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: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: From left: Shiva as Jalandharasamhara and as Chakradana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, prakara, west wall
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: From left: Shiva as Kamadahana; Shiva as Tripurantaka.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavachakar shrine, prakara, west wall
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: The eight dikpalas; (from right to left): Indra on the elephant Airavata; Agni on a ram; Yama on a buffalo; Nairriti on a man; Varuna on a makara; Vayu on a gazelle; Kubera on a horse; Ishana on a bull.
Beneath the register depicting the dikpalas are two mythological tableaux. On the left; Shiva incinerates Kama; On the right; Shiva destroys the three aerial cities of the asuras.
bottom (left): the burning of Kama; right: Shiva
destroys the three fortresses of the asuras
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, third and fourth rows from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Top row: The eights dikpalas (from right) Indra; Agni; Yama; Nairriti; Varuna; Vayu; Kubera; Ishana. Central row: On the left, Shiva incinerates Kama; On the right, Shiva destroys the three aerial cities of the asuras. Bottom row; The ten incarnations of Vishnu flanked by Rati on her horse formed by five girls (left) and by Kama on his elephant formed by nine girls (right).
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, third, fourth and fifth rows from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Shiva as Tripurantaka. The god mounted on a chariot driven by Brahma, and whose wheels are the Sun and the Moon, destroys with a magic arrow, whose tip is Vishnu, the three aerial cities of the asuras. Mount Meru is his bow, and the serpent Vasuki is the bow’s string.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling, fourth row from west
Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Vignettes, from the left: Man killing an elephant trampling a tiger; Damodara Krishna and Yashoda; Four-headed cow lustrating a linga flanked by two ascetics; Lady flanked by attendants; Warrior killing a lion; Lion riding on an elephant; Ten-armed Durga trampling on Mahisha (?); Bhadrakali (?).
Below the vignettes: 16th century frieze with music and dance scenes.
Location: Karnataka Temple;Virupaksha Temple;Hampi
Positioning: Open mandapa, beam supporting the ceiling, north (from west to east)
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Though this portion of the panel is severely damaged, it probably depicted Durga killing Mahishasura. Traces of her four arms, a flexed leg, a garland and elaborately patterned clothes are still visible. The dark mass at her feet can be interpreted as the carcass of the buffalo demon. She is flanked by rishis.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, third bay from west, north
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Scenes from the Kiratarjuniya. The rishis attacked by the boar Muka, request Arjuna’s help.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Mahamandapa, northern periphery
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Scene from the Kiratarjuniya. The rishis, attacked by the boar Muka, request Arjuna’s help.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Mahamandapa, northern periphery
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Scene from the Kiratarjuniya. Arjuna’s arrow hits the boar Muka; The rishis praise the hero.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Mahamandapa, northern periphery
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Scene from the Kiratarjuniya; Arjuna’s arrow hits the boar Muka; The dogs of the Kirata attack the dying animal.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy;Lepakshi
Positioning: Mahamandapa, northern periphery
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Scene from the Kiratarjuniya. Arjuna’s arrow and that of the Kirata (only his arm and his bow are visible) hit the boar Muka at the same time.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Mahamandapa, northern periphery
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