Ramayana
Historical background
One of the two great Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Mahabharata. In its present form the epic consists of disparate elements, including romantic stories, myths, legends and vague historical information.
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: Top row 13 (from left): Hanuman flies back to Rama where Lakshmana is recovering; Lakshmana, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders resumes the fight against Ravana; Rama, then, enters the fray and, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders, attacks Ravana. Bottom row 14 ctd. (from right): Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna is aroused from his sleep and after having eaten he talks to Ravana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: Top row 13 ctd. (from left): Rama, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders shoots arrows at Ravana, but his limbs regenerate Hanuman and then Sugriva barehanded fight against Ravana; He succumbs to Sugriva’s punches and is rescued by two rakshasas; Bottom row 14 (from right): Ravana decides to consult his brother Kumbhakarna; Sugriva talks to Rama and Lakshmana; in Lanka scores of men and animals trample upon the huge body of the sleeping Kumbhakarna, waking him up, eventually.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century
Description: Lakshmana mutilates Ayomukhi. The princes sever Kabandha’s arms.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temples;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row (on the right of the corner, from left to right): The dikpalas worship Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha, enshrined in a temple on an island; This may refer to Sri Ranganatha temple at Srirangam; Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma on their vahanas; Second row: Namakarana (name giving ceremony); Third row: Vishvamitra and Vasishtha talk to king Dasharatha; Dasharatha is devastated on hearing Vishvamitra’s request; Rama and Lakshmana leave with the sage; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across the river and perform their ablutions.
Top row (on the left of the corner, from left to right); Dasharatha gifts cows to the Brahmins; the babies are given a bath; Second row; Rama hits Kuni (Manthara) with mud pellets; the princes and their mothers; the arrival of Vishvamitra; Third row; Rama and Lakshmana protect the sages’ yajna; Subahu is killed; The princes are praised by the rishis; they spend the night under the watchful gaze of Vishvamitra; Fourth row; Rama breaks Shiva’s bow; Sita’s suitors are devastated.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The dikpalas worship Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha; Vishnu and Shiva on their vahanas; Second row: Dasharatha and the queens celebrate their children namakarana (name giving ceremony); Third row: Vishvamitra and Vasishtha talk to Dasharatha; Dasharatha is devastated on hearing Vishvamitra’s request; Rama and Lakshmana leave with the sage; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river. They perform their ablutions.
Location: Tamil Nadu;Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The dikpalas worship Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha; Vishnu, Shiva and
Brahma on their vahanas; Second row: Dasharatha and the queens with their children on their lap celebrate the namakarana (name giving ceremony) officiated by Vasishtha; Third row: Vishvamitra and Vasishtha talk to Dasharatha; Dasharatha is devastated on hearing Vishvamitra’s request; Rama and Lakshmana leave with the sage; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river; They perform their ablutions; Rama frees Ahalya from her curse.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The dikpalas worship Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha; Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma on their vahanas; The dikpalas pay homage to the three gods seated atop a mountain; Second row: Dasharatha and the queens with the children on their lap, at the namakarana (name giving) ceremony officiated by Vasishtha; Third row: Vishvamitra and Vasishtha talk to Dasharatha; Dasharatha is devastated on hearing Vishvamitra’s request; Rama and Lakshmana leave with the sage; the queens and the courtiers say farewell to them; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river. They perform their ablutions; Rama frees Ahalya from her curse, immediately behind her is her husband, Gautama.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma on their vahanas; The dikpalas pay homage to the three gods seated atop a mountain; Narada discovers the sage Valmiki buried in an anthill writing on a palm leaf; Shravanakumara carries his blind parents in baskets tied to a yoke; He is accidentally killed by Dasharatha; Second row: The namakarana (name giving) ceremony is performed by Vasishtha; The queens and a nurse, nursing the four babies; They watch the infants crawling; Third row: Dasharatha is devastated by Vishvamitra’s request; He entrusts Rama and Lakshmana to the sage, and along with the queens and courtiers escorts them to the gates of Ayodhya; They arrive in the forest and spend their first night there; They reach an ashram; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river; They perform their ablutions. Rama frees Ahalya from her curse, immediately behind her is her husband Gautama. In the arch above the door leading to the puja room, Gajalakshmi; On the right: Vishvamitra and the princes arrive in Mithila.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The dikpalas pay homage to Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma; Shravanakumara carries his blind parents in baskets tied to a yoke; He is accidentally killed by Dasharatha; The king talks to the youth’s parents; King Romapada talks to two ascetics; The courtesans leave the town; Second row: The queens nurse the babies and watch the crawling toddlers; The princes are being schooled by Vasishtha; Third row: Rama and Lakshmana walk through the forest with Vishvamitra; They spend their first night in the wilderness; They follow their guide and listen to his words; After crossing a river they meet some ascetics and listen to their discourses; Three ascetics
bid farewell to Vishvamitra and the boys; Fourth row: The trio arrives in Mithila, Sita from the window of her palace sees Rama; Vishvamitra talks to a gatekeeper; King Janaka prostrates before the sage; Vishvamitra and the princes talk to the king and his minister.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The courtesans seduce Rishyashringa, they take him to the Anga country, and the drought ceases; The wedding of Shanta and Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar); Second row: Vasishtha trains the princes in horse and elephant riding; Third row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river
they enter a forest where they encounter Tataka; Fourth row: Janaka, his chaplain and his ministers talk to Vishvamitra and his charges; Vishvamitra and the princes before the assembled court; Janaka Vishvamitra, the princes and Janaka’s chaplain look on while the king instructs four servants to fetch Shiva’s bow.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar) arrives in Ayodhya and is welcomed by Dasharatha, Vasishtha and Sumantra; The putrakameshti yajna (ritual to obtain a son) is celebrated; Dasharatha divides the payasa among his three queens; Second row: The princes are trained in riding elephants, driving chariots, and fencing; Third row: Vishvamitra tells Rama to kill the demoness Tataka and once she is dead, freed from her curse, her soul ascends to heaven; Vishvamitra, Lakshmana, Indra other gods and gandharvas, praise Rama; Vishvamitra bestows the magical weapons on Rama; Fourth row: Four servants listen to Janaka’s command; Nine servants carry Shiva’s bow in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar) arrives in Ayodhya and is welcomed by Dasharatha Vasishtha and Sumantra; The putrakameshti yajna (ritual to obtain a son) is celebrated; Dasharatha divides the payasa among his three queens; Second row: The princes are trained in riding elephants, driving chariots and fencing; Third row: Vishvamitra tells Rama to kill the demoness Tataka and once she is dead, freed from her curse, her soul ascends to heaven; Vishvamitra, Lakshmana, Indra, other gods and the gandharvas praise Rama; Vishvamitra bestows the magical weapons on Rama; Fourth row: Four servants listen to Janaka’s command; Nine servants carry Shiva’s bow in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
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