Asuras
Historical background
It has been suggested that the asuras represent the dark side of the gods. There is an eternal conflict between the gods and the equally powerful asuras. There are, however, some asuras that are devotees of the gods, such as Ravana, a great follower of Shiva.
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya: (From bottom to top): Rows 21 & 22; The final combat between Devi, Shumbha and Nishumbha; Row 23; The gods praise Devi.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. (From bottom to top) Row 18: The Matrikas fight along with Devi against Shumbha and Nishumbha; Rows 19 & 20: The final combat between Devi and Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. From bottom to top; Row 16 (from left) Kali defeats Raktabija; The news is related to the asuras; Rows 17 & 18: The fight of Devi and the Matrikas against Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya; From bottom to top; Row 13: The seven Matrikas; Row 14 (from left): Devi enthroned, Shiva on Nandi; Shumbha and Nishumbha on their chariots; Row 15: The Matrikas’ combat against the asuras.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. From bottom to top Rows 10 & 11 (from right) The Matrikas fight against Chanda and Munda; Row 12 (left): Raktabija and his companions(right): Kali defeats Raktabijia.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. From bottom to top Rows 10 & 11 (from right): the Matrikas fight against Chanda and Munda; Row 12 (left): Raktabija and his companions: (right): Kali defeats Raktabijia.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. From bottom to top. Row 7 (from left): The gods approach first Shiva, and then Devi requesting her to help them; Row 8 (from right): One of Shumbha’s underlings sees Devi in a grove and reports to Shumbha; He sends to her a messenger with a marriage proposal; She says that she will marry only the man that defeats her in battle; Row 9 (from left): The asuras plot with Shumbha; Devi and her companions; Dhumralochana fights with the goddess but he is incinerated.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya. From bottom to top: Row 4 (from left): Mahishasura on a chariot battles Devi on her lion. On the right, she fights with Mahisha as buffalo. Row 5 (from right): Mahisha assumes the shape of various animals and the fights continues until the goddes defeats him. Row 6 (from left): The gods praise Devi; Shumbha and Nishumbha harrass the gods.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: 19th century
Description: Devimahatmya; From bottom to top: Row 1 (from right): Devi emerges from the flames and receives the weapons from Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Agni, Surya, Chandra. Row 2 (from left): Chandika on her lion. Mahisha and his followers; Devi combats and defeats Mahisha’s general; Row 3 (from right): Devi in combat; the news of the general’s defeat is given to Mahishasura.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, central aisle (from S. to N)
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Durga Mahishasuramardini flanked by fly whisk bearers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, west colonnade
Date: First half of the 18th century, partly restored
Description: Top row: Jalakrida (water play); Venugopala; A demon, in form of a tiger, tries to attack the gopis but is killed by Krishna; Bottom row: The bull Arishta attacks Krishna and the gopis; Krishna kills him.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north wall, north west corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, partly restored
Description: Top row: The gopas are attacked by Keshi, they report this to Krishna who is playing the flute; Krishna kills Keshi; Bottom row: Narada and a disciple; On the wall projection on the right, Varaha avatara and fly-whisk bearer.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north wall, north west corner
1 2 3 … 6 Next »