Bhagavata Purana
Historical background
The most famous of the Puranas. The most important sections are those dealing with the life of Krishna, i.e. Bhagavata, from his birth to his death.
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Top row: Krishna’s and Rukmini’s wedding; To the left, the Setupati worships the divine couple; Above the north door: Gaja Lakshmi, painted stucco, and mural depicting the worship of four-headed deity and worship of linga (right); On the left Parashurama avatara; On the right, Rama avatara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Top row: King Parikshit listens to the Bhagavata Purana recited by the sage Shuka; The Earth seeks Brahma’s help; Bottom row: Brahma, the Earth and the gods seek Vishnu’s assistance.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Top row: The assembly of the gods; Bottom row: The gods descend to earth to witness the nuptials of Devaki and Vasudeva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Top and bottom rows: After the wedding celebrations Vasudeva Devaki prepare to go away and Kamsa accompanies them; The departure of the newly weds.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Top row: Kamsa hears a voice from heaven, forecasting his death by the eighth son of the couple and tries to kill Devaki; Bottom row: Kamsa, Vasudeva and Devaki in a chariot surrounded by their retinue.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Row 1: Vasudeva and Devaki in their apartment; Row 2: Vasudeva hands his first born son to Kamsa; Vasudeva; Devaki and a baby; Row 3: Narada visits Kamsa; Kamsa armed with a whip threatens a group of persons; He throws Devaki and Vasudeva in prison; Row 4: Kamsa kills a baby; Kamsa is lustrated(?); Devaki hands a baby over to Kamsa.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall, north corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Row 1: Kamsa kills Devaki’s children; Row 2: Kamsa kills further three children of Devaki and Vasudeva; Vishnu and Lakshmi seated on Shesha surrounded by devotees; Row 3: Devaki and Vasudeva; Devaki’s pregnancy; Nanda and Rohini; Rohini gives birth to Balarama; the gods worship Vishnu in Devaki’s womb; Row 4: Devaki gives birth to Krishna; the baby lies in her arms; Vishnu manifests himself to his parents; Krishna in the cradle; Devaki entrusts Krishna to Vasudeva.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, north wall, west corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Vasudeva, carries baby Krishna in his arms, escorted by Shesha; The Yamuna parts before them and they arrive at Nanda’s house in Gokul; Vasudeva enters the lying-in chamber substitutes Yashoda’s daughter with Krishna; Bottom row: Vasudeva and the baby girl return to Mathura; Vasudeva and Devaki deliver her to Kamsa and when he is on the verge of killing her she flies to the sky revealing that Krishna is alive; Kamsa releases Vasudeva and Devaki; Kamsa holds a meeting with his ministers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, north wall
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Row 1: Hearing of the birth of a son, Nanda consults the Brahmins; He takes a bath and purifies himself; Row 2: Nanda and Yashoda consult the astrologers, gift cows and grains to the Brahmins; the gopas bring gifts; Row 3: Rituals for the new-born Krishna and Balarama in the arms of their mothers; Nanda and the gopas travel to Mathura to pay Kamsa’s annual tributes; Row 4: Nanda and Vasudeva(?) before Kamsa; conversation between Vasudeva and Nanda; Nanda and Yashoda.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, north wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Row 1: Kamsa summons Putana, and sends her to Gokul, where, eventually, Krishna sucks the life out of her; Row 2: After Putana’s death, Yashoda picks up baby Krishna, takes him to the house; Nanda, Yashoda and Rohini perform rituals for the safety of the child; Nanda finds Putana’s body; Row 3: Nanda and Yashoda worship Krishna; Nanda with Krishna on his lap and Yashoda; sleeping Krishna is put in a cradle tied to a cart; Krishna destroys the cart demon, Shakatasura, to the amazement of the cowherds; Row 4: Yashodha and Krishna; a Brahmin recites verses for Krishna’s welfare at the presence of Nanda and Yashoda; Yashoda and crawling Krishna; The demon Trinavarta sweeps the baby off the ground, but is killed by Krishna and falls to the ground at the feet of the gopas.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, east wall, north-east corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Bhagavata Purana narrative.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, north east corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash
Description: Row 1: Vasudeva and Devaki talk to Garga: Garga visits Nanda and performs purificatory rites on behalf of Krishna and Balarama (seated on their mothers’ lap); Row 2: Krishna in a cradle; Yashoda bathes Krishna; the child in Yashoda’s arms while Nanda waves a lotus (?) in his raised hand; Children at play(?); Row 3: Yashoda and Rohini playing with the children, Krishna crawling; Row 4 The children play with the calves (damaged).
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, east wall, north corner
« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next »