Narasimham - Kerala Mural Archive

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: full panel view

Detail Photos

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 1 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 2 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 3 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 4 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 5 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 6 of 7

Chemmanthatta, CMT_P011 — Narasimham: detail view 7 of 7

Deity: Narasimham Location: Chemmanthatta Mahadeva Temple Theme: Mahabharata

The panel depicts a seated Narasiimha below a canopy. His fierce looking half-lion, half-human form with four arms. His upper left hand holds the shankhu or conch while his upper right hand holds the sudarsana chakra. There is a bearded white-skinned sage on his right side. There is green-skinned Prahlada with hands raised in anjali mudra to his left side, above Prahlada is the faded figure of Indra with anjali mudra. The backdrop has a mashipoov motif on red background. Above the canopy rests three pigeons. The canopy resembles the roof of a typical Kerala temple.

Narrative

Textual Source: Mahabharata
Mythological Tale: Hiranyakashipu was an asura king with disdain for the Gods and arrogance about his own powers. In turn, his son Prahlada is a true devotee of Vishnu, which angers Hiranyakashipu. He tries to kill Prahlada but all his efforts go in vain because of divine intervention. In a fit of anger, Hiranyakashipu asks where Prahlada's God is and crushes a pillar in anger. Out of the pillar emerges the half-man, half-lion form of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu had acquired the boon of not facing death unless several conditions are fulfilled: he cannot be killed by humans or animals, in day or night, using any weapons, or in sky or land. Narasimha validates all these conditions as he is neither human nor animal, emerges at dusk which is neither day nor night, uses his claws not any weapons, and finally neither in sky nor land but on Narasimha’s lap. The depiction reminds the devotee that God comes to the aid of a true devotee and is omnipresent.
Episode: Non-narrative

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Narasimham
Secondary Figures: Indra, Prahlada; Indra, Prahlada, sage.
Iconographic Form: Narasimham (Vishnu’s fourth avathara/incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: White skinned Narasimham with lion’s head and human body; has large eyes; claws; crown over his head; red upper garment; green dhothi; four arms: upper left hand holds the shankhu or conch; upper right hand holds the sudarsana chakra; There is a bearded white-skinned sage on his right side; green-skinned Prahlada; hands raised in anjali mudra to his left side; above Prahlada is the faded figure of Indra with anjali mudra, recognized by the eyes on his folded palms; mashipoov motif on red background; above there is a canopy; it resembles the roof of a typical Kerala temple; above the canopy rests three pigeons.
Visual & Formal Features: Background pattern, Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
Rasa: Raudra

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 11
Adjacent Panels: Sadashiva, Kiratasunu

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Poor
Deterioration Type: Plaster loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Combined permission
Date of Documentation: 05/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: CMT_P011
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.