Local Puranas (Sthalapuranas)
Historical background
Literary genre narrating the foundation myth of a temple. A mahatmya (glorification) may be composed in honour of the site, e.g. Chidambaramahatmya, as well as of a deity, such as the Devi Mahatmya.
Date: mid-17th century
Description: The gandharvas sing the praise of the huge Sphutarjunam linga, which has emerged from the tree.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, north chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Karuvur Siddha perfors puja before the linga with a flower (?) his hand; On the right, a gandharva sings the praises of the linga.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, north chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Top row (from left to right); Puja scenes before a temple enshrining the Devi and the linga; sages floating above the shrines pay homage to the deities. A devotee carrying something on his head, perhaps a bamboo rod, walks towards the entrance gopura;
On the extreme right, a king speaks to two dignitaries. At the feet of the king is a scribe with a palm leaf in his hands. Second row: Adhikaranandi stands near Shiva and Parvati enthroned while a courtly couple pay homage to them; A tank is shown on the right. This may be the Surendra moksha tirtha near the Narumpunatha temple; A sage stands near a maruda tree from which emerges a linga. Another sage, seated on a hillock beneath a maruda tree, with the left knee held in place by a yogapatta, could be Karuvur Siddha; Yet another sage worships a linga emerging from a maruda tree. Third row: A shepherd, Idaikkadar, and his flock; Idaikkadar talks to Shiva at the presence of five noblement, two of them taking notes on a leaf; The king, flanked by an attendant, listens to the debate. On the extreme right Idaikkadar in a trance. (TP 56)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, north chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Shiva and Parvati bathing in a river and washing their hair.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Description: A man and a woman washing their hair; These may be Svayambhuva Manu and his wife, Satarupa, arriving at Tiruppudaimarudur where Shiva and Parvati had manifested themselves.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A queen, seated with her child on her lap, and attendants. She may be Adi Manu’s wife, Satarupa. The same child, somewhat grown is walking and crawling.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A royal consecration; Adi Manu crowns his son Sundara Manu. Two fly whisk bearers frame the scene.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Sundara Manu receives the sceptre from Shiva and Parvati.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A devotee worships Minakshi and Sundareshvara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A king in a building, the queen (?) stands outside before him with a fly whisk in her hand; On the left, a dignitary pays homage to Minakshi and Sundareshvara (previous slide).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A queen, a child, and an attendant in a building. On the right, a further attendant stands on the threshold giving something to the queen, who extends her hand. On the extreme right, a soldier.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: A king seated on a low throne receives a floral homage from a child. On the left, a soldier and two further royal attendants. On the right, two men stand in respectful attitude.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
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