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: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Top row: Krishna and Balarama undergo purification ceremonies officiated by Garga; They pay homage to Sandipani, their preceptor; Bottom row: They go to Prabhasa, the Ocean pays homage to them; Krishna kills the asura Panchajana; He takes the conch which was the body of the asura and goes to the city of Yama where he finds Sandipani’s son; He restores the boy to his parents; On the wall projection on the right, Parashurama avatara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north wall
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Top row: Srivaishnava divyadeshams; Bhu Varahasvami (Sri Mushnam); Lakshmi Narasimha (Lower Ahobilam); Trivikrama, Tirukoyilur (?)(Kanchipuram); Bottom row: The Jagannatha triad (Puri); King Bali and Vamana; On the wall projection on the right: Mutu Vijaya Raghunata Setupati in worshipful attitude; Below lady holding the pallu of her sari.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, east wall, north corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Top row: The Jagannatha triad (Puri); King Bali and Vamana; Bottom row: A religious ceremony (?); On the wall projection on the right: Lady holding the pallu of her sari in her hand.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, east wall, north corner
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: Top row: Krishna is tied to a mortar and drags it between two trees; the gandharvas Nalakubara and Manigriva appear, and being released from their curse they ascend to heaven in a chariot; Nanda and Yashoda witness the scene; Row 2: The gopas leave Gokul on their chariots; Row 3: They settle in Vrindavan: Nanda and his family in their house, the gopas in theirs; Krishna and Balarama go to the forest with the cattle; Krishna kills Vatsasura; Row 4: Nanda and his family in their house; Bakasura tries to swallow Krishna and his companions; Krishna, however, prises the heron’s bill open and tears him apart; The gandharvas praise him.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, east wall, south corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Nanda, his wives and the gopas in Vrindavan; Krishna and Balarama go to the forest to graze the cattle; Krishna slays Vatsasura; Bottom row: Nanda and his family in Vrindavan; Krishna slays Bakasura and is praised by the gandharvas.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, east wall, south corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Aghasura confronts the gopas and swallows them along with Krishna and the cattle; Krishna, however, increases his size and Aghasura chokes to death; Bottom row: A picnic along the Yamuna.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, south wall, east corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Krishna frees the abducted boys who return home to their parents; Second row: Balarama kills Dhenukasura; The gods shower flower petals on him and his companions; Yashoda and Rohini bathe Krishna, bless their sons and put them to sleep; The boys in a cave (?); Third row: Krishna dives into the Yamuna and quells the snake Kaliya.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, south wall, west corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Nanda, Yashoda and Rohini are delighted to have their boys back; Bottom row: The boys and the gopas are attacked by Pralambha, who is then killed by Balarama.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall, south corner
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Top row: Balarama kills Pralambha; Row 2: Krishna plays the flute; all of a sudden there is a fire in the forest; Krishna and Balarama rescue the cowherds and the cattle and return safely to their settlement; Row 3: (extreme left, top, damaged) Lakshmi and some pots (?); In a hilly landscape Krishna plays the flute enchanting cattle and gopis.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 2, west wall, south corner
Date: Paintings: probably 18th century
Description: Top: Indra; Bottom: Agni and Shiva as Gajasurasamharamurti.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Nandishvara Manikkavachakar shrine, ceiling of the mandapa
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: From left: Vishnu as Mohini seduces the rishis: The rishis create various creatures from the sacrificial fire; Shiva as Gajasurasamhara.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, prakara, south west corner
« Previous 1 2 3 4 … 6 Next »