Tiruvilayadal Puranam
Historical background
The ‘Purana of sacred plays’ of Shiva at Madurai is the final version of an old tradition of legends. The sixty-four legends were arranged in the present sequence by Paranjoti (late 16th, early 17th cent.) and are considered one of the peaks of Tamil narrative poetry.
Date: mid-17th century
Description: The abhisheka (coronation) of Tatatakai. (TP 4)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, east wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Tatatakai (Minakshi) fights against Shiva riding on Indra’s elephant, Airavata (TP 5). The inscription says: ‘Tatatakai born with three breasts engages in war against the Lord of Mount Kailasa’.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, east wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Indra’s elephant, Airavata, is freed of his sins and regains his white colour. (TP 2)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, east wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: Top row: The wedding of Minakshi and Sundarar; Second row (left): The shrine of Sundarar at Madurai; Sundarar dances in the Silver Hall for the benefit of Patanjali; (right) Nandikeshvara and a gana? playing the drum; Third row Gundodara is fed; Fourth row (left): Gundodara’s thirst is quenched; (right): Flowers. (TP 5-8)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: The king worships Sundareshvara. On the left an ascetic; on the right the king’s retinue. (TP 21)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: The king , accompanied by his retinue, talks to the siddha. (TP 21)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: mid-17th century
Description: The king comes to meet the siddha, and they look on, as the stone elephant eats the sugarcane.(TP 21)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, south chamber, west wall
Date: Narumpunatha Temple; Tiruppudaimarudur
Description: A net to catch a large fish is cast under the guidance of an experienced fisherman, i.e. Shiva in disguise. (TP 57)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Narumpunatha Temple;Tiruppudaimarudur
Positioning: Gopura, third tier, north chamber, east wall
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