Rakshasas ; RakshasasAnti-Gods, Religion and Mythology 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: First half of the 18th century, damaged by splashes of withewash Description: Row 1: Kamsa summons Putana, and sends her to Gokul, where, eventually, Krishna sucks the life out of her; Row 2: After Putana’s death, Yashoda picks up baby Krishna, takes him to the house; Nanda, Yashoda and Rohini perform rituals for the safety of the child; Nanda finds Putana’s body; Row 3: Nanda and Yashoda worship Krishna; Nanda with Krishna on his lap and Yashoda; sleeping Krishna is put in a cradle tied to a cart; Krishna destroys the cart demon, Shakatasura, to the amazement of the cowherds; Row 4: Yashodha and Krishna; a Brahmin recites verses for Krishna’s welfare at the presence of Nanda and Yashoda; Yashoda and crawling Krishna; The demon Trinavarta sweeps the baby off the ground, but is killed by Krishna and falls to the ground at the feet of the gopas. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 2, east wall, north-east corner Date: First half of the 18th century Description: Top row: Dasharatha entrusts Rama to Vishvamitra; Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana on their way to the forest; Row 2: Vishvamitra, on the banks of the Sarayu, talks to Rama and Lakshmana; The sage and his charges meet two rishis; Row 3: They settle on the river bank for the night; In the morning, after having performed their ablutions they speak to a sage disciple of Shiva; Row 4: Rama and Lakshmana pay homage to a sage meditating on a hillock and proceed further; Vishvamitra encourages Rama to fight against Tataka; Row 5: Rama and Lakshmana kill her; The gods descend from heaven and pay homage to Vishvamitra and the princes. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, east wall Date: First half of the 18th century Description: Top row: Vishvamitra and the princes settle for the night on the banks of the river; In the morning, after performing their ablutions, they visit an hermitage and meet one of Shiva’s disciples; Bottom row; The princes pay homage to an ascetic meditating on a hillock; They resume their journey and Vishvamitra encourages Rama and Lakshmana to kill Tataka. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, east wall Date: First half of the 18th century Description: Top row: The princes pay homage to a sage meditating on a hillock and proceed further; Tataka appears and Vishvamitra encourages Rama and Lakshmana to kill her; Bottom row: They do so; Vishvamitra talks to his charges; The gods descend from heaven to praise them. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, east wall Date: First half of the 18th century Description: Top row: Vishvamitra and his charges rest under a tree; Vishvamitra, the princes and five deities (the magical weapons personified?); They meet two ascetics; Row 2: Rama and Lakshmana guard the ashram of the sages and on the sixth day, Subahu and Maricha appear in the sky: Subahu is killed by them and Maricha hit by an arrow is propelled into the ocean. Row 3: Vishvamitra and the princes meet some ascetics, who accompany them through the forest on their way to Mithila; Row 4: They cross the Sone and then the Ganga, and are welcomed by a royal figure (Sumati king of Vishala?); Row 5: They resume their way, Rama frees Ahalya from her curse, and restores her to her husband, Gautama. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, south corner Date: First half of the 18th century Description: Top row: Vishvamitra and his charges rest under a tree; Vishvamitra, the princes and five deities (the magical weapons personified?); They meet two ascetics; Bottom row: Rama and Lakshmana guard the ashram of the sages: on the sixth day, Subahu and Maricha appear in the sky; Subahu is killed by them and Maricha hit by an arrow is propelled into the ocean. Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, south corner Date: First half of the 18th century Description: At the presence of Narada, Tumburu, Krishna and Rukmini (?), Garuda kills some rakshasas (?). Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram Positioning: Room 3, arch Date: 18th century Description: Top row (from left) : Vishvamitra and the princes in the forest visit renowned ascetics. Bottom row (from right): They cross the river and confront the rakshasi Tataka. Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; central pavilion, ceiling, south west 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: Top row (from left): The sages prepare to celebrate a yajna. The princes weave a canopy of arrows to protect it from being polluted by the rakshasas. They kill Subahu, and Maricha hit by an arrow is propelled into the ocean. Bottom row (from right): Vishvamitra praises the youths and after having rested, they resume their way towards Mithila. Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil Positioning: Vasanta mandapa; central pavilion, ceiling, west side Date: 18th century, partly obliterated and damaged by splashes of whitewash Description: Top row: Lakshmana perched on top of a tree sees the royal party approaching Mount Chitrakuta and alerts Rama and Sita; The exiles converse with a group of sages; Bottom row: While walking between Rama and Lakshmana Sita is abducted by the rakshasa Viradha; Rama shoots and arrow which severs his head and frees Sita. Note Viradha’s arms falling to the ground. Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil Positioning: Vasanta mandapa. west wall Date: 18th century, partly obliterated and damaged by splashes of whitewash Description: Top row: Rama and Sita in the hut with Lakshmana in attendance outside it; Rama converses with two sages while Lakshmana goes int the forest and inadvertently decapitates Jambukumara, Shurpanakha’s son, who was meditating concealed in an anthill. Bottom row: A portion of this scene has been obliterated by whitewash; Shurpanakha arrives at Rama’s hut; she then is shown running away maimed (?). Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall « Previous 1 2 3 4 … 15 Next »