Rakshasas
Historical background
Malevolent spirits that roam at night assuming many forms at will. They are described as raw flesh-eaters, having deformed limbs, sharp claws and side-fangs. They play a prominent role in Hindu mythology and folklore.
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Rama and Sita enthroned; Top row: Bharata Shatrughna, Vibhishana and other heroes on the top row; Bottom row: Guha (?); Angada (?); Jambavan and other allies.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Hanuman, Sita and Vibhishana before Rama; Lakshmana lights up the fire for Sita’s ordeal: Central row: Sita’s fire ordeal witnessed by all the deities; Top row: Rama, Sita and the allies fly back to Ayodhya on the pushpaka vimana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Hanuman informs Sita that she is to meet Rama; she is bathed, and carried in a palanquin. Vibhishana and musicians precede her; Central row: Celestials and dikpalas witness Sita’s fire ordeal. On the extreme right, Agni carries Sita in his
arms and restores her unscathed to Rama; A gandharva, floating on a cloud, throws flowers on her; Top row: On their way back to Ayodhya, Rama, Sita and their allies worship at the navagrahas shrine at Navapashana. On the right: monkeys.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Rama receives Vibhishana, carrying a basket of fruit, who prostrates at his feet; Central row: Hanuman, Angada and their followers, disrupt Ravana’s patala-homa (sacrifice to ensure victory against the enemy); Top row: Battle scenes.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Rama in council discusses the battle plans with Lakshmana, Vibhishana and Hanuman at the presence of three further chiefs; On the extreme right vestiges of a flying conveyance (?); Central row: The monkeys storm Ravana’s palace (?); Ravana, a disappeared figure and Sugriva (?); Top row: A battle scene, Lakshmana (?) fights against the rakshasas.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Battle scenes on all three rows. Top row: Lakshmana is wounded on the battlefield and lies on Rama’s lap. The physician Sushena takes care of him; Hanuman goes to the Himalayas and brings back the mountain with the healing herbs.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom and central rows: Battle scenes. Top row, on the extreme right: Vibhishana and Hanuman talk to Jambavan; Hanuman, on top of a hillock fights against a group of rakshasas; He finds the mountain with the healing herbs, and carries it back to the battlefield.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Rama on the battlefield ; Vibhishana talks to him; Battle scenes; Central row: Disappeared but for a few fragments; Top row (from right): Wounded and dying monkeys; Hanuman and Vibhishana talk to Jambavan; Hanuman on a hillock faces a troop of rakshasas.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row, left: A council scene: Rama discusses the strategy with Hanuman, Vibhishana and Jambavan; On the extreme right: Lakshmana on Hanuman’s shoulders fights against Indrajit (?); Central row: Disappeared; Top row: Wounded and dying heroes.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Description: Bottom row: Hanuman, Sita and Vibhishana before Rama; Lakshmana lights up the fire for Sita’s ordeal: Central row: Sita’s fire ordeal witnessed by all the deities; Top row: Rama, Sita and the allies fly back to Ayodhya on the pushpaka vimana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Bottom row: Hanuman informs Sita that she is to meet Rama; she is bathed, and carried in a palanquin. Vibhishana and musicians precede her; Central row: Celestials and dikpalas witness Sita’s fire ordeal. On the extreme right, Agni carries Sita in his
arms and restores her unscathed to Rama; A gandharva, floating on a cloud, throws flowers on the protagonists; Top row: On their way back to Ayodhya, Rama, Sita and their allies worship at the navagrahas shrine at Navapashana. On the right: monkeys.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
Date: Late 16th or early 17th century
Description: Battle scenes on all three rows. Top row: Lakshmana is wounded on the battlefield and lies on Rama’s lap. The physician Sushena takes care of him; Hanuman goes to the Himalayas and brings back the mountain with the healing herbs.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Venugopala Parthasarathi Temple;Chengam
Positioning: Open mandapa, ceiling
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