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: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row (upside down); Viradha abducts Sita; Second row: (from left) Rama kills Viradha and rescues Sita; Freed from his curse, his soul ascends to heaven; Rama, Sita and Lakshmana resume their journey; Third row from right: They arrive at Sharabhanga’s hermitage. Sharabhanga refuses to go to heaven with Indra before having met Rama. The rest of the panel has disappeared. The surviving fragment shows Rama, Sita and Lakshmana prostrating.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Top row, upside down (damaged). Probably it depicted the arrival of Shurpanakha to Rama and Sita’s hut. Second row: The mutilation of Shurpanakha (almost totally disappered). Third row: Shurpanaka reports to Trishiras, Khara and Doshana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From top to bottom; Top row, upside down, damaged; 2) The troops of Trishiras, Khara and Doshana on the march; Sita and Lakshmana are safely concealed in a cave: Rama fights against Trishiras, Khara and Doshana; Third row: battle scene. On the left Rama fights against Trisharas; On the right Rama destroys the chariot of one of Trishira’s brothers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From bottom to top: 1) Shurpanakha reports to Ravana; 2) Ravana enthroned in his palace; He departs on his chariot (at least one scene has disappeared) 3) He travels in search of Maricha (?).
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling. east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From bottom to top; 1) Ravana talks to Maricha. 2) Rama chases the golden deer in the forest; 3) Lakshmana leaves Sita alone in the hut to join Rama. Ravana appears at her door in the guise of a mendicant.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: From bottom to top: 1) Ravana abducts Sita and Jatayu attacks his chariot. 2) Rama and Lakshmana find the empty hut and and, on the left, unidentified scene. 3) Ravana’s chariot in pieces and its driver dismembered; Rama and Lakshmana find the dying Jatayu, perform the last rites and cremate him.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara;Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings, 18th century
Description: Borrom row: Rama and Lakshmana kill Kabandha; Shabari prostrates before the princes.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east colonnade, lintel
Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Hanuman allows Indrajit to capture him after a fierce battle and, once at the presence of Ravana, sits on his coiled tail. A number of scenes have disappeared. The scene in the last row, now severely damaged, may have shown the rakshasas setting Hanuman’s tail on fire.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay
Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: After meeting Sita in the ashoka vana, Hanuman wreaks the garden and engages in a fight with the guards.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay
Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: After meeting Sita in the ashoka vana, Hanuman wreaks the garden and engages in a fight with the guards.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa,ceiling, east bay
Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: After meeting Sita, in the ashoka vana, Hanuman weraks the garden and fights with Ravana’s guards.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay
Date: Paintings; late 18th early 19th century
Description: Ravana sends Indrajit to fight against Hanuman.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Tirugokarneshvara Brihadambal Temple;Pudukottai
Positioning: Entrance mandapa, ceiling, east bay
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