Kiratharjuneeyam (Panel 4)
Detail Photos
A white skinned Shiva hands over the Pashupatastra (arrow) to the yellow-skinned kneeling Arjuna. Parvathi stands nearby smiling at Arjuna. There is a rich forest backdrop with dense foliage and a river.
Narrative
- Textual Source
- Mahabharata
- Mythological Tale
- As the Pandavas lost the game of dice and was asked to dwell in the forest, Arjuna performed penance to please Lord Shiva. In order to test his devotion and get rid of his arrogance of being the best archer in the world, Shiva took the form of Kirata or forest-dweller and Parvathi accompanied him. Shiva then started an argument with Arjuna over who shot the wild boar. An enraged Asura challenged Shiva to a battle of archery, which later progressed into fist fight. Even after several attempts, Arjuna could not defeat the Kirata Shiva. So he started to pray to Shiva by building a small Shivalingam. However, all the offerings placed at the feet of the Shivalingam would fall to the feet of the Kirata Shiva. In the end, Arjuna realized that it was indeed Shiva in the guise of Kirata trying to test him. As soon as he comes to this realization, Shiva and Parvathi transform to their original form and granted him the Pashupatastra (arrow) weapon.
- Episode
- Kiratharjuneeyam (Arjuna and the hunter)
- Position within Narrative Sequence
- Panel 4 of 4
Iconography
- Primary Deity/Figure
- Shiva, Arjuna, Parvathi
- Iconographic Form
- Kiratharjuneeyam
- Iconographic Attributes
- Shiva is depicted as having white skin and is shown to be possessing four hands, of which two are seen handing the Pashupatastra (arrow) to Arjuna. His other two hands hold the deer and axe respectively. He wears neckpieces made of rudraksha and skulls. There is also a serpent coiled around his neck. He has matted locks, tiger-skin clothes, crescent moon and Ganga in his hair, and serpents are worn as earrings. Parvathi is golden skinned with one hand raised in varada mudra and other hand holding a lotus flower. She has a lot of ornaments, long hair and is wearing a white dhoti (lower garment). Arjuna is in a kneeling position hands raised in a gesture of accepting the astra. He is in the guise of a sage.
- Visual & Formal Features
- Background pattern, Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
- Rasa
- Shanta
Spatial & Architectural
- Temple
- Sanctum
- Zone within Temple
- Sanctum
- Position in Pradakshina Sequence
- 8
- Adjacent Panels
- Kiratharjuneeyam (Panel 1), Kiratharjuneeyam (Panel 2), Ardhanareeshwaran
Condition & Documentation
- Condition
- Excellent
- Deterioration Type
- None observed
- Restoration Status
- Unrestored
- Documentation Type
- DSLR full panel
- Permission Basis
- Temple authorities
- Date of Documentation
- 22/08/2024
- Artist
- Senthil
- Identifier
- THL_P010
- Rights / Notes
- These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.
