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: 17th century
Description: On the left: The wedding of Rama and Sita. On the right: Rishyashringa meets the courtesans in the forest.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Sri Ranganatha Tem ple complex;Srirangam
Positioning: Ceiling of the Ranga Vilasa mandapa, south side and south east corner
Date: 17th century
Description: On their journey, Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana reach a river filled with aquatic life.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Sri Ranganatha Temple complex;Srirangam
Positioning: Ceiling of the Ranga Vilasa mandapa, north side
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) From right: Vishvamitra and his charges in the forest; The princes sleep under a tree; They resume their journey with their guru and meet a number of ascetics. 2) From left: They spend the night in the forest, cross a river and meet Tataka. 3) From right: Vishvamitra encourages Rama to fight and kill her; The gods praise Rama; 4) (from left); Vishvamitra and the boys in the forest; the gods descend to earth to praise Rama; Vishvamitra and his charges and a group of celestials, perhaps the personified magical weapons.
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: Vishvamitra and his charges meet some sages; They continue their journey and arrive at an ashram. 2) From left: two rishis; Rama and Lakshmana protect the ascetics’ yajna routing Maricha and killing Subahu; 3) From left: The yajna is completed the princes sleep; they bathe in a tank and listen to the discourses of Vishvamitra and of another sage. 4) From right: Vishvamitra, the princes and a number of rishis travel; the river Sone; the origin of the river Kaushiki (?).
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
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