Rituals
Historical background
Weddings and festivals provide the artists with a scope to explore religious rituals and at the same time courtly etiquette, dress, and ornaments in great detail.

Date: 19th century
Description: Dakshayajna (Daksha’s sacrifice) Top row; Daksha pours oblation into the fire at the presence of the gods; Bottom row: Devi approaches Shiva atop Kailasa; Devi approaches Brahma & Daksha.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, west aisle

Date: 19th century
Description: Dakshayajna (Daksha’s sacrifice).Top row: Shiva talks to Ganesha and Subrahmanya to ensure the disruption of Daksha’s sacrifice; The gods on their vahanas. Bottom row: Daksha performs the yajna; Ganesha and Subrahmanya are entertained by dancers and musicians.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, west aisle

Date: 19th century
Description: Dakshayajna (Daksha’s sacrifice);Top row: Shiva orders Virabhadra to destroy the sacrifice. Bottom row: Daksha celebrates the rituals at the presence of the gods.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, west aisle

Date: 19th century
Description: Dakshayajna (Daksha’s sacrifice);Top row: Shiva enthroned and female devotee; Shiva on Mount Kailasa flanked by ascetics. The rest of the row has disappeared. Bottom row: On the right, Himavan and Mena (?) in their city. On the left: the wedding of Shiva and Parvati at the presence of Ganesha, Himavan, and other deities.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Brihannayaki shrine, mandapa ceiling, west aisle

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Tyagaraja and Nilotpalambal – the presieding deities of Tiruvarur – flanked by two pujaris, the one on the left waving a lit oil lamp; the one on the right with a tray of offerings.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, west colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Chokkanatha of Madurai, flanked by two pujaris – the one on the left waving a lit oil lamp; the one on the right with a tray of offerings.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, west colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Tatatakai (Minakshi) emerges from the flames of the sacrificial fire. (TP 4)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: The wedding of Shiva and Tatatakai (Minakshi) at the presence of Vishnu (left) and Adhikaranandi (right). (TP 5)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: Minakshi’s father, Malayadhvaja, returns to earth to allow his wife to bathe in the sea. Subsequently, they fly together to heaven. (TP 10)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: The story of the vanni tree, the well, and the linga. (TP 64)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: The story of the vanni tree, the well and the linga. (TP 64)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade

Date: First half of the 19th century
Description: The story of the vanni tree, the well ,and the linga. (TP 64)
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Brihadishvara Temple complex;Thanjavur
Positioning: Courtyard, north colonnade
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