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Murals of reclining Shiva, Nataraja with 20 arms found at Thrissur temple

SURPRISE FIND:The mural of Nataraja with 20 arms at the Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur.

The two rare paintings on Nataraja about 350 years old, have been found by ASI

A. Srivathsan||The Hindu

THRISSUR: An ASI study of 600 panels of murals in Kerala has revealed paintings that were hitherto covered, and also new details of the existing ones. Notable among them are the two rare paintings which are about 350 years old — a reclining Shiva and a Nataraja with 20 arms found on the walls of Vadakkumnathan temple at Thrissur.

“For long this painting was thought to be a reclining Vishnu, since it was partly covered with soot. Another reason is that a reclining figure is usually associated with Vishnu and it is common in Kerala to paint Vaishnavaite themes in Saivaite temples. When we cleaned the painting, the details became evident and we could establish that it is a reclining Shiva [Panivarai Siva] with Parvati, Ganga and other attendant deities. This is a rare panel,” said M. Nambirajan, Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Society of India, Thrissur circle.

“Adjacent to this panel, another one depicting Nataraja also held a surprise. This panel is considered unusual since it is portrayed with 16 arms. Our study has revealed that there are more arms to it than what were known before. This Nataraja actually has 20 arms and carries various objects,” says Mr. Nambirajan.

This study, which commenced in 2008, looked at paintings spread over six temples, which include Chemmanthitta and Peruvanam, in and around Thrissur. These temples are under ASI protection.

The Ramayana Gallery at the Mattancherry Palace in Kochi.

The study also includes paintings in the Mattancherry Palace, Kochi.

“Though there are no labels to establish the date of these paintings, stylistically the work can be placed between the 15 {+t} {+h} and 18 {+t} {+h} centuries. At a few places, paintings done over different periods can also be found. The popular themes, apart from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are the Kiratarjunya and Krishna Leela,” said S. Suresh, archaeologist and convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Tamil Nadu chapter, who was commissioned by the ASI for assisting it in the study.

“The paintings at the Pallimanna temple are an exception. One of the panels carries a label in an old Malayalam script, which gives the date of the paintings there as early 17 {+t} {+h} century, and even mentions the name of the artist and his teacher,” says Mr. Suresh.

Such a study was not undertaken earlier because most of the paintings are located within temples that are still under worship. Extensive documentation was difficult.

Many of the paintings face conservation problems. They are often covered with soot emanating from ritual lamps. Suggestions such as placing a plastic or glass cover have not been received well.

“A critical problem facing some of the paintings, particularly the one at Thriprayar, comes from Vedi Vazhipadu or bursting of crackers. Frequent blasts create vibration and produce soot that deposits on the paintings,” says Mr. Suresh.

“We are regularly cleaning the paintings and will come up with long-term plans to preserve them. Our objective is also to sensitise other temple authorities in Kerala to protect the rare paintings they have rather than erasing or redrawing them,” says Mr. Nambirajan.

Courtesy : The Hindu || Pictures : Archeological Survey of India.

6 comments on “Murals of reclining Shiva, Nataraja with 20 arms found at Thrissur temple”

  1. Vishal Sathyan
    February 3, 2011
    Vishal Sathyan's avatar

    The news report says a very good thing. We have to conserve our murals. Cochin Devaswom Board must leave Thriprayar temple from their major temple list. There must be started a trust with Guruvayoor Devaswom as the model.

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  2. Vishal Sathyan
    March 12, 2011
    Vishal Sathyan's avatar

    Between the Gopuram and Kodimaram, there should be a big anakkottil. Kodimaram should have Garuda on the top (Lord Rama is the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu). There should be a balikkalppura behind the Kodimaram. Outside the Nalambalam, at the south-east side facing north, there should be a big Koothambalam (Theatre). Daily Koothu and Koodiyattam can be conducted. At the south-west side, facing east, there should be Ayyappa shrine. Behind this shrine,
    Nagas should be installed. Brahmarakshassu shrine should be at the north-west side and behind that a new shrine for Chathan should be installed. At the north-east side, there should be a big bell and Lord Krishna shrine.
    Utsavam can be conducted during Arattupuzha Pooram, so that Thevar also becomes the host. Vedi Vazhipadu should never be restarted.
    Vishal Sathyan

