Gandharvas
Historical background
Semi-divine beings who possess and ambivalent nature; on the one hand they have extraordinary healing powers on the other, they may cause madness. They are exquisite musicians and dancers of the gods and mix freely with humans.
Date: 18th century
Description: Alagar with Sridevi on his right, Kalyana Sundaravalli Nacchiyar on his left, and other deities (as seen in the main sanctuary); In the upper corners gandharvis throw flower petals on them; In the foreground ritual implements.
Location: Tamil NaduTemple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; ceiling of the central pavilion
Date: 18th century
Description: Vishnu Sheshashayana floats on the Milky Ocean with Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet; Brahma sits on the lotus sprouting from the god’s navel; Gandharvas and kinnaras floating on clouds sing and make music; At the bottom (left) are the dikpalas; Gods and Narada and Tumburu (right).
Location: Tamil NaduTemple;Kallagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, central pavilion, ceiling, north east corner
Date: 18th century
Description: Top row (from left): Vishvamitra encourages Rama
to kill Tataka When she falls to the ground the sage and the gods rejoice; The gandharvas let showers of flower petals fall from the sky; The sage teaches Rama a powerful mantra; Bottom row (from right): Magical weapons materialize in the sky. Rama and Lakshmana listen to the discourses of Vishvamitra and another sage. They perform their ablutions and breathing exercises before resuming their journey.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; central pavilion, ceiling, west side
Date: 18th century
Description: Nataraja tableau (from left): Gandharva carrying a vina and two further scenes with ascetics.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Nandishvara Manikkavachakar shrine, ceiling of the mandapa
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar) arrives in Ayodhya and is welcomed by Dasharatha, Vasishtha and Sumantra; The putrakameshti yajna (ritual to obtain a son) is celebrated; Dasharatha divides the payasa among his three queens; Second row: The princes are trained in riding elephants, driving chariots, and fencing; Third row: Vishvamitra tells Rama to kill the demoness Tataka and once she is dead, freed from her curse, her soul ascends to heaven; Vishvamitra, Lakshmana, Indra other gods and gandharvas, praise Rama; Vishvamitra bestows the magical weapons on Rama; Fourth row: Four servants listen to Janaka’s command; Nine servants carry Shiva’s bow in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar) arrives in Ayodhya and is welcomed by Dasharatha Vasishtha and Sumantra; The putrakameshti yajna (ritual to obtain a son) is celebrated; Dasharatha divides the payasa among his three queens; Second row: The princes are trained in riding elephants, driving chariots and fencing; Third row: Vishvamitra tells Rama to kill the demoness Tataka and once she is dead, freed from her curse, her soul ascends to heaven; Vishvamitra, Lakshmana, Indra, other gods and the gandharvas praise Rama; Vishvamitra bestows the magical weapons on Rama; Fourth row: Four servants listen to Janaka’s command; Nine servants carry Shiva’s bow in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: On the right: The dikpalas pay homage to Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha floating on the ocean. On a cloud: Narada and Tumburu play while the gandharvas strew flowers; Further gandharvas float above the temple. It is possible that the artist depicted here the image of Vishnu reclining on Shesha enshrined in the Sri Ranganatha temple on Srirangam Island.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Vishvamitra encourages Rama to kill Tataka; Her liberated soul ascends to heaven in a chariot; Vishvamitra, Indra and other gods praise the princes; The gandharvas scatter a rain of flower petals upon Rama and Lakshmana; The sage bestows the magical weapons upon Rama; Second row (left): Four servants; (right) Nine bearers carry Shiva’s bow.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Vasishtha trains the princes in swordsmanship and archery; Second row: Indra and other gods, the gandharvas and Vishvamitra praise Rama for killing Tataka; Vishvamitra bestows the magical weapons upon Rama and teaches him how to use them; In the background, behind the lobed arch, the door to the darbar hall and murals depicting the wedding of the four princes.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Tataka’s death; A chariot conveys her liberated soul to heaven; Vishvamitra praises the princes; Indra, the gods, and the gandharvas celebrate their victory.
Location: Tamila Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Scene on the left: The eight dikpalas pay homage to Vishnu; Above them, floating on clouds, are Narada, Tumburu, and flower-strewing gandharvas; On the right, top row: Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma on their vahanas; Bottom row: The queens and their sons.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Scene on the underside of the lobed arches: A gandarva holding a musical instrument (?) and a gandharvi playing a jaw harp.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Darbar Hall
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