Tirugokarna, Tirugokarneshvara and Brihadambal Temple
Historical background
The name Tirugokarna (‘go’ means cow; ‘karna’ means ear) and that of the main deity, Gokarneshvara, derive from a mythological incident.
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It is said that Kamadhenu, the cow of plenty, was cursed by Indra to be born on earth. She then visited the ashram of the sage Kapila and he told her that she would be freed from her curse if she worshipped and lustrated the Shivalinga with water from the Ganges. So, she regularly collected Ganges water in her ear and duly performed the lustrations. To test her devotion, Shiva appeared before her in the guise of a tiger and told her that since he was hungry, he would eat her. At which, Kamadhenu suggested a compromise: she would first complete her puja and then she would return and offer herself to the tiger. Shiva, pleased with her devotion, freed her from her curse. It is said that the split on the top of the linga enshrined in the temple was accidentally caused by the hoof of Kamadhenu while lustrating it.
Tirugokarna, the locale of this miraculous event, is in the old part of Pudukottai, some 3 km north west of the city centre. Here stands the Brihadambal temple – as it is locally known – dedicated to the tutelary goddess of the ruling family, the Pudukottai Tondaimans. The complex is built around a 7th century rock-cut cave attributed to the Pallava period, in which are the small sanctuaries of Bakulavaneshvara, and his consort Brihadambal. The name Bakulavaneshvara, ‘Lord of the forest of the bakula trees’ refers to the location of the linga worshipped by Kamadhenu. The temple was patronised by the Cholas and Pandyas who added some halls opposite the main sanctuaries. It was greatly expanded by the Tondaimans, whose sustained patronage lasted from at least the early 18th century to 1948. The core of the temple is approached from the south through a long hall, the ceiling of which is covered with Ramayana paintings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The panels are laid out on the ceiling of the central, eastern and western aisle. Those in the central aisle, illustrating the narrative from the beginning to the episode in which Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, give away their riches before leaving for the exile, are the oldest, dating probably of the mid-eighteenth century. The registers, bearing captions in Tamil and Telugu are arranged from left to right and from right to left. The detailed rendering of the life of the exiles in the forest occupies the lintels of the colonnades skirting the central aisle. These have either disappeared or have been ‘restored’ at some later point of time. The narrative continues on the ceiling of the east aisle, featuring numerous episodes from the Kishkindha- and Sundarakanda. These paintings were perhaps executed or crudely ‘restored’ in the 19th century and are now in a sad state of conservation. The paintings on the ceiling of the west aisle, with scenes drawn from the Yuddhakanda, visible until the late 1980s have now disappeared.

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Hanuman devastates Ravana’s garden; Bottom row, from right: Sita in Ravana’s garden; The rakshasis report the distrurbance to Ravana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Hanuman appears before Sita held captive in Ravana’s ashoka vana. He gives Rama’s signet ring to Sita. Bottom row, almost totally disppeared: Hanuman devastates Ravana’s garden.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Hanuman, perched on a tree, sees Sita in the ashoka vana guarded by rakshasis. Bottom row: Sita tries to hang herself, when Hanuman appears before her.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: From left: Hanuman rests on Mount Mainaka; He arrives in Lanka and fights against Lankini; He enters Ravana’s palace and enters his harem searching Sita.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Fragments. On his flight to Lanka Hanuman meets the rakshasis Surasa and Simhika.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Fragments. Top row, right: The monkeys in Svayamprabha’s cave (?); Central row left: They meet Sampati (?); Bottom row, left: Under the gaze of Sugriva and Jambavan, Hanuman jumps across the ocean.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row, from right (fragments): Rama and Lakshmana on Malyavanta Hill,; Lakshmana visits Sugriva in Kishkindha, and reminds him of the terms of the alliance pact; Bottom row: The alliance with Jambavan (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Fragments. Barely recognisable on the bottom row is Vali’s cremation
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, eastern bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Rama, Lakshmana and the vanaras in a forest. Bottom, from right: Rama shoots and arrow at Vali. Vali dies in the arms of his wife, Tara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, eastern bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Rama fells the seven trees. Bottom: The duel between Vali and Sugriva; Sugriva retreats.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, eastern bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Fom top to bottom 1) Hanuman, as a Brahmin, approaches Rama and Lakshmana and introduces them to Sugriva. 2) The alliance between Rama and Sugriva 3) Damaged.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, eastern bay

Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Top row: Hanuman, in the guise of a Brahmin, meets Rama and Lakshmana, and carries them to Sugriva. Bottom row: The alliance between Rama and Sugriva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa,ceiling, eastern bay
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