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) and 2) Fragments illustrating Bharata and Shatrughna’s journey back to Ayodhya, crossing rivers. They travel in chariots, then they ride an elephant. 3) Disappeared.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, western side colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom: 1) The journey of the princes back to Ayodhya. 2) Bharata and Shatrughna meet Vasishta and Kaikeyi (?); 3) Dasharatha’s cremation.
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) Bharata and Shatrughna give gifts to the brahmins; 2) Damaged: On the left: Shatrughna punishes Kuni (Manthara) 3) Disappeared.
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) Bharata and Shatrughna confer with Vasishtha and courtiers; They decide to visit Rama on Mount Chitrakuta; 2) and 3) The court on their way.
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) The royal party is ferried across a river and visit Bharadvaja’s hermitage; 2) On arrival in the forest they meet two Nishadhas (?); They discard their finery (unclear) 3) Disappeared.
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) and 2) Fragments: The Ayodhya party – the queens travel in closed palanquins – arrives at Bharadvaja’s (?) hermitage; 3) Damaged.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, west colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top (upside down): Fragments: Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in the forest; Bottom: Rama and Lakshmana hunt in the forest.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara;Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, celing, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top (upside down). The queens, Bharata and Shatrughna visit the exiles on Mount Chitrakuta, Rama performs the shraddha ceremony for Dasharatha; 2) The queens, accompanied by Vasishtha meet the exiles; 3) The royal party leaves and returns to Ayodhya.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Gokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row, upside down: The court returns to Ayodhya after visiting the exiles on Mount Chitrakuta; Second row, from left: Bharata places Rama’ s sandals on the throne; Bharata and Shatrughna confer with Vasishtha; In the meantime the exiles leave Mount Chitrakuta. Third row: The meeting of the exiles with Atri and Anasuya; Anasuya gives some gifts to Sita, among which an ointment which will maintain her beauty forever. The exiles resume their journey.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row (upside down); Viradha abducts Sita; Second row: (from left) Rama kills Viradha and rescues Sita; Freed from his curse, his soul ascends to heaven; Rama, Sita and Lakshmana resume their journey; Third row from right: They arrive at Sharabhanga’s hermitage. Sharabhanga refuses to go to heaven with Indra before having met Rama. The rest of the panel has disappeared. The surviving fragment shows Rama, Sita and Lakshmana prostrating.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top panel (upside down) almost completely disappeared. The flame on the right, may suggest that the scene represented Sharabhanga entering the fire and ascending to heaven. Second row; The exiles visit various ascetics; Third row: In the course of their wanderings, the exiles meet Agastya who gives Rama some magical weapons.
Agastyand 3) the exiles meet various sages
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara;Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row, upside down (damaged). Probably it depicted the arrival of Shurpanakha to Rama and Sita’s hut. Second row: The mutilation of Shurpanakha (almost totally disappered). Third row: Shurpanaka reports to Trishiras, Khara and Doshana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
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