Most of this archive documents murals centuries old — painted by artists whose names were never recorded, for temples that have stood for generations. Thalore is different, and deliberately included: its murals were painted in the twenty-first century, by a named, living artist. Alongside the historic sites, it is here to show that the Kerala mural tradition is not only something to be preserved — it is something being practised now.
Thalore Mahadeva Temple, tucked into a quiet corner of Thrissur district, is home to a series of Kerala mural paintings composed by artist Sentil. Rendered in vivid colour, the murals heighten the temple’s devotional atmosphere across twenty-two panels and two ornately worked pancharam (false-door) motifs. The sequence draws on episodes from the Dakshayagam, Kiratharjuneeyam, and Girijakalyanam, alongside recurring figures such as Nataraja, Sasthav, and the Ganapati Pooja.
Documentation in progress — part of the Kerala Mural Archive’s living tradition fieldwork.
The Panels
Click any panel to view its individual entry — motif, description, and full documentation.
