Manuniti Cholan
Historical background
One of the 63 nayanmars, whose sense of justice became proverbial, hence his name ‘establisher of Manu’s justice’. He lived in Tiruvarur and it is said that he hung a huge bell at the entrance of his palace, so that anyone seeking justice could ring the bell and would be heard.
Date: Paintings: late 19th, early 20th century
Description: On the left: Cholanadu, the Chola county; on the right; Tiruvarur, the story of Manuniti Cholan nayanmar.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Sivananda Manikkavackakar shrine, prakara, north wall
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: King Manuniti Cholan, on a throne, accompanied by his attendants, faces three (?) seated figures, now damaged. On the left, a standing figure.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Manuniti Cholan and a group of dignitaries inside a hall listen to the discourses of two sages. On the extreme left, the cow runs towards its dead calf.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Manuniti Cholan and a group of dignitaries inside a hall listen to the discourses of two sages. On the extreme left, the cow runs towards its dead calf.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The gate of a palace, capped by a two-storeyed tower. Near it are the fragments of a figure, possibly a guard. Just outside the gateway a group of four, barely recognisable, gesticulating men bearing bows, perhaps the bodyguard of the prince, gather around a chariot that has just run over a calf. Its body is clearly visible right under the central wheel of the conveyance, towards which a large the cow rushes. The prince and his attendant stand on the chariot and are engaged in an animated discussion with a dignified crowned figure who standing behind the cow, appears to support its cause. Manuniti and a group of dignitaries inside a hall listen to the discourses of two sages.
The cow walks towards the palace gateway, and by ringing the bell outside the hall she attracts the attention of a gate keeper and demands justice. Floating on a cloud above the cow’s head are two gandharvas
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The cow walks towards the palace gateway, and by ringing the bell outside the hall she attracts the attention of a gate keeper and demands justice. Floating on a cloud above the cow’s head are two gandharvas. On the right, Manuniti, his minister, the cow and yet another dignitary discuss the incident. Near the king is the diminutive prince.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: A group of courtly figures seem to be discussing the case. Manuniti orders the prince to be punished; Along with two dignitaries he looks on while the chariot carrying the dead calf, followed by the anguished cow licking it, is driven over the prince. A shower of flowers falls from the sky.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandpa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: King Manuniti and his ministers discuss the incident; the king decides to punish the prince and along with two dignitaries he looks on while the chariot carrying the dead calf, followed by the cow licking it, is driven over the prince. A shower of flowers falls from the sky. On the extreme right; Shiva and Parvati appear riding on Nandi accompanied by a host of ganas and restore to life the prince and the calf.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Manuniti decides to punish the prince and along with two dignitaries he looks on while the chariot carrying the dead calf, followed by the cow licking it, is driven over the prince. A shower of flowers falls from the sky. On the extreme right; Shiva and Parvati appear riding on Nandi accompanied by a host of ganas and restore to life the prince and the calf.
Beginning of an unidentified narrative. From the remaining fragments it is possible to recognise a four-armed deity, probably Shiva, surrounded by a group of women.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: The chariot carrying the dead calf crushes the prince to death. Shiva and Parvati riding on Nandi appear followed by a host of ganas and resuscitate the prince and the calf. A rain of flowers falls from the sky on the group. On the extreme right fragments of an unidentified narrative: a four-armed deity, probably Shiva, surrounded by a group of women.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: First half of the 16th century
Description: Before the eyes of Manuniti and his minister, Shiva and Parvati riding on Nandi, accompanied by a host of ganas appear on the scene and restore the prince and the calf to life. A gandharvi floating on a cloud strews flower petals on the group.
Location: Andhra Pradesh Temple;Virabhadraswamy Temple;Lepakshi
Positioning: Natyamandapa, north bay
Date: 17th century
Description: Top row: A king, probably Manuniti Cholan, listens to a brahmin; Some dignitaries visit him; Bottom row(right): The anthill where Valmikinatha (Shiva) resides. The next scenes, almost disappeared, are part of the Manuniti Cholan narrative.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tyagaraja temple;Tiruvarur
Positioning: Devasiriya mandapa, north wall
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