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  3. Vishal Sathyan
    March 12, 2011
    Vishal Sathyan's avatar

    Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

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  4. Vishal Sathyan
    March 13, 2011
    Vishal Sathyan's avatar

    (1) The most serious problem in “Vedi Vazhipadu at Thriprayar” for which Cochin Devaswom Board is blamed by the people time and again . There are 5 most important Rama Temples in Kerala. They are Thriprayar, Thiruvilwamla, Thiruvangad, Kadavallur and Ramapuram. Among these temples, Thriprayar, Thiruvilwamala and Kadavallur Temples are under the control of Cochin Devaswom Board. I have never visited any one of these temples. In all other Rama Temples, the Lord has Palpayasam, Kalabhabhishekam, Chandanam Charthal and many archanas as his main offerings. But, at Thriprayar, the biggest Rama Temple in Kerala, Vedi Vazhipadu is the main offering. But, the Lord dislikes this offering because of the meaningless myth behind that offering. It is that Hanuman burnt many crackers on his Lord’s ear and said that he has found Sita in the sound of thundering and the Lord became deaf after that words. Hanuman has become angry due to this myth. He informed his Lord that he has found Sita, but he had only a light sound and he never burnt many crackers on his Lord’s ear. The Lord will never become deaf. The truth is that the Lord does not please without pleasing his faithful servant and greatest devotee, Hanuman. As Hanuman has become angry, the Lord is also angry. So, none of the people who offered Vedi Vazhipadu have seen their wishes, for what it was offered, getting fulfilled. This offering also causes atmospheric pollution. The temple was a very beautiful temple in it’s early days. But, with the beginning of the unceasing Vedi Vazhipadu, the temple became the ugliest temple ever in India. The first polluter was Tipu Sultan, who tested the power of the Lord by droping the crackers on the river. He also said that if the Lord has power, the crackers will get explored even in the river. Soon after Tipu said these, the crackers got explored. He became angry and destroyed the idol. He also dropped the idol in the river. After that, a duplicate idol was installed. It is a real story. Vedi Vazhipadu destroyed the beauty of the murals and wood carvings in the temple. So, this offering should not be continued. But, Meenoottu can be continued.
    (2) It is so because Meenoottu does not cause atmospheric pollution. The temple itself is improperly constructed. It has entrances from all the other sides except the front side. If there is no entrance from the front side, there is no effect even if there are entrances from all the other sides. So, for an entrance from the east, the direction towards which the Lord faces, the new temple should be made with a westward extent. For that, the shops in the west nada should be taken and the authorities can say the owners to restart them in the east nada. There should be gopurams on all the four sides. The nalambalam and sreekovil should be big and there must be a big idol of the Lord holding a stick, conch, disc and garland in standing posture. There should be a kodimaram too.

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    • Vishal Sathyan
      March 29, 2011
      Vishal Sathyan's avatar

      Utsavam can be conducted during Arattupuzha Pooram, with Kodiyettam on Makiryam day and Arattu on Uthram day. There should be fireworks at the south-western shrine. Fireworks should be conducted only during festivals. Vedi Vazhipadu should never be restarted.

      As the main deity is Lord Rama, the 7th avatar of Lord Vishnu, the kodimaram should have Garuda on the top. Ganapathy shrine should be at the south-west side. Other shrines should be that of Hanuman, Nagas, Sastha,Bhagavathy and many others.

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  5. Vishal Sathyan
    May 1, 2011
    Vishal Sathyan's avatar

    The Lord actually loved that offering, but once when Tipu Sultan came there to destroy this temple, he heard the sound of crackers there. He knew that the temple was Thriprayar Temple and the sound was of crackers which were used for Vedi Vazhipadu. Sultan came to test the power by dropping the crackers in the river. They got exploded and thus Tipu Sultan became the first polluter of the river and thus the Lord began to hate this offering.

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This entry was posted on August 24, 2010 by in Hindu Culture and Tradition, Hindu Scriptures and Hindu Research, Hindu Temples, Hindu World, Save Humanity, World Hindus and tagged , , , , , , .

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