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: 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 and 2) from right: The newly weds and their entourage on their way to Ayodhya. 3) From left: The confrontation between Rama and Parashurama. Rama strings Parashurama’s bow and the latter recognizes Rama’s superiority.
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: The newly weds and their entourage on the way back to Ayodhya. 2) Fom left: the confrontation between Rama and Parashurama, in the course of which Rama establishes his own superiority. 3) From right: The arrival of the newly weds at the gates of 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 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
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) From left: A messenger speaks to the purohits and reports to Dasharatha and Kaikeyi. 2) On the right: Rama and Lakshmana before Dasharatha and Kaikeyi 3) Damaged: On the right: Rama and Lakshmana take leave of Kaikeyi and Sumitra (?) 4) (from left) Rama Lakshmana and Sita take leave of Kausalya (?) and distribute their riches to the Brahmins.
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 Sita take leave of a queen, probably Kausalya: Rama, Lakshmana give their riches to Vasishtha (?) and other brahmins. 2) From right: The brahmin Trijata comes to Rama and Lakshmana and receives the cows; 3) From left: The citizens of Ayodhya take leave of the exiles.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, central bay
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Fragments The exiles on a chariot (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, west side colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top and second rows: The exiles sleep under a tree; They take leave of the Sumantra; They meet Guha and cross the Ganga; Life in the forest. Bottom row, illegible.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, west side colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom: 1) From right: Sumantra takes leave of the exiles; Rama and Sita in the hut and Lakshmana in attendance 2) Sumantra returns and reports to Dasharatha (?) damaged. 3) Damaged.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, west side colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Fom top to bottom: 1) Dasharatha’s body lies in state mourned by his wives; The body is placed in a vat of oil; Vasishtha in council; 2) Messengers are sent to fetch Bharata and Shatrughna; 3) They arrive at the court of Kekaya and break the news of Dasharatha’s death.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, celing, west side colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom 1) and 2) Bharata and Shatrugna are driven back to Ayodhya. 3) Damaged.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, west side colonnade, lintel
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