both ride in state towards the town; The wedding of Rishyashringa and Shanta.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom. 1) From right: Dasharatha, and Sumantra discuss with Vasishtha and another sage; Dasharatha on the way to the Anga country; He meets Romapada and Rishyashringa and invites the latter to Ayodhya. 2) From left: Rishyashringa celebrates the putrakameshti yajna (a ritual to ensure the birth of a son) on behalf of Dasharatha; The queens eat the payasa and become pregnant. 3) From right: A pregnant queen; The queens give birth; The boys are shown to the king; Dasharatha bathes in the river and goes back to his palace. 4) From left: The namakarana (naming ceremony); The queens and their sons; The princes in their cradles. 5) From right: A prince in his cradle; The princes crawl on all fours; They learn to walk assisted by attendants.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom; 1) From right: A prince in a cradle; The princes crawl on all fours; They learn to walk assisted by attendants. 2) From left: Vasishtha is in charge of the schooling of the princes; They are trained in fencing and horse riding. 3) From right: They ride on elephants and practise archery; Dasharatha and four rishis in council. 4) Fom left: Dasharatha in council; Vishvamitra at Ayodhya’s gate; the king and his entourage go to meet the sage; the king prostrates before him; 5) From right: Dasharatha, Vishvamitra, ministers and courtiers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom: 1) Fom right: Vishvamitra and his charges continue their journey and meet a number of rishis. 2) Fom left: Further meetings with sages 3) Fom right: Ahalya is freed from her curse; Ahalya and her husband, Gautama, pay homage to Vishvamitra and his charges. 4) From left: Vishvamitra and the princes arrive in Mithila where they are welcomed by king Janaka; Janaka, Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From left: Vishvamitra and the princes are welcomed by Janaka; the sage and his charges in Janaka’s assembly hall. 2) From right: Janaka, his chaplain, Shatananda, and his minister discuss with Vishvamitra; Janaka instructs his servants to wheeel in Shiva’s bow; Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana; 3) From left: Before the assembled kings, Rama lifts Shiva’s bow from the chariot and strings it. 4) From right: Vishvamitra talks to Janaka, Shatananda, and his minister; Janaka instructs two courtiers; Two messengers are sent to Ayodhya.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From right; King Janaka, his minister and his chaplain, Shatananda, discuss with Vishvamitra; Janaka instructs two courtiers; Two messengers are sent to Ayodhya. 2) From left: The messengers at the presence of Dasharatha, Vasishtha and other dignitaries; Dasharatha in council; Dasharatha, Vasishtha and Sumantra deliberate. 3) From right: the Ayodhya party on the way to Mithila. 4) From left: The Ayodhya party on the way to Mithila.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From right: The Ayodhya party on the way to Mithila 2) From left: Two men carrying a trunk, and a gatekeeper at the town’s entrance; The meeting of Dasharatha and Janaka; A council scene. 3) From right: A King (?) and an ascetic (?) send two messengers. Wedding negotiations.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From left: Dasharatha and his entourage proceed towards Janaka’s palace. 2) From right: The four royal weddings. In the foreground priests and ascetics perform various rituals.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From left: Rama, Lakshmana and a third figure, perhaps a guard, pay homage to the Dashartha seated along with Vasishtha and Sumantra;They pass through a gate and sit along with Dasharatha and their brothers; The four princes take leave of Dasharatha. 2) From right: the king deliberates with Vasishtha, Sumantra and his ministers and nominates Rama his successor before the assembled courtiers; 3) From left: Dasharatha in council; The king and Sumantra talk to Vasishtha; Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and two courtly ladies worship Sri Ranganatha before travelling to Dasharatha’s palace. 4) From right: From a terrace Kuni (Manthara) sees the rituals and other preparations for Rama’s consecration and warns Kaikeyi, who rewards her with a necklace and then retires into the ‘sulking room’. Dasharatha visits her.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From right: Kuni (Manthara) sees the preparations for Rama’s consecration, warns Kaikeyi, who rewards her with a necklace an then retires into her ‘sulking room’; The king goes to visit her. 2) From left: Kaikeyi persuades Dasharatha to crown her son Bharata instead of Rama; A messenger speaks to the pujaris. The paraphernalia of the royal consecration. 3) From right: The messenger speaks to Vasishtha (?) and reports to Dasharatha and Kaikeyi.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
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