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.
Description: Top row 10 ctd. (from right): Having built the bridge, the troops cross the strait; From a hill Rama and Lakshmana direct the attack on Lanka; Ravana watches the action from atop a gopura; Sugriva jumps on him and steals his crown; Ravana, shocked, descends from the gopura; Bottom row 11 (from left): Sugriva brings Ravana’s crown to Rama; Rama, Lakshmana, Jambavan and Vibhishana send Angada on a diplomatic mission to Ravana; Angada at Ravana’s presence.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Description: Top row 12 (from right): Rama’s troops attack Ravana’s fortress; Angada drags by the hair Ravana’s wife, Mandodari, in the assembly hall; Ravana enters the battlefield on his chariot; Bottom row 13 ctd. (from left): Rama, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders shoots arrows at Ravana but his limbs regenerate; Hanuman, and then Sugriva, fight bare handed against Ravana, who succumbs to Sugriva’s punches and is rescued by two rakshasas.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: Top row 13 (from left): Hanuman flies back to Rama where Lakshmana is recovering; Lakshmana, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders resumes the fight against Ravana; Rama, then, enters the fray and, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders, attacks Ravana. Bottom row 14 ctd. (from right): Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna is aroused from his sleep and after having eaten he talks to Ravana.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century, partly obliterated by whitewash
Description: Top row 13 ctd. (from left): Rama, seated on Hanuman’s shoulders shoots arrows at Ravana, but his limbs regenerate Hanuman and then Sugriva barehanded fight against Ravana; He succumbs to Sugriva’s punches and is rescued by two rakshasas; Bottom row 14 (from right): Ravana decides to consult his brother Kumbhakarna; Sugriva talks to Rama and Lakshmana; in Lanka scores of men and animals trample upon the huge body of the sleeping Kumbhakarna, waking him up, eventually.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, east corridor, ceiling
Date: 18th century
Description: Lakshmana mutilates Ayomukhi. The princes sever Kabandha’s arms.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temples;Kallalagar Temple complex;Alagar Koyil
Positioning: Vasanta mandapa, north wall
Date: Paintings: 19th century
Description: Ravana shakes Mount Kailasa on which Shiva and Parvati are enthroned. The divine couple are flanked on the right by Vishnu, Indra, ascetics and other celestials; On the left by Brahma, ascetics and various gods. In the foreground are Bhringi (right) and Adhikaranandi (left)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Atmanatha Temple;Avudaiyarkoyil
Positioning: Detached mandapa, ceiling
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row (on the right of the corner, from left to right): The dikpalas worship Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha, enshrined in a temple on an island; This may refer to Sri Ranganatha temple at Srirangam; Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma on their vahanas; Second row: Namakarana (name giving ceremony); Third row: Vishvamitra and Vasishtha talk to king Dasharatha; Dasharatha is devastated on hearing Vishvamitra’s request; Rama and Lakshmana leave with the sage; Fourth row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across the river and perform their ablutions.
Top row (on the left of the corner, from left to right); Dasharatha gifts cows to the Brahmins; the babies are given a bath; Second row; Rama hits Kuni (Manthara) with mud pellets; the princes and their mothers; the arrival of Vishvamitra; Third row; Rama and Lakshmana protect the sages’ yajna; Subahu is killed; The princes are praised by the rishis; they spend the night under the watchful gaze of Vishvamitra; Fourth row; Rama breaks Shiva’s bow; Sita’s suitors are devastated.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: The courtesans seduce Rishyashringa, they take him to the Anga country, and the drought ceases; The wedding of Shanta and Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar); Second row: Vasishtha trains the princes in horse and elephant riding; Third row: Vishvamitra and his charges are ferried across a river
they enter a forest where they encounter Tataka; Fourth row: Janaka, his chaplain and his ministers talk to Vishvamitra and his charges; Vishvamitra and the princes before the assembled court; Janaka Vishvamitra, the princes and Janaka’s chaplain look on while the king instructs four servants to fetch Shiva’s bow.
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 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: Top row (from left to right): The wedding of Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar) and Shanta; The sage travels in a palanquin to Ayodhya where he is welcomed by king Dasharatha and his courtiers; Second row: Vasishtha trains the princes in the martial arts; Third row: Vishvamitra tells Rama to kill Tataka; Fourth row: Janaka gives instructions to four servants.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: Rishyashringa (Kalaikottu munivar), Vasishtha and other sages officiate at the putrakameshti yajna (ritual to obtain a son); The Yajnapurusha emerges from the flame carrying the bowl of payasa; Dasharatha divides the payasa among the queens; The pregnant queens and their attendants; Second row: The princes are trained in the martial arts; Third row: After killing Tataka Vishvamitra bestows upon Rama the magical weapons and teaches him how to use them; Fourth row: Janaka’s servants carry Shiva’s bow in the assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
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