Mahabharata
Historical background
One of the two great Sanskrit epics of India, possibly the world’s longest poem. The core story narrates the rivalry between two related families. In the course of time, mythology, ethics, theology, folk tales and philosophic passages were added to it.
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati carried on a floral palanquin by his ladies; near the palanquin, right, is his sword-bearer; Above the arch: Arjuna fights with Shiva as Kirata, and is given the pashupata astra (a magical weapon).
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 3, arch
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Bhima (right) and Purushamriga worship the Shivalinga.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 4 , The ‘King’s Bedroom’, arch
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: Shiva gives the pashupata astra (a magical weapon) to Arjuna at the presence of Krishna.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, prakara wall, north west corner
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: From top to bottom and from left to right; First row: Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (the revolving fish target). Second row: Battle scenes. Third row: Krishna steals the clothes of the gopis. (cowherdesses); The Vidyaranya is taken in procession to the Virupaksha temple.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, sixth, seventh and eighth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: From top to bottom and from left to right; First row: Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (the revolving fish target). Second row: Battle scenes. Third row: Krishna steals the clothes of the gopis. (cowherdesses); The Vidyaranya is taken in procession to the Virupaksha temple.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa,ceiling, sixth, seventh and eighth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: From top to bottom and from left to right; First row: Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (the revolving fish target). Second row: Battle scenes. Third row: Krishna steals the clothes of the gopis; The Vidyaranya is taken in procession to the Virupaksha temple.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, sixth, seventh and eighth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Top row: The ten avataras of Vishnu (from left): Matsya; Kurma; Varaha; Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama; Ramachandra; Krishna; Buddha; Kalki. On the extreme right: Kama riding on an elephant formed by nine girls, aims arrows at Rati. riding on a horse formed by five girls, at the opposite end of this row. Bottom row (from left): Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (revolving fish target), thus winning Draupadi’s hand.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, fifth and sixth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Top row: The ten avataras of Vishnu (from left): Matsya; Kurma; Varaha; Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama; Ramachandra; Krishna; Buddha; Kalki. On the extreme right: Kama riding on an elephant formed by nine girls, aims arrows at Rati. riding on a horse formed by five girls, at the opposite end of this row. Bottom row (from left): Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (revolving fish target), thus winning Draupadi’s hand.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, fifth and sixth rows from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Top row (from left): Rama wins Sita’s hand; Rama and Sita’s wedding; Arjuna shoots the matsya yantra (revolving fish target), thus winning Draupadi’s hand.
Central row: Battle scenes involving chariots drawn by horses, bullocks and elephants, and infantry armed with muskets. Bottom row (from left): Krishna steals the clothes of the gopis; The Vidyaranya is taken in procession to the Virupaksha temple.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, sixth, seventh and eighth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Arjuna wins Draupadi’s hand. Flanked by Drupada and by Draupadi, Arjuna, standing on two spherical devices, aims at the matsya yantra (revolving fish target) by looking at its reflection in a cauldron of water, which, according to the tradition, was continuously stirred. To the left are three crowned male figures, possibly Arjuna’s brothers; Yudhishthira, Bhima and Nakula. On the right two male figures could be Sahadeva and Krishna, and an unidentified third person. The vignette on the right shows two deities, possibly Shiva and Vishnu; the one on the left, four crowned figures. The upper part of the panel is occupied by the rishis-in-buildings motif. The central part of the lower portion accommodates six ascetics in different attires indicating their different religious orders, and at the corners crowned male and female figures.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, sixth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Uttara and Arjuna fight against the Kauravas, who stole King Virata’s cattle.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, beam supporting the ceiling, east (from north to south)
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Uttara and Arjuna fight against the Kauravas, who stole King Virata’s cattle.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, beam supporting the ceiling, east (from north to south)
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